PlanIQ guides

Quick start getting-started

PlanIQ adds two ribbon tabs to Excel: PlanIQ Workbench (WBS styling, visual reports, build lists, sheet utilities) and PlanIQ P6 Bridge (reading, reviewing, fixing and updating Primavera P6 schedules).

The usual flow

1. Open the tool from the ribbon. Every window has a header with a ? button at the top right and a ? Help button at the bottom; both (and the F1 key) open the page for that window on this site.
2. Choose the source - a P6 Professional standalone database (.db, SQLite) or an XER file - then pick the project (see Source).
3. Set the options in the cards and press the gold action button at the bottom right.
4. Read the result on the new PlanIQ_... sheet. Review tools only read your data. Tools that change a schedule (Progress Update, Solve OOS, Split Revision, the Resource and Database tools) show a preview first and write either a new copy or the original after a timestamped backup.

Help and updates

Ribbon › PlanIQ Workbench › Help has Quick Start, Online Help, About PlanIQ, Check for Updates and Update Manager (see Update Manager).

Install and enable install

PlanIQ is a native Excel add-in (an .xll) installed by a small script in the download. Windows and 64-bit Excel are required.

Install

1. Download the latest ZIP from Updates. Close Excel.
2. Extract the whole ZIP to a folder (right-click › Extract All). Do not run Install.bat from inside the ZIP.
3. Double-click Install.bat. It copies PlanIQ to %USERPROFILE%\Documents\PlanIQ2, registers PlanIQ2_64.xll with Excel so it loads at start-up, and adds the folder as an Excel Trusted Location.
4. Start Excel. The PlanIQ Workbench and PlanIQ P6 Bridge tabs appear on the ribbon.

Uninstall

Close Excel and run Uninstall.bat from the same download folder.

If the tabs do not appear

• Check File › Options › Add-ins › Manage: Disabled Items and re-enable PlanIQ.
• If Windows blocked the ZIP, right-click the ZIP › Properties › tick Unblock, then extract again and re-run Install.bat.
• Confirm Excel is 64-bit (File › Account › About Excel).

See also Troubleshooting.

XER and P6 database source data-source

Review and update tools start from the same source selector.

• Press F9 (Schedule) in P6 before exporting so the dates and float in the file are current.
• For baseline comparisons choose the baseline as a second project (or a second file) in the Baseline card.
• If a database cannot be opened, close it in P6 or copy the .db file and point PlanIQ at the copy.
• Durations and float are converted from hours to days using each activity's calendar.

Calendar picker calendar-picker

Every date field in PlanIQ opens the same pop-up.

1. Click a date field (for example the data date or look-ahead start). The calendar opens.
2. Move between months with the arrows in the month header and click a day.
3. TODAY jumps to today's date; NOW sets today with the current time.
4. For fields that carry a time, pick a time chip (00:00, 08:00, 17:00, 20:00) or type the time.
5. Click SELECT to confirm, or Close to leave the field unchanged.

Project picker project-picker

Appears when a source file holds more than one project (an XER with several projects, or a database with an EPS tree).

1. Expand the EPS / project list and click the project you want.
2. Where the tool allows several projects, tick each one.
3. Press the confirm button. The tool continues with the chosen project(s).

Baselines of a database project appear in the Baseline card of tools that compare, not in this list.

Color by WBS color-by-wbs

Color rows by WBS level using the active style (WBS = row with an empty Activity Name)

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › WBS Styling › Color by WBS

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The Color by WBS window opens.
2. Set the options in Colour Options:
   • Palette
   • Colour applies to - choose Entire row / Activity ID + Name only
   • Borders - tick to switch on (Thin border around WBS band rows)
   • Activity rows - tick to switch on (Clear fill on activity rows)
   • Remember - tick to switch on (Use this palette for the HTML export too)
3. Press APPLY COLOURS. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Colours each WBS band row with the fill, text colour and font size of its level in the chosen palette (15 levels).

Palettes: Blueprint, Custom 1-4 and Colour Tool 1-5 (the options of your Colour Tool workbook). Edit them in Style & Color Manager.

Group by WBS group-by-wbs

Apply Excel outline levels from the WBS hierarchy

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › WBS Styling › Group by WBS
PlanIQ Workbench › WBS Styling › Remove Grouping

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The Group by WBS window opens.
2. Set the options in Grouping Options:
   • Maximum outline levels (1 - 7 WBS levels (activities sit one level deeper))
   • Summary rows - tick to switch on (Show the +/- button above the detail (WBS band on top))
   • Collapse to level (0 = leave expanded)
3. Press APPLY GROUPING. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Sets each row's outline level from its detected WBS level so the schedule can be expanded and collapsed with the Excel outline buttons.

Roll-up Totals rollup-totals

Sum child activities into each WBS row

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › WBS Styling › Roll-up Totals

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The Roll-up Totals window opens.
2. Set the options in Roll-up Options:
   • Function - choose Sum / Average / Max / Min
   • check
3. Press WRITE TOTALS. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Writes SUBTOTAL formulas into every WBS band row covering the activities beneath it, for the numeric columns you tick.

