P6 Data Sources and Cash Flow Enhancements

P6 Data Sources and cash flow P6-related enhancements are seen only when P6-Unifier integration-enabled shells are used.

P6 Data Sources is a new node under Standards & Libraries in Company Workspace, Administration Mode. Values defined here are used to pull data from P6 Summary Sheets into cost sheets or cost sheet templates, and act as a dataset for the attribute Type for P6 Summary Sheets. Examples: Current Schedule Summary, Original Baseline Summary, Sanctioned Baseline Summary, etc.

• Use Publish to make the manually created P6 data sources available to cost sheet columns.
• P6 data sources created via integration are auto-published.

Cash Flow

In WBS-level detail curves, create baseline, forecast and spends type curves using data from P6 summary sheets. Use cash flow curves for forecasting and what-if analyses. Use the forecast curve as a source for the EAC curve in Earned Value.

Baseline curve properties

• Duration Based: In the Schedule section of baseline and forecast curve properties, a new schedule picker is available -- Use dates from P6 Summary Sheet with a Select button and a required Data Type list below it. Data Type data set values are Planned and At Completion. Unifier uses the Start and Finish dates of the selected data type (for example, Planned Start and Planned Finish, if Planned is the selected data type).
• Resource Loaded or Cost Loaded: Distribution has an additional option, Use data from P6 Summary Sheet with a Select button and a required Data Type pulldown field below it. Data set values are Planned, At Completion, and At Completion Period. The selected option determines the spread of that type.

Forecast curve properties are enhanced similar to baseline curve. They differ in Data Type data set values.

• Duration Based: Schedule data type options are At Completion and Remaining.
• Resource/Cost Loaded: Distribution data type options are At Completion, At Completion Period, Remaining, and Remaining Period.

Spends curve properties   

• Duration Based: no change
• Resource/Cost Loaded: Displays a new Cost option, Use Actuals from P6 Summary Sheet. When selected, Unifier draws the spends curve with Actual Cost spread, Actual Start Date and Actual Finish Date.

Curve Details

• Duration Based: Editing is enabled. Functionality availability is based on selected distribution option – manual or auto by default profile per WBS.
• Resource/Cost Loaded: Detail sheet is disabled for editing. Bulk Edit and Import are disabled.

To access this feature:

In a project's User Mode, navigate to Cost Manager, Cash Flow. Create/modify cash flow detail curves using P6 data sources from P6 summary sheets.