NEC Course Manual

Powerproject Technical Support:
Tel: 01844 261 609
Email: support@elecosoft.com
For upgrades to the latest version and further training

material:
http://support.elecosoft.com
For information on further training courses:

Tel: 01844 261 700
Email: training@elecosoft.com
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure complete and accurate information of the
contents in this documentation, Elecosoft UK Ltd cannot be legally responsible for errors and
omissions, or damages or loss of equipment or information caused as a result of the
documentation.
No part of this documentation may be reproduced by any means or stored in any form without
express permission from Elecosoft UK Ltd.
Copyright  Elecosoft UK Ltd

Tel: 01844 261 700
Contents
Contents ........................................................................................................................ 2
Course Objectives ........................................................................................................ 4
Time Risk Allowance .................................................................................................... 5
User Defined Field ................................................................................................................................... 5
Showing Time Risk in a Formula ................................................................................ 6
Percentage Risk column ......................................................................................................................... 6
Risk & Non Risk duration columns .......................................................................................................... 6
Linking tasks ................................................................................................................ 9
Link types ................................................................................................................................................ 9
Drawing links with lead/lag time ............................................................................................................ 10
Moving/Editing Links .............................................................................................................................. 11
Block linking........................................................................................................................................... 12
Link tasks mode .................................................................................................................................... 12
Linking tasks without drawing on the Bar Chart .................................................................................... 13
Using the Predecessor/Successor table ............................................................................................... 14
Navigate the Logic and Edit the links .................................................................................................... 14
Key Dates .................................................................................................................... 15
Grid Lines .............................................................................................................................................. 15
Shading ................................................................................................................................................. 16
Creating text annotations....................................................................................................................... 16
Attaching annotations to tasks .............................................................................................................. 17
Key Dates & Completion dates (Milestones)............................................................ 18
Buffer tasks (as Terminal Float) ................................................................................ 18
How to create a buffer task ................................................................................................................... 19
Buffer Columns ...................................................................................................................................... 19
Constraints ................................................................................................................. 20
Adding a constraint ................................................................................................................................ 20
Reschedule ................................................................................................................. 20
Reschedule results (Float and Critical Path) ......................................................................................... 21
Changing the reschedule options .......................................................................................................... 22
Changing the project start date ................................................................................ 22
Week Numbering ................................................................................................................................... 23
Library Explorer and the libraries ............................................................................. 24
Using Library Explorer ........................................................................................................................... 24
The Tree View and the List View ........................................................................................................... 24
Customising Library Explorer ................................................................................................................ 25
Creating a Responsibility Code library .................................................................... 25
Creating the responsibility code library ................................................................................................. 25
Allocating codes .................................................................................................................................... 27
Single Task allocation............................................................................................................................ 27
Multiple Task allocation ......................................................................................................................... 28
Switching the display between code library folders ............................................................................... 28
To remove the display of Code Libraries ............................................................................................... 28
To remove the code from the task ......................................................................................................... 29
Adding a column to read the Responsibility .......................................................................................... 29
Resources (Labour Levels on tasks) ........................................................................ 30
Allocating resources to tasks ................................................................................................................. 31
 Elecosoft UK Ltd Apr-18

Hammocks for Prelims .............................................................................................. 32
Adding a crane cost to the hammock .................................................................................................... 33
Baselines .................................................................................................................... 36
Creating Baselines ................................................................................................................................ 36
Changing the appearance of baseline tasks ......................................................................................... 39
Showing/hiding a baseline ..................................................................................................................... 39
Reverting to a baseline .......................................................................................................................... 40
Merging.................................................................................................................................................. 40
Early Warnings ........................................................................................................... 42
Compensation Events ................................................................................................ 43
Adding detail to a Compensation Event ................................................................................................ 44
Link Categories .......................................................................................................... 45
Ignoring link categories when rescheduling........................................................................................... 47
Compensation events and their effect on prelims .................................................. 48
Using progress ........................................................................................................... 51
Updating progress using multiple progress periods .............................................................................. 51
Other progress tools .............................................................................................................................. 54
1. Displaying specific progress periods in the bar chart ........................................................................ 54
2. Progress Options ............................................................................................................................... 55
3. Overall Percent Complete Weighting ................................................................................................ 56
4. The difference between Duration Percent Complete and Overall Percent Complete ...................... 57
Glossary ...................................................................................................................... 58
NEC Exercise 1 ........................................................................................................... 61
NEC Exercise 2 ........................................................................................................... 62
NEC Exercise 3 ........................................................................................................... 63
NEC Exercise 4 ........................................................................................................... 64
NEC Exercise 5 ........................................................................................................... 65
NEC3 Course – PowerPoint slides............................................................................ 66
Satisfying NEC Programme requirements using Powerproject - What Next? ...... 72

4 Powerproject
Course Objectives
During the day you will learn how to
 Set Time Risk Allowance

 Understand and analyse the Critical Path and Provisions for Float
 Set planned completion and contract completion dates
 How to display Terminal Float
 Use code libraries for coding Responsibilities
 Overview of resources
 Use Baselines
 Show the effects of Compensation Events
 Add Compensation events on prelims
 Update progress on your project
Topics will be backed up by exercises
This booklet is yours to take away
Please feel free to add any notes you feel are relevant Please ask any questions

Powerproject 5
Time Risk Allowance

Time risk can be shown in Powerproject in a number of ways, two of which are shown below.
User Defined Field

Create a User field to create a text column into which you type your estimated risk duration
 Press Save
 Go to Project tab on the ribbon and select User Field Manager and select Bar
 Click Add
 Select String and give the column a name making sure there are no spaces in the text e.g
Time_Risk
 Click OK
 Click Close
The following warning will appear:
 Click OK
6 Powerproject
To add the new column into the existing table
 Right click on a column, and select Add Column, User Fields and select Time_Risk
 When the Table Definition dialogue pops up, change the title by removing the underscore
 The column can now be freely written into
Showing Time Risk in a Formula

When displaying Risk we can use features within Powerproject to display the ‘risk duration’
based on a risk percentage amount. This requires us to create two columns; One UDF column
for the Percentage Risk and a formula column to calculate the duration of risk
Percentage Risk column

Create and insert a UDF column as shown above with the following:
 Add a field for Integer

 Name the user field Percentage_Risk
Risk & Non Risk duration columns
 Right click on an existing column header and select Table Definition

 Click on Add to the bottom left of the dialogue that pops up
 On the additional column that is created left click and select Formulae, New formula

Powerproject 7
 When the following dialogue box pop’s up type in the detail contained in the example below
 Use the following formula:

((duration/'1d')/100*UDF("Percentage_Risk"))* ‘1d’
 Click on OK and close the Table Definition dialogue

8 Powerproject
To create the Non Risk Duration Column:
 Right click on an existing column header and select Table Definition

 Click on Add to the left of the dialogue that pops up
 On the additional column that is created left click and select Formulae, New formula
 When the following dialogue box pop’s up type in the detail contained in the example below
 Use the following formula:

((duration/'1d')-((duration/'1d')/100*UDF("Percentage_Risk")))*‘1d’
 Click on OK and close the Table Definition dialogue
Your table will now have the following columns. If you enter a percentage value into the
Percentage Risk column it will calculate how much the risk is as a duration of the existing task

Powerproject 9
Linking tasks
Once you have entered in your tasks you will need to consider the order that you wish to
approach those tasks. It is possible at this point to move the tasks into order by selecting
the start and finish dates that you wish to use
However, in order for the software to understand the order that you wish to work through
your project, you will need to link your tasks to indicate how they relate to each other
Link types
Links can be drawn starting and ending anywhere along the length of a task and you can
link tasks in many different ways. The type of link used depends on the nature of the
relationship between tasks
There are 4 types of link:
Start – Start Finish – Start Start – Finish Finish- Finish
In all cases, the direction of the arrow controls where the next task appears (A controls where B
appears)
Links are drawn between tasks using following cursor shapes:
End link Cursor:

This cursor shape indicates
that you are linking from / to
the end of a task
Start link Cursor:

This cursor shape indicates
that you are linking from / to
the start of a task
Mid-link Cursor:
This cursor shape enables you
to link from/to any midpoint
along the length of a task. A
pop up box will indicate your
exact position during the task,
e.g. 3 days into a 10 day task
To draw a finish to Start link between 2 tasks
 Place the mouse at the end and at the top or bottom corner of the first (predecessor)
task to display the end link cursor
 Left click and drag to draw the link to the start of the corresponding (successor) task.

10 Powerproject
 Release the mouse when the Start Link cursor is displayed

A link is made between the 2 tasks. The link arrow is green. This means that the link is selected.
 Click elsewhere on the bar chart to deselect the link
This tells Powerproject that task B cannot start before task A is finished
Sometimes it is necessary to show that tasks will happen simultaneously. To show this a link is
drawn starting or ending somewhere along the length of a task known as a mid-link.
To draw a mid-link
 Place the cursor at the start of the predecessor task. Without pressing, move the
cursor to the right so that the mid-link cursor is displayed
 A pop up box will indicate where during the task you are linking from
 Left click at the desired position and drag to move the pointer to the desired position
on the successor task
 Release the mouse when the corresponding link cursor is displayed

Drawing links with lead/lag time
There may be times when you need to insert a period of waiting or delay into your project,
e.g. waiting for paint or concrete to cure
 Position the cursor at the bottom right hand corner of the predecessor task. The end
link icon appears
 Left click and keep the mouse button held down

 Press and hold the Shift button on the keyboard.
 With the mouse button still held down drag the cursor horizontally. A pop up box will
appear displaying the lead/lag duration

Powerproject 11
Hold SHIFT
whilst drawing
the link to set the
lag duration
 Once you have reached the desired duration release Shift but keep hold of your
mouse button and drag it over to where you want to end the link and let go
Alternatively the lag can be entered into the properties of an existing link
 Draw a Finish to Start link

 Right click on the link and select Properties
 Click on the Link Start tab
 Enter the lead/lag time in days, e.g. 2d
Moving/Editing Links
If you have drawn a link incorrectly, you can simply ‘drag’ the link to the correct position,
rather than deleting & re drawing the link.
 Select the link (it will show as green)

 Hover the cursor over the end of the link you wish the move until a ‘cross’ cursor becomes
visible
The link should have When the link is Pull the link to the
been to the start of selected the Drag/Move correct position on
task 3 cursor is displayed the task
 Drag the link to the correct position

12 Powerproject
Block linking
If you have more than 2 tasks to link together e.g. a whole section of work, the Add/Delete
Links button can be used
 Select the tasks that you want to link

 Left click & drag downwards to select adjacent bars
 To link tasks that are not next to each other on the chart hold the Ctrl button on the keyboard while
clicking on the tasks you want to link
 Click the Add/Delete Links button on the Home tab and then ‘Link tasks’
Finish to Start links are placed between each of the tasks
Link tasks mode

Link Tasks mode enables you to link tasks automatically as they are created or as you select
them one-by-one in the bar chart.
 Select the task you wish to link from

 On the Home tab, in the Schedule group, click the Add/Delete Links dropdown and select
Link Tasks Mode.
The cursor changes shape to indicate that you are now in Link Tasks mode.
 Click on or draw the task you wish to link to

A Finish- to-Start link is drawn automatically from the first task to the second task
As you click on or draw further tasks, each new task is linked to the previous task automatically as
long as you remain in Link Tasks mode.
To exit Link Tasks mode:
 Home tab, in the Schedule group,

 Click Add/Delete Links and select Link Tasks Mode again, or press ESC.
Powerproject 13
Linking tasks without drawing on the Bar Chart

It is possible to link tasks by selecting one or more tasks in the Bar Chart and specifying the
predecessor/successor by name. or ID. Creating links in this way is an easy way to link
tasks which are not close to each other in the Bar
Chart.
Right click on a task or tasks on the Bar Chart
 Select Linking > Add Link
 The Link From/To dialogue box is displayed
 Indicate if you are linking from or to the selected

task(s)
 Identify the task you are linking to by name or ID

number
 Select the type of link & any lag

 Press Link and Close
The Wild Card

Placing an asterix (SHIFT + ‘8’ on your keyboard) after the first few letters or words of the task acts as a
wild card to search for all tasks that begin with those letters or words
 If more than one task meets the search criteria, they will be displayed in a list and you can tick to select
as required.

14 Powerproject
Using the Predecessor/Successor table

 Go to the Table button on the View tab, choose Logic, Logic – Pred & Succ (Unique ID)
Links can now be created by typing in the predecessor or successor id number in the relevant
column
Navigate the Logic and Edit the links

You can use the links tab of the Task properties dialog box to navigate through the logic of your
project, if the option is selected
 Double click on a task to open its Properties

 Select the Link tab and double click on the Incoming or Outgoing (predecessor or successor)
task
That task is centred in the Bar Chart window and is now the subject of the task properties dialog.

Powerproject 15
To edit the links:
 Select your Incoming or Outgoing link shown in the box above

 Choose whether to Add, Remove, Change or go to the Properties of the chosen link, via one of
the buttons displayed
Key Dates
Grid Lines
The construction template supplied with Powerproject comes with some grid lines, Year, Month,
Week and Day.
A vertical grid line that occurs at a variable date specified by you can also be added to the project,
e.g. a line that shows at ‘Today’s Date’ or a Key date outlined in the contract.
 Right click in the Date Zone and select Properties

 Select the Grids tab and click Add to add a new grid line
 Enter a new Name
 Left click in the Time Unit column and change Elapsed Week to Variable date
 Click on the thin black line and change the line Style to how you want your line to look
 Left click in the empty space where the Variable date will be and a date picker will appear,
choose your date or click on ‘(click to select variable date)’
 Press Close

16 Powerproject
Shading
Powerproject can also put shading behind the tasks within the project, it has no effect on the
project but it can be used to show certain information i.e. bad weather, school term times
etc.
 Select the Shading tab from the Date Zone Properties dialogue
 Enter the Start and End dates for the shading or a ‘Variable Date’ (see grids) from the list and
then choose a colour.
 Click Close to close the properties dialog. This will also ‘Apply’ changes.
Creating text annotations

Annotations are text and graphics that you can include on bar charts to enhance the
presentation of your project.
 On the Home tab click the text annotation toolbar button

 Take the cursor onto the bar chart. Your cursor will be a letter ‘T’.
 Left click and drag the mouse downwards & to the right to draw a box.
 Type the text that you want in the text box.