Style and Color Manager style-manager

Defines how WBS band rows look: fill colour, text colour and font size for each of 15 WBS levels, in 10 palettes.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › WBS Styling › Style & Color Manager...

1. Open the window. The Palettes card shows the palette chips; the active one is marked.
2. Click a palette chip to edit it. For each of the 15 level rows, set the fill swatch, the text swatch and the font size.
3. Save. The saved palette is available in Color by WBS, Group by WBS and the HTML export.

Palettes in the Color by WBS list: Blueprint, Custom 1-4 and Colour Tool 1-5.

Export Gantt Report (HTML) wbs-html-report

Builds an interactive HTML Gantt report from the active sheet. Each report field is mapped to a column of your sheet.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › WBS Styling › Export Gantt Report (HTML)...

1. Activate the sheet that holds your schedule (headers in a single header row).
2. Open the window. The mapping list is grouped as Identification, Dates & Schedule, Progress & Performance, Cost, Resources & Logic and Constraints.
3. For every field choose the sheet column that holds it; leave a field blank if the sheet does not have it. The mapping is remembered for next time.
4. Build the report and save the HTML file when asked.

The WBS colours in the report follow the palette last chosen in the Style & Color Manager when Remember was ticked in Color by WBS.

WBS Chart wbs-chart

Interactive WBS tree from a P6 database or XER file

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Visual Reports › WBS Chart...

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The WBS Chart window opens.
2. Choose the source: P6 Database (a P6 Professional standalone SQLite .db file) or XER File. Browse to the file; when it holds several projects, pick the project from the list.
3. Set the options in Chart Options:
   • Colour cards by - choose Progress / Hierarchy level / Critical share / Activity volume
   • Starting layout - choose Vertical tree / Horizontal tree / Outline list
4. Press BUILD WBS CHART. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Builds an interactive WBS tree: every WBS node shows its activity count, weighted progress and critical activities, rolled up from the activities beneath it.

In the report: search, depth slider, three layouts, colour modes, click a node for its activity list, 'Focus this branch', CSV and SVG export.

Activity Code Chart code-chart

Code types, values and assigned activities as a tree

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Visual Reports › Activity Code Chart...

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The Activity Code Chart window opens.
2. Choose the source: P6 Database (a P6 Professional standalone SQLite .db file) or XER File. Browse to the file; when it holds several projects, pick the project from the list.
3. Set the options in Chart Options:
   • Colour cards by - choose Hierarchy level / Progress / Critical share / Activity volume
   • Starting layout - choose Vertical tree / Horizontal tree / Outline list
   • Code type filter (Exact code type name; blank = all types)
4. Press BUILD CODE CHART. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Draws the activity-code dictionary as a tree (code type > code values > child values). Each node rolls up the activities assigned to it, with progress and critical counts.

Activities with no code at all are counted as 'Unassigned' in the statistics panel.

Activity Tracker activity-tracker

Logic network, decomposition tree and path finder

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Visual Reports › Activity Tracker...

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The Activity Tracker window opens.
2. Choose the source: P6 Database (a P6 Professional standalone SQLite .db file) or XER File. Browse to the file; when it holds several projects, pick the project from the list.
3. Set the options in Tracker Options:
   • Open in view - choose Network diagram / Decomposition tree
   • Tree root activity ID (Only used by the decomposition tree)
4. Press BUILD TRACKER. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Interactive logic explorer: layered network diagram (by logic rank) and a decomposition tree that expands successors or predecessors one card at a time.

Path finder: enter a start and end activity to get the fewest-link path or the longest-duration path, with durations, lags and float, highlighted on the diagram. Export the filtered activity list to CSV.

Power BI Export power-bi-export

Build or append Dashboard_Database.xlsx for Power BI

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Visual Reports › Power BI Export...

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The Power BI Export window opens.
2. Choose the source: P6 Database (a P6 Professional standalone SQLite .db file) or XER File. Browse to the file; when it holds several projects, pick the project from the list. A Baseline project (optional) can be chosen the same way.
3. Set the options in Workbook Options:
   • Target Excel file
   • Workbook update mode - choose Append data-date history / Replace current data
   • Resource units - choose Hours / Days / Months
   • Relationships - tick to switch on (Include the Relationships table)
   • WBS - tick to switch on (Include the WBS table)
   • Resources - tick to switch on (Include the Resources table (costs and units))
4. Press EXPORT POWER BI DATA. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Writes the current schedule (and optional baseline dates) into Excel tables for Power BI.

Append keeps every earlier data date and replaces rows only when the same data date is exported again (you are asked first). Replace clears the tables and writes the current data only.

Resource units: hours as stored in P6, days = hours / 8, months = hours / 160 (material quantities are not converted).

Baseline: choose a baseline project and its dates appear as BL_Start / BL_Finish with variances.

