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Critical Path though Multiple Projects

5 replies [Last post]
Wed, 2007-10-17 11:28
David Kelly
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Joined: 19 Oct 2004
Posts: 630
Groups: Petro-Chem / Oil & Gas
After all these years I have a question for you all rather than just answers!

P5/P6 encourage the use of multiple projects to model one "real world" project - but what if we want just one critical path?

Primavera’s work around (and I don’t need all you old P3 hands to tell me "use P3") is to use the multiple float paths calculation, group and sort the project by this, and kinda hope the first/second path is the real critical one?!

What is wrong with setting all the member projects to the same must-finish-by date?
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Replies

Thu, 2016-09-08 04:53
#1
Khuong Do
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Joined: 22 Feb 2010
Posts: 118
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Hi,

I write an article regarding How to display just One Critical path with Multiple projects open in Primavera P6.

If you're interested, kindly read it here https://doduykhuong.wordpress.com/2016/08/29/how-to-display-just-one-critical-path-with-multiple-projects-open-in-primavera-p6/

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Sun, 2007-10-21 18:54
#2
Dieter Wambach
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Groups: Petro-Chem / Oil & Gas, TILOS
Hi David
That’s why I use a finish milestone with a constraint "Must Finish By". P5/P6 then will regard those projects as one graph (=project) for calculation and I experienced proper results.
Regards
Dieter
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Fri, 2007-10-19 06:22
#3
David Kelly
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Joined: 19 Oct 2004
Posts: 630
Groups: Petro-Chem / Oil & Gas
Calculation of float in a multi-project scenario.



Let us assume a two project “portfolio” consisting of a “design” project and a “construction” project.

There are many interrelationships, primarily design->construction.

If neither project has a “must-finish-by” date at the project level, then when we schedule them in P5/6 the late finish of each project is assumed to be the early finish of each project.

Therefore the amount of float in an activity in the design project will be the smallest of the float imposed by its construction successor or the float imposed by its assumed “must finish-by” date.

If I want ONE float/critical path as the unmentionable 16-bit planning package offers under “Project Group Scheduling, Base Float on end of Project Group”

Then we have to set the “Must Finish by” date at the project level to the same date for each project.


This seems to work fine as far as I have tested it.
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Wed, 2007-10-17 13:14
#4
Dieter Wambach
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Joined: 15 Jan 2007
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Groups: Petro-Chem / Oil & Gas, TILOS
Hi David
"F9" --> Options --> Advanced
There you can select Multiple Float Paths. But I don’t know if it works exactly the same as in P3.
Then you can group by multiple float paths (under "General").
Set all projects to the same data date then it will calculate them as one graph.
For the "must finish by"-date I always use milestones with a mandatory constraint because I’m always aware in the activities-view. The entry in the project’s view I might forget - due to experience: will...
Regards
Dieter
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Wed, 2007-10-17 12:46
#5
Alexander Elder
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Joined: 11 Sep 2007
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Set Project CP to Longest Path
and if you now Group & Sort in this order by
Longetst Path
Then
by Project-WBS

you will have multiple projects with single critical path.
Let me know if it works

Sandy
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