 The text colour, font, style and size can all be adjusted using the Font icons on the Home tab.

Powerproject 17
 Click away to deselect the box.

Attaching annotations to tasks
Text annotations can be created to refer to specific tasks in your project. In this case the text
box can be attached to the task so that it stays with it should it move in your project.
 Click the text annotation button
 Place the cursor at the end of the task so that you have a white arrow in a box
 Left click and drag the mouse downwards and to the right to draw a box.
 Type the text that you want in the text box
To change the properties of the annotation, left click and then right click on the annotation and
choose properties
Set to display
annotations ‘in
front’ or ‘behind’
tasks on your
chart
Set a background
colour and to
display text in a
‘box’
Tick here to
make the
annotation
appear against
every task or
select a filter to
control which
tasks it appears
on.

18 Powerproject
Key Dates & Completion dates (Milestones)

Milestones are used to display key dates or events and in this example, are used to show
Planned Completion v Contract Completion.
To create a Milestone:
 Name the task in the normal way. Enter 0 or 0d in the duration column. The 0 will not display as
the default is to not show zeros
 Alternatively right click in the bar chart where you want the milestone and choose Insert
Milestone
There are 2 types of Milestone, a Start Milestone and a Finish Milestone.
A Start Milestone will appear at the start of the next available work period whereas a Finish
Milestone will appear at the end of the current work period. E.g. if a task is completed on Friday
afternoon, a start Milestone will appear on Monday morning. A Finish Milestone will appear at the
end of Friday afternoon.
The default is to create a Start Milestone.
To change a Start Milestone into a Finish Milestone:
 Right click on the Milestone, Select Make into – Finish Milestone.
Buffer tasks (as Terminal Float)

Buffer tasks are used to show the contingency visually within the project. In this example the
buffer task is to be used to show the amount of time available between the Planned
Completion and the Contract Completion, otherwise known as the Terminal Float.
This method of planning is supported by the Society of Construction Laws’ – Delay

and Disruption Protocol – October 2002 (see www.scl.org.uk)
There are two types of buffer tasks:
 Feeder buffers – which sit within the project protecting key dates
And
 Project buffers – Usually the last task in a project protecting the project end date.
A buffer contributes to the Critical Path calculation, but when its start date is affected it will
shrink (or expand) and protect the Critical Path.

Powerproject 19
Below the terminal float (4w) is sitting between the planned completion and the Contract
Completion
Here there has been a delay to the Final Clean which has eaten into the Terminal Float
causing it to drop to 2w 4d
How to create a buffer task

 Type a task title into the table.
 Create a task by either typing the duration in the table or by drawing on the Bar chart.
 Link the task into the project and reschedule the project (so that the task takes up the correct
position within the project).
 Right Click the task and go to Make into – Buffer Task.

N.B for a Feeder buffer task a constraint flag will be required on the succussor task or Milestone.
Buffer Columns
To add a Buffer Consumption column and an Original Task Duration column:
 Right click on an existing column header

 Select Add Column, Float, Buffer Consumption
 In the dialogue box which pops up Close
 Select Add Column, Float, Original Buffer Task Duration
 In the dialogue box which pops up Close

20 Powerproject
Constraints
A constraint flag is an imposed date restriction on a task. Constraints can be set on either the
Start or the End of tasks.
Adding a constraint
To add a constraint to a task:
 Select the task you wish to constrain

 On the Home tab click on the drop down arrow underneath the
Constraint Flag icon
 Select the constraint you wish to impose on the task
Types of Constraint:
Start on or after
A soft constraint which will not allow the task to start before
the constraint date, however to could move to a later date
Start on
A hard constraint which will fix the start of the task to a
constraint date
Finish on or before
A soft constraint that will not allow the task to end after the
constraint date, however it could finish earlier
Deadline
A soft constraint which works as a warning but will allow the
project to move beyond the target deadline
Finish on
A hard constraint that will fix the end date of the task to the
constraint date
Work between
A soft constraint that will allow either the start or the end
date to be constrained between
Holding pin
A Constraint which will move with the task if the task is
manually moved
Reschedule
When you have linked your tasks you can reschedule the project. The reschedule performs a
series of actions:
 Places the start of the first task at the beginning of the project.
 Calculates the optimum start and end dates of all tasks according to the logical links applied.
 Calculates whether a task has any float attached.
 Shows whether a task is Critical (Critical Path Analysis).
 Identifies any constraints which have been exceeded.
 Calculates the earliest project end date.

Powerproject 21
 N.B if you experience problems with the reschedule moving tasks to incorrect positions you will
need to change the reschedule settings to ‘Leave as drawn within constraints’
To reschedule your project:
 Click the reschedule tool bar button on the Home tab on the ribbon.
The critical path of the project is shown outlined in red.
Reschedule results (Float and Critical Path)

Rescheduling a project with constraints will affect the appearance of tasks & may result in some
items showing float.
Total float – the period a task can be delayed or

extended without delaying the end of
the project - however this will affect
other tasks (successor tasks)
Free float – the period a task can be delayed or

extended without affecting the end of
the project - or any other tasks.
Critical Task - displayed in red. If a critical task is

delayed, it will change the project
end date.

22 Powerproject
Changing the reschedule options

 On the Home tab, click the drop down arrow of the reschedule button and select Options...
Changing the project start date

The start date of the project can be changed at any time. It is not set in the Spreadsheet or on the
Bar Chart but in File, Advanced Properties:
 Go to File – Properties.

Powerproject 23
 Change the Imposed Start to the new project start date.

 Click Close.
Week Numbering
Week 1 in the Date Zone will default to the project's start date when the project was first created.
This is displayed in the ‘elapsed week’ line.
To realign week 1 to another date:
 Place your cursor anywhere in the Date Zone area and right click.
 Select Properties.
 Select the Dates/Scales tab.
 Against ‘Date Zero’ use the date picker from the drop down arrow to choose your new week 1
 Click Close

24 Powerproject
Library Explorer and the libraries

A project can contain many different types of objects such as resources, calendars, codes, cost
centres, and link categories. These and other objects are stored in libraries. Library Explorer
provides a view onto all the library objects in your project.
Using Library Explorer

To open the Library Explorer:
 Select the Library Explorer button at the top left of your screen
The Library Explorer will then stay as a Tabbed View in your project, should you wish to leave
the Library Explorer open.
The Library Explorer window is illustrated below:
The Tree View and the List View

Library Explorer is split into two views: the Tree View on the left and the List View on the right. The
Tree View displays all the available libraries, from their top level. The List View displays the objects
within the selected library.