S-Curve s-curve

Builds a planned / actual / forecast S-curve report from P6 data, in four flavours: cost (expenses), labour units, non-labour units and material quantities.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Visual Reports › S-Curve (and S-Curve Expenses / Labour Units / Non-Labour Units / Material Quantities). S-Curve Focus Panel re-opens the panel for the last curve.

1. Choose the source (P6 Database or XER File) and the project.
2. Choose a Baseline. Planned = the baseline you select. With no baseline, planned = the P6 target values and dates of the current file, which many updated schedules overwrite - pick a baseline for a true planned curve.
3. Set the curve options: cost scope (expenses only, resource costs only, or total), display unit (hours / days / months for unit curves), reporting frequency (weekly, monthly, quarterly), calculation basis (budgeted values or percentage of total), an optional WBS text filter and an optional resource / expense filter. Tick Details sheet to create the WBS-outline details sheet straight away.
4. Press BUILD S-CURVE.

What you get

A new sheet with a KPI strip, a period table and a combo chart. Actual runs up to the data date; forecast continues from it. The PlanIQ Focus panel opens beside the sheet: tick the trades / resources and WBS elements to include, choose a period range, redraw the curve, or create the WBS-outline details sheet.

Gantt by Shapes gantt-shapes

Draws a Gantt chart next to a schedule table using Excel shapes (bars, baseline, progress and milestones).

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Visual Reports › Gantt by Shapes...

1. Activate the sheet that holds the schedule table.
2. Open the window and set: Time scale (Daily / Weekly / Monthly), Bar colours (PlanIQ slate and amber, Status blue / green / grey, or Classic blue and green), Row height in points, and an optional Status date line (blank = none).
3. Tick what to Show: Baseline, Progress, Critical (float <= 0), WBS summary bars.
4. If your headers differ from the standard names, use Column override, for example Start=Early Start; Finish=Early Finish.
5. Press the build button. Use Insert Legend, Print Setup..., Export to PDF... and Clear Gantt from the same ribbon group.

Gantt by Cells gantt-cells

Draws the Gantt by colouring worksheet cells, so it recalculates and filters with the sheet.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Visual Reports › Gantt by Cells...

The window has the same options as Gantt by Shapes (time scale, bar colours, row height, status date line, what to show, column override). Choose them, press the build button, and the timeline is painted to the right of the table.

Gantt Look-ahead Window gantt-lookahead

Hide rows that are not active inside a date window

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Visual Reports › Look-ahead Window...

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The Gantt Look-ahead Window window opens.
2. Set the options in Window:
   • Action - choose Hide rows outside the window / Show all rows
   • Window start (pick the first day of the window)
   • Window length (weeks)
   • WBS rows - tick to switch on (Keep a WBS row when any activity under it stays visible)
3. Press APPLY WINDOW. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Look-ahead filter for weekly coordination meetings: activities whose [Start, Finish] overlaps the window stay visible; everything else is hidden. Use 'Show all rows' to restore.

Gantt Print Setup gantt-print

Landscape, one page wide, repeated headers

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Visual Reports › Print Setup...

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The Gantt Print Setup window opens.
2. Set the options in Page:
   • Paper size - choose A4 / A3 / A2
   • Fit - tick to switch on (Also fit to ONE page tall (small schedules only))
3. Press APPLY SETUP. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Sets the print area to the data plus the timeline, repeats the header rows on every page, landscape orientation, fit to one page wide, narrow margins and a page-number footer.

Export Gantt to PDF gantt-pdf

Print setup plus PDF export

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Visual Reports › Export to PDF...

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The Export Gantt to PDF window opens.
2. Set the options in Export:
   • Save PDF as (.pdf)
   • Paper size - choose A4 / A3 / A2
   • After saving - tick to switch on (Open the PDF)
3. Press EXPORT PDF. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Applies the print setup (landscape, one page wide, repeated headers) and exports the active sheet as a PDF.

Build Lists (WBS, resources, codes, activities) build-lists

The Build Lists group builds the lists that feed a P6 import - WBS, resource dictionary, activity codes and activity list - in side panes next to your sheet. These panes have no pop-up window, so there is no Help button; this page is the guide.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Build Lists.

1. Start with the Load Example button to see a filled sheet, or New ... Sheet to start from an empty template.
2. Fill in the sheet, then press the Validate / Check button and fix what it reports.
3. Open the Panel to preview the result and export it.

Field Mapper field-mapper

Moves data from one layout to another: for example a contractor's Excel programme into the column order a P6 import (or the PlanIQ activity list) needs.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › Field Mapper
PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › New Mapping Template Sheet

Before you start

Source data with a header row. Decide the target: P6 activity layout, PlanIQ activity list, or another sheet.

Steps

1. Choose source sheet and header row.
2. Choose the target layout.
3. Check the automatic matches (change any with the dropdowns).
4. Press COPY MAPPED DATA.