Powerproject 25
Customising Library Explorer

Not all available libraries are on view by default. Some are kept hidden so that we can choose to see
only those we use regularly.
To show or hide libraries:
 Right click a blank area of the List View then select Show Libraries. The Show Libraries
dialog is displayed.
 To add libraries to the Library Explorer e.g Link Categories, select it on the left-hand side list,
then click Add.
 To remove libraries from Library Explorer select them in the right-hand side list, then click
Remove.
 Once completed click on to OK
Creating a Responsibility Code library

Code Libraries allow us to colour-code tasks so that their appearance represents something
relevant. In this example we are creating a responsibility code that can be assigned to tasks to
show who is responsible.
The codes are created in the Library Explorer.
Creating the responsibility code library
 Click the Library Explorer button found at the top of the screen.
 In the left window of Library Explorer, click on the Code Library folder.

26 Powerproject
 In the right window, on a blank part of the screen, right click and select New Code Library.
 Call it Responsibility
 In the right window, double click on the Responsibility folder.

 Right click in the right hand pane and choose New Code Library Entry.
 Type in ‘Client’.
 Click under Foreground Fill, Background Fill and Pattern to select colours and patterns
 Add further Responsibilities as needed

 To come out of the Library Explorer tab click the ‘x’ to close the tab.

Powerproject 27
Allocating codes
Now that the Code has been created we can allocate it to tasks within the project. To do this we
will use the Project View
 To expand the list of Code Libraries in the Project View, click the + to the left of Code Libraries
 To expand the list of Responsibilities Codes, click the + to the left
Single Task allocation

To allocate a Responsibility code to the tasks:
 Place the cursor over the Client code entry in the Project View
 Press the left mouse button and drag until the cursor is over the task, then release.
 You will get the following message. Click Yes to display the new Code Library colour

28 Powerproject
Multiple Task allocation

To allocate Responsibilities to a number of tasks at the same time:
 Select the tasks by holding down Ctrl (Control key) and clicking them
 Place the cursor over the Responsibility code entry in the Project View, e.g. Subcontractor
 Press the left mouse button and drag the cursor to one of the tasks then let go of the mouse.
 Click away to deselect and the bars will display the responsibility code.
Switching the display between code library folders

Powerproject will only allow you to display one Code Library at a time on your tasks. To switch
between folders:
 In the Project View, Right Click on the Code Library Folder you wish to display and select
Display Library
 The red tick indicates the code library currently on display.

To remove the display of Code Libraries
 Right Click on the Folder that is on display (shows a tick)
 Select Display Library to remove the display of this library. No code libraries are now on
display.

Powerproject 29
To remove the code from the task
 Click on the task you want to remove the code from

 Click the drop down arrow on the Object Edit toolbar at the bottom of your screen
 Un-tick the code that you want to remove and when you deselect the task you will see the
code has been removed.
Adding a column to read the Responsibility
This column will display the Responsibility that has been applied to the tasks.
 Right click on a column header and select Add Column, Code, Task.Responsibility
 When the Table Definition box pops up rename the column to Responsibility
 Close the dialogue box

30 Powerproject
Resources (Labour Levels on tasks)
When bringing together your programme resources have an important role to play in showing
how a programme is to be delivered. Showing how tasks within the programme are to be
delivered by assigning quantities of labour gives the Project Manager more confidence that a
programme can be achieved within the dates shown
To create new resources:
 Select the Library Explorer button at the top left of your screen
 In the library explorer select Permanent Resources and in the right hand pane, right click and
select New Folder
 Call this folder Project Resources

 Double click on the new folder and in the right hand pane right click and select New
Permanent Resource
 Name this resource Bricklayer

Powerproject 31
 Right click on this resource and select Properties
 In the dialogue box which pops up select the assignment tab and change the calculated
parameter to Effort (N.b this stops the tasks from changing duration when you alter the
Allocation column)
 Repeat this for other resources being used and close the Library Explorer tab when you are
done
Allocating resources to tasks
First add a column to view how many resources you are loading per task:
 Right click on any existing column and select add new column, Allocations, Allocation
To allocate a resource to a task:
 Left click on a resource in the project view, hold the mouse button down and drag the resource
to the task in the bar chart, let go
 In the Allocation column type in how many of the resource you want to allocate.

32 Powerproject
Hammocks for Prelims

In this example we will add a crane as a hammock and allocate a time based cost to it so that if a
subsequent delay happens we will see a resultant increase in cost.
 On the Home tab select Hammock to insert a new hammock
 A Hammock will appear at the bottom of the project, call it Crane
 Now within the main project right click on the first task to be
affected by the crane and select Add to Hammock
 Repeat for the last task to be affected

 N.B if you wanted a schedule of all tasks the crane affects you
would add these as well
 The tasks will appear under a hammock bar called Crane

Powerproject 33
Adding a crane cost to the hammock

Creating a time based Crane cost
 Open the Library Explorer
 On the left of the screen select Cost Centres

 In the right hand pane, right click and select New Cost Centre
 Call it Crane Cost

 Now right click on this new cost and select Properties

34 Powerproject
 Select the Default Assignment tab and under the Calculation Type select Time Based
 At the bottom of the dialogue type in a cost amount and a time unit e.g. £750 per Day
 Click on Close and close down the Library Explorer tab as well
To add the crane cost to the Crane hammock:
 Drag the crane cost from the Project View and drop it onto the hammock

Powerproject 35
Add a column to read the cost
 Right click on an existing column header and choose add column, Cost or Income, Cost (tick
Zero as blank)
 Now if any task between the first and last crane related task is delayed you will see the cost
increase
Before:
Screeding is increased to 10days resulting in a cost increase on the hammock
After:

36 Powerproject
Baselines
Baselines are created to record the project at a particular point in time (e.g. for recording the
contract programme), this allows you to compare current information with planned information. A
baseline is a record of all or any part of a project including bars, tasks, links, resource/cost
allocations, libraries, histograms and annotations. Creating a baseline allows you to forecast using
what if scenarios and can be useful with claim situations
Creating Baselines
 Select the Project tab and click on Baseline Manager
The baseline manager box will pop up
 Click New. The Baseline Wizard box will pop up

Powerproject 37
 Enter a name for your baseline and a description of it e.g. Contract Baseline and As agreed
with client.
 The Next button will become active once details have been completed. Click to continue to the
next stage.
 On the Destination screen, if you want to place the baseline in another location instead of the
directory that has been specified select Browse. If not the baseline will be stored in the same
location on your computer as the live project. You can also change the file name. Here Contract
Baseline has been added.
 Click Next to continue
 On the Scope screen, choose ‘All tasks in the current view’ If you are at the top level of your
project this will include any tasks held within expanded tasks or sub charts (N.B you can
alternatively choose to baseline a selection from the programme.)

38 Powerproject
 Click Next to continue
 Check the information is correct on the final screen. Then select Finish.
 Once you have completed the new project wizard you will return to the Baseline/What if manager
box. If you click on the name of the baseline you will then see the baseline details:
 N.B The baseline has a tick under ‘Current’. If you create a new baseline and you want all the
default reports to pick up data from this baseline instead of your first baseline you must click the ‘Set as
Current’ button, which moves the tick.

Powerproject 39
Changing the appearance of baseline tasks

The Baseline will now appear as a second line mirroring the task above.
Before:
Live task
Baseline
After a task delay and Reschedule:
Notice the
variance
between
the live
tasks and
the
baseline
now
To change the colour of the baseline:
 Go to Project Ribbon > Baseline Manager
 Select the appropriate baseline
 In the Appearance section on the bottom left you can change the background and foreground fill
colours and choose a pattern:
 Click Close
Showing/hiding a baseline
 Click on the Format tab on the ribbon
 Click the drop down box marked as Baselines:
 Un-tick the baseline that you do not want to be displayed

40 Powerproject
To stop baselines automatically appearing:
 In the bar chart, right click and select Format Bar Chart and click the Baselines tab
 Un-tick Always show new baselines
 Select Close.
Reverting to a baseline
When planning a project you might create one standard plan then experiment with several other
‘what if’ scenarios and baseline each scenario for your records. If you decide that you want to
adopt one of these scenarios as the project plan, you can Revert the project to that baseline.
To revert a project to a baseline
 Go to the project tab and select the Baseline Manager button

 Select the baseline you want to revert to, and then click Revert To.
 From the Revert Options group, select: Restore deleted and Changed Objects to revert the
whole project to the baseline.
 Click Close
 Click OK to revert to the baseline.
 All tasks will now move back to their positions recorded in that baseline
Merging
Once a baseline has been created a function becomes available that allows you to merge extra
data into that baseline. It may be that data was missed off or came later so the following shows
you how you can merge that data into an existing baseline.
 Go to the project tab and select the Baseline Manager button

 If you have more than one baseline, select the baseline you wish to merge the new data in to
 Select Merge

Powerproject 41
 The Details screen of the baseline will appear
 You cannot change the name of the baseline but may wish to amend the description if required
 Click Next
 On the Scope screen choose the data you are merging in. All tasks in the current view or
just selected tasks.
 In the lower part of this dialogue box choose how you want the existing baseline to be effected by
the merge, if you are only adding in additional data then choose new data only. If the original
nd
data has changed choose the 2 option or a full update would include any deleted data.
 Click Next
 If the Summary details are correct click Finish
Your baseline will be updated to record the changes made to your project

42 Powerproject
Early Warnings
Early warnings are not explicitly required as a part of the NEC contract however practitioners
tend to agree that their inclusion is invaluable and if considered with other sections of the
contract, implied.
To display a schedule of Early Warnings:
 Right click on line number 1 and select Insert Bar to insert a line at the top of the programme
 In the name cell type Early Warnings
 Now place your cursor in the barchart on the day the early warning was given and right click,
Insert Milestone
 To stop the milestones from moving allocate a Start on constraint flag

 Now click on the + symbol next to number 1 to see the milestones drop down to their
own lines and rename each milestone to an Early Warning description
Annotations can be placed against each of these milestones so descriptions can be viewed on the
bar chart
 On the Home tab, click on the text annotation button
 Place the cursor against a milestone until it changes into an arrow in a box, and
left click
 Right click inside the box which has appeared and choose from the list, Identification, Task
Name

Powerproject 43
 Click away and the task name will now appear next to the milestone
 N.B You can copy this annotation onto all other milestones by holding the control button down on
the keyboard and clicking and dragging the annotation to the other milestones
Compensation Events
The NEC 3 contract deals with delays to completion as ‘compensation events’. In Powerproject
a compensation event can be shown as a new task which is changed into an expanded task to
‘house’ the sub-tasks that make up the delay.
 Right click on the line number below where you want to insert and choose Insert Bar
 Type in the name of the compensation event
 In the duration column type in the duration of the compensation event
This new compensation event will need to be added to the existing programme with the correct
link logic, to see the impact on the critical path
44 Powerproject
In the above example:
 Link Temporary Services to the compensation event and the compensation event to
Demolish Existing Structures
 Now press reschedule to see the effect on the critical path
Adding detail to a Compensation Event
To add further detail behind the newly created Compensation Event
 Right click on the Compensation Event in the bar chart and select Make Into, Expanded
The Compensation Event now appears in the Project View as a chart in its own right

Powerproject 45
 Click on this and in the empty bar chart add in the additional tasks
 N.B The sub tasks of the Compensation Event control the duration of the expanded task above
Link Categories
Link categories allow you to have more control over your links. You can show links that are normal
planned links in one colour and potential delay links in another
The links can be turned on or off from the display and can also be prevented from rescheduling.
To create a link category:
 Select the Library Explorer button

 Click on Link Category (see Library Explorer section above if Link Categories is missing)

46 Powerproject
 To add another link category, right click in the list area to the right of the screen and select New
Link category.
 Call it Delay link and give it a colour by right clicking on it and choosing properties
 Click back on the Bar Chart View Tab
 Right click on the link in the programme that you want to change and choose properties
 Click on the Link Category drop down list and choose your Delay Link
 Click close

Powerproject 47
Ignoring link categories when rescheduling

Ignoring link categories allows you to insert delay events with appropriate link logic without these
events interfering with the main schedule. You can then allow the link categories which in turn
shows the effect of the delay event.
 Click on the drop down arrow on the reschedule button on the Home tab and select options...
 Under Ignore link categories tick the category that you wish the reschedule to ignore.

48 Powerproject
Reschedule ignoring the delay link:
Reschedule including the delay link:
Compensation events and their effect on prelims

As a compensation event delays work so it can therefore increase prelim costs. Prelims in
Powerproject can be captured and monitored by the use of Hammocks as discussed above.
Below is an example of a compensation event impacting the cost on the Hammock:
To display a Cost and Planned Cost columns:
 Right click on an existing column header

 Select Add column, Cost or Income, Cost
 When the Table Definition dialogue pops up rename the column to Planned Cost and
under Data change it to Current Baseline

Powerproject 49
 Click Close
 Again, select Add column, Cost or Income, Cost
 When the Table Definition dialogue pops up click Close
 Save the table as Cost Impact Table
As discussed in the topic above ‘Hammock for Prelims’ a cost is sitting on the Crane Hammock
bar
Before:
When a Compensation event is added to this programme the time based cost sitting on the Hammock
is increased
50 Powerproject
After:
The Planned cost, looking at the Baseline, shows the original cost while the Cost column is now
showing the new increased cost

Powerproject 51
Using progress
Once the project is underway, you should record its progress at regular intervals. Recording progress
ensures that your project is kept up to date and lets you see if work is progressing as planned or if
there are delays. It also ensures that you know how much work remains to be done to complete the
project and will also give you a projected programme end date.
Updating progress using multiple progress periods

This easiest way to update progress is using the spreadsheet
1. Display Progress Table
Create the required progress columns in your for entering your project progress.
Alternatively, to find a Progress Table if you have saved one previously
 Select the View tab > Table > click your progress table from the list:

52 Powerproject
2. Display Progress Lines
To view the progress drop line and shading on the tasks on the Bar Chart
 On the Format tab select the Progress lines toggle switch:
You should now see a black line showing in the bar chart, usually on the start date of new projects.
3. Create Multiple Progress Periods
Progress periods allow you to display against each task when work was carried out. We will create
progress periods weekly for the project.
 Open the Library Explorer by selecting on the Quick Access Toolbar
 Select the Progress Period folder on the left hand window
 In the right hand pane, double click on the default ‘Project Report Date’.
 Rename it to Week 1; choose a Report date 1 week into your project. Edit the Vertical
Progress style (Drop down line colour) and Fill Style (Progress colour on task) if desired
 Note that the time of the date defaults to 00:00 (midnight). Therefore, to set a report date of Friday
you would need to change the time or choose the next day at 00:00 to ensure that Friday’s work is
included.
 Select Close
Powerproject 53
 Right click in the space below Week 1 and select ‘New Progress Period’
 Name it ‘Week 2’ then press Enter on your keyboard
 The date of week 2 has defaulted to 7 days after week 1 and the next colour has been
selected. Press Enter
 Type ‘Week 3’ , Press Enter etc.:
 Close the Library Explorer

 If you do not want weekly progress dates, change the date of week 2 as required. If you choose
regular intervals between your dates, Powerproject will recognise the pattern & default to these intervals
after three dates have been set.
4. Set the Report Date

The first time we enter progress the earliest date will be set as the progress report date.
The ‘Progress Entry Date’ is shown in the Progress section on the Home Tab.
It is also indicated in the Project View by a red tick
 In subsequent weeks, we can change this editing the drop down in the
Progress section of the home tab
You will notice the progress line for the date selected will appear down from the report date and ‘jag’
around the left hand side of the appropriate task(s)
5. Enter Progress
 Enter the required progress into the ‘Overall Percent Complete’ column to progress the tasks.
You will see shading along the top of the task(s)

54 Powerproject
6. Reschedule
To see the effects of the progress entered we will ask Powerproject to straighten the progress line
and move any uncompleted tasks to the right of the report date. This will allow us to see any
variance against our baseline.
 Select Reschedule
When rescheduling the project with multiple progress periods, you will notice them listed in the
Straighten Progress Period drop down list.
 Select to reschedule to a specific period or select the ‘Progress entry period’ to use the
current period selected on the Home tab.
7. Capture Delay Reasons

To record any delay reasons or important notes from the previous week, type these in the Notes
column of your spreadsheet.
8. Baseline
After each progress period you could keep a record of the weeks’ progress by using a Baseline.
This makes it easier and is useful to see everything that was recorded at the end of each progress
period, especially for potential claim situations. (Please see the ‘Creating Baselines’ for the notes
on this)
Other progress tools
1. Displaying specific progress periods in the bar chart
To edit the display of progress lines and shading
 On the Format tab, select Format Bar Chart
 Select the Progress tab:

Powerproject 55
 By default, the Progress entry date line only option is selected. The software will
automatically show the drop line of the selected report date
 If you want a specific progress drop line to show, remove the tick and select the progress
period by placing a tick against that progress period
2. Progress Options
When entering progress by Overall Percent Complete you may want to ensure that the correct options
are set to suit your project.
 In the File tab, select

 Choose the Progress tab
 Under Overall Percent Entry Mode decide if you would like the Actual Duration of the task
to be updated according to the % amount of progress entered (Update duration in step) or
whether you would like the Actual Duration to automatically fill up to the current report line,
pushing the remaining duration to the right of the report line (Fill to progress line)
 Under Snapping decide if you would like the progress to snap to the nearest duration (e.g.
Days). If this is not ticked the progress will sit at exactly the progress position stated (e.g. 10
day task with 33% done will leave 6d 5.6h left. If the snapping is ticked it will read 6d
remaining)
 Click Close

56 Powerproject
3. Overall Percent Complete Weighting
When using the overall percent complete method of progress entry in Powerproject it is possible to
assign a weight to each task according to its importance. These weights are then reflected in the
amount of progress recorded against Summary Bars, Expanded Tasks and Hammock Tasks.
By default, all tasks are equally weighted, so when each task is completed an equal amount to the
sub chart is shown to be progressed.
In the example below you will see a summary bar with 4 tasks. Task One is 1 day long, Tasks Two,
Three and Four are all 1 week long.
When Task One is complete, the summary bar shows 25% complete. This is because currently all
the tasks within the summary have an equal weighting, regardless of duration.
You can choose to manually weight the activities by adding an Overall Percent Complete Weighting
Field which will allow you to decide the weighting for each task or to weight each task automatically
by right clicking on the summary bar and selecting Calculate Task Weightings:
Once this has been done the summary bar will show the percentage complete based on the duration
of each task, rather than it’s weighting:

Powerproject 57
4. The difference between Duration Percent Complete and Overall

Percent Complete
When updating percentage (%) progress on tasks you may think in terms of the % of the tasks duration
that is complete or the % of work that is complete, regardless of the duration of the task.
For example, consider a 1 week task, which is 50% complete.

Do you want to record that you have spent 2.5 days on the task & there are 2.5 days remaining (50% of
the tasks planned duration, i.e. a Duration % measure) or do you want to record that you have
completed 50% of the work , regardless of the amount of time you have spent on the task or how much
is remaining? (you may have spent the whole week working but have only completed 50% i.e. an
Overall % measure).
When using ‘Overall Percent Complete’ to apply progress, the % entered will remain the same, even if
the overall duration of the task changes. If using a duration Percent Complete the % entered will
always be expressed in relation to the duration of the task & will change if the remaining duration
changes.
You can configure Powerproject to use Duration Percent Complete as the measure of progress.
 Select File – Options – Progress Tab
 Specify that the progress% entry field on the Home Tab; Object Edit Toolbar & the Percent
Complete Spreadsheet field update Duration percent complete or Overall Percent Complete
 The default on the Construction Template is Overall Percent Complete

58 Powerproject
Glossary
Allocation
This is the name given to any item, for example Permanent or Consumable resources that can be
assigned to a task from a library. The allocation can be displayed on the Bar Chart underneath the task.
Bar
Horizontal area, identified by a line number, including information in the Spreadsheet and one or more
tasks on the bar chart.
Bar Chart
The area of the screen where Tasks are displayed graphically.
Baseline
A copy of the project recorded at a single point in time. Powerproject can record and display multiple
baselines allowing for: tracking of major changes; production of what-if scenarios; comparison of
information (e.g. budget cost to actual cost)
Border File
A print function which contains information to be included around your project, including graphics such as
company logo, project information such as the project title and relevant dates.
Buffer
A Task that is used to collect Float and protect the Critical Path through the project. It achieves this by
having a duration which increases or decreases in response to project
Code (Colour)
A facility to allow the assignment of colours to tasks to represent information about the task.
Code Library
This is the library (or folder) that contains Codes, allowing you to have multiple ‘categories’ of codes
Constraint (Flags)
These are used to enforce dates when a Task can happen outside of the logic defined by the links.
(stopping a task starting before a certain date, or stopping a task finishing after a certain date). Using
Constraint Flags within the project can have a major effect on your Critical Path
Consumable Resource
This is a resource once used, does not exist to be used again. (e.g. Materials)
Cost Centre
These are items that represent the costs you wish to record in a project (e.g. Labour, materials, plant )
They are used to assign costs to Tasks either directly or indirectly via Cost and Income Rates on a
resource. Cost Centres can be used to represent money coming in to the project (Income) aswell as
money leaving the project
Cost and Income Rates

These are items that can be assigned to Resources to show how much they cost per ‘time unit’. It could
be a daily cost or even an hourly rate. These act as the ‘middle man’ between Cost Centres and
Resources allowing Cost Centres to be used indirectly
Critical Path
This is the sequence of tasks though a project whose duration affects the project end date & the overall
project duration. If any of the tasks on the critical path are changed the end date of the project will
change. It is shown as a red outline on Tasks and as red Links.