What you get

A new sheet PlanIQ_Mapped (or rows added to the chosen target sheet) in the target column order. The mapping is saved on PlanIQ_Mapping and reused next time.

How to check the result

The message gives the row count - compare with the source. Check the first and last rows and one date and one number column.

WBS to Levels wbs-to-levels

Splits a WBS code such as 1.2.3 (or A-B-C, A / B / C) into Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 columns.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › WBS to Levels

Before you start

A column of WBS codes with a header.

Steps

1. Click WBS to Levels.
2. Confirm the header row and WBS column.
3. Separator is auto-detected - change it if wrong.
4. Choose what the level columns contain and the layout.
5. CREATE LEVELS.

What you get

New columns Level 1..N (and a Level number column) to the right of the code column. The original column is kept.

How to check the result

For the deepest code, the last Level column must equal the full code (with the 'cumulative code' option). The Level column must equal the number of segments.

Levels to WBS Code levels-to-wbs

The reverse: joins Level 1..N columns back into one WBS code or path.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › Levels to WBS Code

Before you start

Level columns next to each other with a header row.

Steps

1. Choose first and last level column and the join character.
2. Name the new column.
3. CREATE WBS COLUMN.

What you get

A new column with the joined WBS.

How to check the result

Compare with an existing WBS column - they must be identical.

WBS Picker wbs-picker

Adds cascading dropdowns (Level 1, then only the matching Level 2, then Level 3) to a sheet, so users cannot type a wrong WBS, and returns the WBS code automatically.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › WBS Picker
PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › Refresh Picker Lists
PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › Remove Picker Dropdowns

Before you start

A source sheet listing the WBS with Level columns (and optionally a code column), and a target sheet with Level columns.

Steps

1. Click WBS Picker.
2. Choose the source sheet and its header row, the code column and the levels.
3. Choose the target sheet, header row and which target columns are Level 1, 2, 3.
4. Choose the rows to cover.
5. APPLY.

What you get

Dropdown lists in the Level cells of the target sheet; the lists are kept on the hidden sheet PlanIQ_WBSLists.

How to check the result

Click a Level 1 cell and choose a value, then click the Level 2 cell in the same row: only the children of that Level 1 are offered.

Split Text split-text

Splits one column of text into several columns (or rows) at a delimiter, with trimming and safe handling of codes.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › Split Text

Before you start

Select the cells to split (or one cell to take the whole column).

Steps

1. Click Split Text.
2. Choose the delimiter (or custom text) and the result type.
3. Tick trim / merge options.
4. SPLIT.

What you get

New columns to the right (cells shift) - or overwritten cells, or extra rows. Headings are named 'Heading 1, 2 ...'.

How to check the result

The message shows the first row as an example: original -> parts. Check the column count matches the longest text.

Paste Visible Only paste-visible

Pastes copied data only into the rows you can see (a filtered list), leaving hidden rows untouched - normal Excel paste overwrites the hidden rows too.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › Paste Visible Only

Before you start

Copy cells (Ctrl+C). Filter the target sheet, then select the first target cell (or the whole target range).

Steps

1. Click Paste Visible Only.
2. Choose auto or text-only values.
3. PASTE.

What you get

Values placed in visible rows (and visible columns) only. A single copied value fills every visible selected cell.

How to check the result

Clear the filter: the formerly hidden rows must still hold their old values; the visible rows hold the new ones. The message lists skipped and non-fitting rows.

Clean Text clean-text

Removes extra spaces, non-breaking spaces and hidden characters, and optionally changes the letter case - the usual reason a lookup or Activity ID match fails.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › More Tools › Clean Text

Before you start

Select the text cells.

Steps

1. Run Clean Text.
2. Tick what to clean.
3. CLEAN.

What you get

Cleaned text in place. Numbers and formulas are not touched.

How to check the result

The message lists up to five before -> after examples. LEN() of a cleaned cell is shorter.

Fix Numbers and Dates fix-numbers-dates

Converts text that only looks like a number or date (' 1,250.50 ', (300), 15/10/2026) into real values that Excel can add and sort.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › More Tools › Fix Numbers and Dates

Before you start

Select the cells. Know whether your dates are day-first.

Steps

1. Run Fix Numbers and Dates.
2. Tick numbers and / or dates and day-first.
3. CONVERT.

What you get

Real numbers (right-aligned) and dates formatted dd-mmm-yyyy.

How to check the result

The message lists examples. Select the cells: the status bar must show a SUM / Average. Codes like 007 stay text.

Find Duplicates find-duplicates

Highlights repeated Activity IDs, WBS codes or any value.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › More Tools › Find Duplicates

Before you start

Select the column (or one cell for the whole column).

Steps

1. Run Find Duplicates.
2. Choose highlight or remove highlight.
3. RUN.

What you get

Duplicate cells highlighted amber.

How to check the result

The message gives the number of duplicated values and examples. Filter by colour to list them.

Fill Blanks, Unhide All and Undo sheet-quick-tools

Fills empty cells with the value above them - typical for WBS or area columns exported with merged cells.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › More Tools › Fill Blanks Down
PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › More Tools › Unhide All Rows and Columns
PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › Undo Last Change

Fill Blanks Down

Before you start

Select the column (or one cell to take the whole column).

Steps

1. Run Fill Blanks Down.
2. PlanIQ shows how many blanks it found and an example.
3. Confirm.

What you get

Blank cells filled from the value above; filled cells keep the original text format.

How to check the result

The message gives the count and examples. Use Ctrl+F5 filter 'Blanks' - none must remain inside the range.

Unhide All Rows and Columns

Before you start

None.

Steps

Run Unhide All.

What you get

Everything visible.

How to check the result

The message reports how many rows and columns were hidden.

Undo Last Change

Before you start

Run it right after the tool, before other changes.

Steps

Click Undo Last Change.

What you get

Original values, formulas and number formats back.

How to check the result

Compare with the original; the message gives the number of ranges restored.

CAD Text to Table cad-text-table

Turns pasted AutoCAD LIST / attribute / property text ('Layer: WALL', 'Length = 12.5') into a table without the live AutoCAD link.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › CAD Text to Table

Before you start

Copy the AutoCAD text, or select cells with one text line per cell.

Steps

1. Click CAD Text to Table.
2. Choose clipboard or cells.
3. CREATE TABLE.

What you get

A new sheet with one row per record and one column per field; units such as m, m2 are moved into the heading.

How to check the result

Number of records in the message must match the number of objects you listed.

CAD Quantity Summary cad-quantity

Totals a take-off table by layer, block or any category using live SUMIF / COUNTIF formulas.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › CAD Quantity Summary

Before you start

A table with a header row (layer / type column and quantity columns).

Steps

1. Choose the grouping column.
2. Tick the quantity columns.
3. BUILD SUMMARY.

What you get

A new sheet PlanIQ_CAD_Summary with Count and totals per group and a TOTAL row.

How to check the result

The TOTAL row must equal the SUM of each quantity column in the source.

Read AutoCAD Drawing cad-read

Connects to the AutoCAD drawing that is open on your computer and lists the work items (for example Foundation, Sub-structure, Road area) with their quantities, so progress can be recorded per item and marked on the drawing.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › Read AutoCAD Drawing

Before you start

Open the drawing in AutoCAD. Layers should be named by work item (FOUNDATION, SUBSTRUCTURE, ROAD-BASE ...). AutoCAD and Excel must both be running normally (not 'Run as administrator').

Steps

1. Click Read AutoCAD Drawing.
2. Choose what to read, how items are made (layer / prefix / block), the quantity measure and the drawing units.
3. Tick the layers that hold work items.
4. Press READ DRAWING.

What you get

PlanIQ_CAD_Items: one row per work item with quantity, a yellow Completed % column, optional weight and P6 Activity ID, the overall % and a bar chart. PlanIQ_CAD_Entities: one row per drawing object (handle, layer, quantity, optional own %).

How to check the result

Compare a quantity with AutoCAD: select the layer's objects and look at the Properties area / length. The Objects column must equal the number of objects on that layer.

Mark Progress in AutoCAD cad-mark

Colours the completed portions in the drawing from the Completed % on the items sheet, then saves a PDF and opens it in a new window.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › Mark in AutoCAD

Before you start

Enter the Completed % in the yellow column of PlanIQ_CAD_Items (or pull it from P6).

Steps

1. Click Mark in AutoCAD.
2. Choose 'exactly as entered' or 'spread the item % along the drawing'.
3. Choose colours.
4. OK - AutoCAD updates and the PDF opens.

What you get

In AutoCAD: completed objects green, in-progress yellow, not-started red or unchanged; partly complete lines / polylines show only the completed length; labels with item % and a legend. On the entities sheet column M shows what was marked. A PDF is saved in Documents\PlanIQ.

How to check the result

Open the PDF: the legend lists each item with its %. Entities sheet column M must be 100% for green objects. Overall progress on PlanIQ_CAD_Items!C4 is the weighted figure.

Mark Selected Objects cad-mark-selected

You select the finished objects in AutoCAD and PlanIQ records their Completed %.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › Mark Selected Objects

Before you start

Run Read AutoCAD Drawing first. In AutoCAD select the built objects so they show grips.

Steps

1. Select in AutoCAD.
2. Run Mark Selected Objects.
3. Enter the % (100 for complete).

What you get

Those objects get their own % on the entities sheet (column H) and are coloured in AutoCAD.

How to check the result

The dialog states how many selected objects were found on the sheet. Filter column H on PlanIQ_CAD_Entities to list them.