Powerproject 59
Date Zero
Normally at the start of the project, but can be moved without affecting the project. Date Zero is the point
where the elapsed week ruler in the Date Zone starts counting.
Date Zone
This is the area above your project that contains rulers of information (e.g. Elapsed week numbers, week
start).
Exceptions
These are working or non working types used to make up the work patterns used in calenders . e.g.
holidays, working, overtime etc.
Expanded Task
This type of task is similar to a Summary Task in that it is used to group together Tasks within the project.
Unlike a Summary Task, the content is held off the main chart in its own Sub Chart.
Filter
This is a tool that will leave on screen only those items that meet a particular criteria, for example all the
items that a particular contractor is doing (Code based filtering) or everything happening during a 6 week
period (time based filtering) even to show only those items that have been completed (Progress based
filtering)
Float
This appears on items that are not on the Critical Path. Float is the amount of time a Task may be
delayed or extended before the item re-joins the critical path and pushes out the end date of the project.
Free Float
Free float means that if the task is extended or delayed in anyway during its period of float only this item
is affected, nothing else will move.
Lag (Links)
A link that has a delay at its start or finish end. Usually used at the start end of a link to allow a period of
waiting time before the successor task. It is shown as the horizontal part on a Link (e.g. Concrete curing
time, paint drying time or just delivery times).
Library Explorer
An area that allows you to navigate all of the folders of items used in your project. (Cost Centres,
Calendars, Codes, Permanent Resources etc.) Some library items are displayed in the Project View
others can only be viewed & edited from the Library explorer (e.g. Exceptions, Link Categories, and
Currency)
Link
The relationship between two tasks, displayed as an arrow. If shown in red then the link is Critical.
Mid-link
A link that starts anywhere along the duration of a task rather than from (or to) the start or end of the
Task.
Milestones
Milestones are points in time; they have no duration (0 days) and are used to represent key events within
projects. (E.g. Handover)
Permanent Resource
This is a resource that once used, remains to be used again. (e.g. People, machinery)
Progress (Period)
The progress report date; the date at which progress is updated to the project. Can be displayed as a line
going down the screen that will bend to the left to show items behind time and bend to the right to show
items ahead of time.

60 Powerproject
Project View
The white window that opens on the left hand side of the screen. Used to navigate around the project,
and to view & assign items into the project like Code Libraries, Cost Centres, Permanent Resources,
Consumable Resources and Calendars.
Sort
To Re-order the project according to a set of criteria. E.g. the project tasks could group together all the
tasks according to the code that has been assigned to them.
Spreadsheet (Table)
This is the yellow and white stripped table down the left hand side of the screen (assuming the Project
View is closed) The Spreadsheet is made up of different columns which contain data fields. Columns can
be removed, added and moved within a table.
Summary
This type of task groups together Tasks on screen. The tasks can be rolled up & hidden so only the
summary is shown. Items are grouped because they share certain information, for example, summaries
could be used to group together all the Tasks on different floors. A Summary could also be used to show
different phases or stages within a project. Multiple summaries can be placed inside of each other
allowing a project structure or hierarchy to be created.
Task
The activities that appear within a Bar on the Bar Chart.
Task Pool
A series of tasks that are saved to be re used. Useful if the same sequence of tasks is repeated regularly.
The Task Pools are displayed in the project view.
Template
A template is a project file that is used when creating a new project. A Template typically contain items
needed in all new projects i.e. Calendars, Permanent Resources, Cost Centres, Code Libraries, Task
Pools.
Total Float
Total float means that if the task is extended or delayed during its period of float, then all items directly
after it (those containing Float) will also be affected as well.
UDF
A User Defined Field. The software already has a large range of data fields that can be used. UDF’s are
created by the user for additional reporting needs e.g. to record notes or have a tick box to indicate
whether an H&S check has been completed.
View
A view is the method used for the software to remember screen settings. When saved the
‘View’ will remember if the Project View is opened or closed, it will remember the current column
configuration within the Spreadsheet. It will also remember the current settings of the Bar Chart, the Date
Zone and finally whether there are any Filters or Sorts running within the program. Putting all of this
together a view is the ability to change all of these settings to a predefined set by only doing one click of
the mouse. The software can have unlimited number of views saved.

Powerproject 61
NEC Exercise 1
Open Garden Office.pp
Time Risk
 Go to Project tab, User Field Manager and in the dialogue choose Bar
 Click Add and create a ‘Time Risk’ UDF into which you type in your ‘Time Risk’
 In the table right click on a column header and select Add Column, User Fields,
Time_Risk
 Type in a Time Risk amount for your tasks
Linking
 The programme planned completion must be no longer than 8 working weeks

 The Start date of the programme will be next Monday
 Create a fully linked programme with the tasks contained in the Garden Office to
highlight the critical path
 N.B some tasks will need to happen at the same time as other tasks in order for you
to stay within the 8w time period
 Tasks which attract float must also have links to successor tasks
Terminal Float
The completion date will be the 10th Friday after the project start date.
 On the next line after Planned Completion, draw a task from your Planned
Completion date to the Completion date and call it Terminal float
 Add a milestone on the next line and call it Completion Date
 Link these tasks together and reschedule
 Make this new Terminal Float task into a buffer task
 Assign a start on or after constraint flag to the Completion Date milestone
Terminal Float Table
 Add a Buffer Consumption column as well as an Original Buffer Task Duration

column and save this table as Terminal Float Table
 Add an additional 4d to Roof and reschedule, note the effect to the Terminal Float
task
 Undo x2
 Change your table back to the default table
Save

62 Powerproject
NEC Exercise 2
Adding resources to the Project
 Open the Library Explorer

 Under Permanent Resources create a new folder called Garden Labour
 Inside this folder Create Bricklayers, Carpenters, Roofers and Labourer
 In their properties change their Calculated Parameter to Effort
Adding Responsibilities
Still in the Library Explorer:
 Select Code Libraries

 Create a new folder called Responsibilities
 In the Responsibilities folder add in Client, Contractor and Sub-Contractor
 Select the Bar Chart View Tab:
Creating a Table
In the table area:
 Right click on an existing column and add in an Allocation column