Progress from P6 (CAD items) cad-progress-p6

Fill Completed % from P6 activities by Activity ID

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › Progress from P6

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The CAD Items - Progress from P6 window opens.
2. Choose the source: P6 Database (a P6 Professional standalone SQLite .db file) or XER File. Browse to the file; when it holds several projects, pick the project from the list.
3. Set the options in Options:
   • Take % from - choose Physical % (duration % if blank) / Duration (schedule) % complete
   • Overwrite items that already have a % - tick to switch on
4. Press PULL PROGRESS. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Reads the % complete of each P6 activity listed in the Activity ID column of PlanIQ_CAD_Items and writes it into 'Completed % (enter)'. The drawing can then be marked with 'Mark in AutoCAD' - so the AutoCAD progress colours always agree with the P6 update.

Export PDF and Clear Marks cad-pdf-clear

Export PDF plots the current AutoCAD view to PDF and opens it. Clear Marks restores the original colours and removes labels, overlays and the legend.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › Export PDF
PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › Clear Marks

Before you start

AutoCAD open with the marked drawing.

Steps

Run Export PDF or Clear Marks.

What you get

A PDF in Documents\PlanIQ, or the drawing back as it was.

How to check the result

Open the PDF. After Clear Marks the layer PlanIQ_Progress is gone.

Build EVM from P6 evm-s-curve

Earned value from the P6 database or XER: KPIs, Earned Schedule, EAC range, WBS roll-up, drivers, trend chart and data-quality flags

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › Build EVM

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The EVM from P6 window opens.
2. Choose the source: P6 Database (a P6 Professional standalone SQLite .db file) or XER File. Browse to the file; when it holds several projects, pick the project from the list. A Baseline project (optional) can be chosen the same way.
3. Set the options in EVM Options:
   • Value basis - choose Cost (resources + expenses) / Labour hours
   • How EV % complete is taken - choose P6 % complete type of each activity / Duration % complete / Units % complete (actual / (actual + remaining)) / Physical % complete (duration if blank)
   • EAC method - choose 1 - BAC / CPI (past cost performance continues) / 2 - AC + (BAC - EV) (remaining work at budget rate) / 3 - AC + (BAC - EV) / (CPI x SPI) (cost and schedule both continue)
   • Trend frequency - choose Weekly / Monthly / Quarterly
   • WBS summary level (1 = top WBS node under the project, 2 = next level ...)
   • WBS filter (Text in the WBS path; blank = whole project)
   • Index alert threshold (SPI / CPI below this = amber; 0.05 below = red)
   • Top drivers to list (Per type (schedule / cost))
4. Press BUILD EVM REPORT. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Reads the activity budget (resource + expense cost, or labour hours), actual and remaining values, % complete and dates from the P6 database or XER and builds a full earned value report.

PV = baseline budget spread linearly between the baseline dates up to the data date (select a baseline project / baseline XER; without one the P6 target values and dates of the current file are used - many updated schedules overwrite them).

EV = budget x % complete (the % type you choose). AC = actual cost to the data date.

Earned Schedule (AACE / Lipke) gives SV(t) in days and a time-based forecast finish.

Output sheets: PlanIQ_EVM_P6 (KPIs, forecasts, findings), PlanIQ_EVM_WBS (by WBS level), PlanIQ_EVM_Drivers (largest schedule and cost variances), PlanIQ_EVM_Trend (period S-curve with chart), PlanIQ_EVM_Activities (every activity with data-quality flags).

Before you start

Have the XER file (File > Export > Primavera PM (XER) in P6) or the P6 standalone SQLite database ready. For a true planned value also have the approved BASELINE (a baseline project in the same file, or a separate baseline XER).

Steps

1. Click Build EVM and choose 'XER file' or 'P6 database'.
2. The file chooser opens - pick the file.
3. Pick the project, then the baseline (optional but strongly recommended).
4. Choose the value basis (cost or labour hours), how % complete is taken, the EAC method and the WBS level.
5. Press BUILD EVM REPORT.

What you get

Five sheets: PlanIQ_EVM_P6 (KPI cards, written findings, all EVM metrics, EAC range, Earned Schedule, data-quality notes), PlanIQ_EVM_WBS (roll-up by WBS with red/amber status), PlanIQ_EVM_Drivers (activities causing most of the schedule and cost variance), PlanIQ_EVM_Trend (period S-curve and chart), PlanIQ_EVM_Activities (every activity, with flags).

How to check the result

1. On PlanIQ_EVM_P6 check BAC against the total budget in P6 (Project > Summary).
2. PV + SV = EV: SV must equal EV minus PV.
3. On the WBS sheet the TOTAL row must equal the KPI cards.
4. Read the 'DATA QUALITY' lines - they list activities that cannot earn value or have inconsistent progress.
5. Spot-check one activity: BAC x % earned = EV.

Build EVM from Sheet evm-sheet

Earned value from any activity table in Excel (budget, planned %, % complete, actual cost) as live formulas.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › Build EVM from Sheet

Before you start

A table with a header row: Activity ID, Activity Name, WBS Code, Budget (BAC), Planned % (or Start/Finish), % Complete, Actual Cost. Click any cell in the table.

Steps

1. Build EVM > This Excel sheet.
2. Check the column matching (PlanIQ guesses from the headings).
3. Enter the data date.
4. Choose how PV and EV are taken, the EAC method and WBS level.
5. Press BUILD EVM REPORT.

What you get

A new sheet PlanIQ_EVM with KPIs in B8:B22 (BAC, PV, EV, AC, SV, CV, SPI, CPI, EAC, ETC, VAC, TCPI, %), a WBS roll-up and data checks, all as formulas that follow your table.

How to check the result

Compare BAC with the SUM of your budget column. Pick one activity and recalculate EV = BAC x % complete by hand. The check cell at the bottom of the WBS roll-up must be 0.

EVM History, Trend and Earned Schedule evm-history

Saves the current period's totals so a trend can be drawn later. Do this at every data date.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › Snapshot to EVM History
PlanIQ Workbench › Sheet Utilities › EVM Trend and Earned Schedule

Snapshot to EVM History

Before you start

Build the EVM sheet first (PlanIQ_EVM must exist).

Steps

Run Snapshot at each cut-off. A second snapshot for the same data date replaces the first.

What you get

A new row on PlanIQ_EVM_History with the data date, PV, EV, AC, SPI, CPI and EAC.

How to check the result

Open PlanIQ_EVM_History: the newest row must show today's data date and the same totals as the KPI block.

EVM Trend and Earned Schedule

Before you start

At least two snapshots on PlanIQ_EVM_History and the project start date.

Steps

Run EVM Trend.

What you get

Sheet PlanIQ_EVM_Trend with the table, chart and SV(t) / SPI(t).

How to check the result

SV(t) negative = behind schedule in days. If EV is lower than PV, ES must be earlier than the data date.

Float & Critical Path float-path

Total float distribution plus critical and near-critical activity list

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › P6 Live Database (read-only) › Float & Critical

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The Float & Critical Path window opens.
2. Choose the source: P6 Database (a P6 Professional standalone SQLite .db file) or XER File. Browse to the file; when it holds several projects, pick the project from the list.
3. Set the options in :
   • Near-critical threshold (working days) (Total float up to this value)
4. Press ANALYSE FLOAT. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Reads total float from the P6 database and converts it to working days with each activity's calendar.

Critical = TF <= 0; near-critical = 0 < TF <= threshold.

Output: PlanIQ_FloatBands (distribution) and PlanIQ_Critical (activity list incl. constraint and P6 driving-path flag).

Pull Schedule pull-schedule

Pull a project into a WBS-banded P6 layout sheet (works with the WBS and HTML tools)

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › P6 Live Database (read-only) › Pull Schedule

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The Pull Schedule window opens.
2. Choose the source: P6 Database (a P6 Professional standalone SQLite .db file) or XER File. Browse to the file; when it holds several projects, pick the project from the list. A Baseline project (optional) can be chosen the same way.
3. Press PULL SCHEDULE. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Creates PlanIQ_Schedule in the familiar P6 layout: WBS band rows (blank Activity Name), activities with durations, % complete, start / finish ('A' marks actual dates), baseline dates and float.

Select a baseline project to fill the baseline columns. The sheet works directly with Colour by WBS, Group by WBS and the HTML Gantt export.

Logic Register logic-register

Every relationship with type, lag and flags

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › P6 Live Database (read-only) › Logic Register

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The Logic Register window opens.
2. Choose the source: P6 Database (a P6 Professional standalone SQLite .db file) or XER File. Browse to the file; when it holds several projects, pick the project from the list.
3. Press BUILD REGISTER. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Lists all predecessor / successor relationships of the project with relationship type, lag (in days, predecessor calendar) and flags for leads, lags, non-FS types and external predecessors.

Logic Trace (database) logic-trace

Trace predecessors and successors of one activity

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › P6 Live Database (read-only) › Trace Logic

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The Logic Trace window opens.
2. Choose the source: P6 Database (a P6 Professional standalone SQLite .db file) or XER File. Browse to the file; when it holds several projects, pick the project from the list.
3. Set the options in :
   • Activity ID (Type or pick from suggestions)
   • Maximum levels (Depth in each direction)
4. Press TRACE LOGIC. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Walks the logic network forwards and backwards from the activity you enter, level by level, and lists each activity with its dates, float and the relationship used to reach it.

Resource & Cost Summary resource-cost

Budget, actual and remaining by resource and activity

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › P6 Live Database (read-only) › Resource & Cost

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The Resource & Cost Summary window opens.
2. Choose the source: P6 Database (a P6 Professional standalone SQLite .db file) or XER File. Browse to the file; when it holds several projects, pick the project from the list.
3. Press BUILD SUMMARY. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Summarises resource assignments (TASKRSRC) per resource and per activity: budgeted, actual and remaining units and cost, at-completion cost and variance (budget minus at-completion).