 Again right click on an existing column and add in the Task.Responsibilities
column, rename it to just Responsibilities
 Save the table as ‘ Resource Table’
Resource Allocating
To allocate resources to the tasks:
 In the Project View to the left of the screen click on the + symbol next to Permanent
Resources, Garden Labour
 Left click on a resource and drag your chosen resource to the required task, letting
go of the mouse button when allocated
 In the Allocation column type in how many of each resource you are employing for
each task
Code Library allocating
 In the Responsibilities column select who has responsibility for what
Save

Powerproject 63
NEC Exercise 3
Hammocks
 From the menu at the top of the screen click on the Home tab and create a
Hammock at the bottom of the programme and call it Scaffold
 Add the Walls task and the Watertight milestone to the hammock
Creating Costs
 Open the Library Explorer

 On the left of the screen select Cost Centre
 On the right of the screen create a new cost centre called Scaffold Cost
 The properties of this cost will be:
o Calculation Type – Time Based
o Cost – £200/day
 Go back to the Bar Chart View tab
Looking at cost
 Go to the View tab, table shortcut button and from the list choose the ‘Default Table’
 Right click on any existing column and choose Add Column, Cost or Income, Cost
 When the Table Definition dialogue pops up rename the column to Planned cost
and point it to the current baseline
 Add another cost column and rename this to Current cost (Leave the Data pointing
at Live)
 Save this table as Cost Table
Allocating Cost
 From the Project View on the left of the screen left click on the Scaffold cost drag it
and drop it onto the Scaffold hammock
 The cost will automatically show how much the scaffold cost is
 N.B the Planned cost column will show as blank as there is no baseline on this
project yet
Save

64 Powerproject
NEC Exercise 4
Baseline
 Baseline your Garden Office project

 N.B the Planned cost column will now be reflecting the current cost column (you may
need to press F5 to refresh the screen)
Compensation Event
The client has decided that they would like the addition of a skylight to the roof , therefore a
compensation event needs to be added into the programme
 Insert a 4 day Skylight task between Roof and Watertight, connecting it to the
programme using finish to start links
 Right click on the task and make it into an Expanded task
 Double click on this task and add the following tasks:
o Add hole to roof 2d
o Fit Skylight 1d
o Finish/Weather tight 1d
 In the Project View click back on Programme
 Make the Terminal Float (buffer task) into a normal task (right click on the task, Make
into, Task)
 Reschedule
 N.B the difference to the Contract Completion and the baseline and also the
increase in scaffolding costs
Compensation Event Accepted
 Make the Terminal Float task back into a buffer task and move the flag to the new
Completion Date
 Create a new baseline called Rev 1 and set it as current
 In the bar chart, right click and select Format Bar Chart, Baselines
 Untick your original baseline leaving your Rev 1 baseline ticked
Click Close

Powerproject 65
NEC Exercise 5
In the Library Explorer:
Progress
 Go to the Library Explorer

 Create 4 progress weeks starting from the 16th of January
 Go back to the Bar Chart View tab
 Right click in the bar chart and select Format Bar Chart, Progress
 Tick the Lines On and Progress entry date only boxes and un-tick all weeks apart
from week 1
 Close the Format Bar Chart dialogue
 From the table shortcut button on the View tab, select Progress, Progress - with a
Baseline
Adding Progress
Week 1
 In the % Complete column mark Design as 10%

 Press Reschedule against week 1
 N.B the Planned Completion should have moved but not the Completion Date
 Next to the task, add an annotation to show reasons for delay and how you are going
to mitigate this
Baseline
 On acceptance by the Project Manager, a baseline can now be created to monitor

against the most up-to date programme, call this baseline Rev1
Week 2
 On the Home tab, in the progress area, change the progress to week 2
 In the % Complete column mark Design as 100% complete
 Press Reschedule against week 2
Save

66 Powerproject
NEC3 Course – PowerPoint slides

Powerproject 67

68 Powerproject

Powerproject 69

70 Powerproject

Powerproject 71

72 Powerproject
Satisfying NEC Programme requirements using

Powerproject - What Next?
1. Identify the next Powerproject course for you:
 Managing Costs & Resources

Learn to produce cashflow forecasts & track resource usage in projects
 Progress Analysis & S Curve Reporting with Powerproject

Learn to accurately monitor progress & produce S Curves to demonstrate progress
trends in a project.
 Introduction to Powerproject BIM

Learn how to visualise your projects in 4D.
Check our website or call us for available dates.
2. Find out your Serial Number and write it here. You’ll need this should you have to call
our Helpdesk
Serial No. ………………………………
3. Use your serial number to create a login to the Customer Support Portal at
http://support.elecosoft.com for access to FAQ’s, advice & the latest software releases.
Support lapsed?
A current support contract provides unlimited access to our Helpdesk & access to the
latest software releases via our Online Support Portal.
Contact 01844 261700 for a quotation to renew

NEC Course Manual

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

NEC Course Manual

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Powerproject Technical Support:

Tel: 01844 261 609

For upgrades to the latest version and further training

For information on further training courses:

Copyright  Elecosoft UK Ltd

 Elecosoft UK Ltd Apr-18

 Elecosoft UK Ltd Apr-18

During the day you will learn how to

 Set Time Risk Allowance

Topics will be backed up by exercises

This booklet is yours to take away

 Elecosoft UK Ltd Apr-18

Time Risk Allowance

User Defined Field

To add the new column into the existing table

 The column can now be freely written into

Showing Time Risk in a Formula

Percentage Risk column

 Add a field for Integer

 Right click on an existing column header and select Table Definition

 Elecosoft UK Ltd Apr-18

 Use the following formula:

 Elecosoft UK Ltd Apr-18

To create the Non Risk Duration Column:

 Right click on an existing column header and select Table Definition

 Use the following formula:

 Elecosoft UK Ltd Apr-18

There are 4 types of link:

Start – Start Finish – Start Start – Finish Finish- Finish

Links are drawn between tasks using following cursor shapes:

End link Cursor:

Start link Cursor:

To draw a finish to Start link between 2 tasks

 Elecosoft UK Ltd Apr-18

 Release the mouse when the Start Link cursor is displayed

 Click elsewhere on the bar chart to deselect the link

 Release the mouse when the corresponding link cursor is displayed

 Left click and keep the mouse button held down

 Elecosoft UK Ltd Apr-18

 Draw a Finish to Start link

 Select the link (it will show as green)

 Drag the link to the correct position

 Elecosoft UK Ltd Apr-18

 Select the tasks that you want to link

Finish to Start links are placed between each of the tasks

Link tasks mode

 Select the task you wish to link from

 Click on or draw the task you wish to link to

To exit Link Tasks mode:

 Home tab, in the Schedule group,

Linking tasks without drawing on the Bar Chart

Right click on a task or tasks on the Bar Chart

 Select Linking > Add Link

 The Link From/To dialogue box is displayed

 Indicate if you are linking from or to the selected

 Identify the task you are linking to by name or ID

 Select the type of link & any lag

The Wild Card

 Elecosoft UK Ltd Apr-18

Using the Predecessor/Successor table

Navigate the Logic and Edit the links

 Double click on a task to open its Properties

 Elecosoft UK Ltd Apr-18