Project Browser project-browser

List the projects inside a P6 database file

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › P6 Data Exchange › Project Browser

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The Project Browser window opens.
2. Choose the source: P6 Database (a P6 Professional standalone SQLite .db file) or XER File. Browse to the file; when it holds several projects, pick the project from the list.
3. Press LIST PROJECTS. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Reads the PROJECT table of a P6 standalone SQLite file and lists data dates, activity counts by status and relationship counts.

The original file is never modified: a private temporary copy is read.

Import P6 Data import-p6

Choose an XER file or a P6 database, pick the project, and import summary, activities, relationships and WBS as PlanIQ sheets

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › P6 Data Exchange › Import P6 Data

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The Import from P6 window opens.
2. Choose the source: P6 Database (a P6 Professional standalone SQLite .db file) or XER File. Browse to the file; when it holds several projects, pick the project from the list.
3. Set the options in What to import:
   • Sheets - tick any of: Project summary, Activities, Relationships, WBS structure
   • Include level of effort and WBS summary activities - tick to switch on
4. Press IMPORT INTO EXCEL. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Choose the source in the window: P6 Database (a standalone SQLite .db file) or XER File. Then pick the project - an XER file or database can hold several.

PlanIQ_P6_Summary: counts, dates and relationship mix of the project.

PlanIQ_P6_Activities: Activity ID, name, WBS path, type, status, calendar, durations in days, % complete, planned / actual / early / late dates, float and constraint.

PlanIQ_P6_Relationships: predecessor, successor, type and lag in days.

PlanIQ_P6_WBS: the WBS tree in P6 order with level, full code and activity counts.

Durations and float are converted from hours to days with each activity's own calendar. Nothing is written back to P6 - a temporary copy of the file is read.

Pull WBS pull-wbs

Choose an XER file or a P6 database, pick the project, and pull the WBS tree with codes, levels and activity counts

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › P6 Data Exchange › Pull WBS

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The Pull WBS from P6 window opens.
2. Choose the source: P6 Database (a P6 Professional standalone SQLite .db file) or XER File. Browse to the file; when it holds several projects, pick the project from the list.
3. Set the options in WBS output:
   • Include the project root node (level 0) - tick to switch on
   • Add activity counts and % complete per WBS - tick to switch on
4. Press PULL WBS INTO EXCEL. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Choose the source in the window: P6 Database (SQLite .db) or XER File, then the project.

PlanIQ_P6_WBS lists every WBS node in P6 order: level, full code (short names joined by '.'), short name, indented name, parent code, activity counts (direct and including children), % complete by count, and the internal WBS / parent IDs.

Activity counts exclude WBS summary activities. A temporary copy of the file is read; nothing is written back.

Export for P6 export-p6

Writes a project's activities, relationships and WBS out of PlanIQ for use in P6 or in Excel.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › P6 Data Exchange › Export for P6.

1. Project card: choose the project to export.
2. Destination card: choose XER File, P6 Database or Excel (XLSX).
3. Workbook content card: choose what the workbook / export carries.
4. Run the export. The Excel route writes PlanIQ_P6_Export.

Calendar Builder calendar-builder

Build visual calendars, a master table, holiday register and comparison from P6 / XER calendars

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › P6 Data Exchange › Calendar Builder

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The Calendar Builder window opens.
2. Choose the source: P6 Database (a P6 Professional standalone SQLite .db file) or XER File. Browse to the file; when it holds several projects, pick the project from the list.
3. Set the options in Calendar Options:
   • From year
   • To year
   • Calendar filter (blank = all; IDs or name words, comma separated)
   • Only calendars used by activities - tick to switch on (Skip unused library calendars)
   • Week starts on - choose Sunday / Monday
   • Create - tick any of: Visual calendar sheets, Master table, Calendar summary, Holiday register, Month comparison
4. Press BUILD CALENDARS. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Reads the calendars of a P6 database or XER file and builds:

• one visual calendar sheet per calendar (month grids, weekly-off / holiday / work-exception / partial-day colouring, working days and hours under every month)
• MasterCalendar: one row per calendar per day (Power BI ready, with WorkDayNo to convert dates to working-day numbers)
• CalendarSummary: hours per day / week, work-week pattern, overnight flag, holiday counts
• HolidayRegister: every exception date with the calendars that share it
• CalendarCompare: working days and hours per month side by side

Existing sheets with the same names are replaced.

Schedule Health Check schedule-health

A schedule-quality assessment with 27 configurable checks, including the DCMA-style tests, written to a formatted report.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Schedule Review › Health Check, and P6 Live Database › DCMA 14-Point.

Steps

1. In Schedule source choose P6 Database or XER File, browse to the file and pick the project.
2. Choose a Rules profile from the list. Change any threshold or switch a rule on or off, then Save the profile under a name (Delete removes it, Reset returns the defaults).
3. Optionally tick the option to also save an HTML copy of the report.
4. Press RUN HEALTH CHECK.

The 27 checks

Thresholds are yours to set in the profile. Agree the thresholds with your client or contract before quoting a pass / fail.

What you get

A formatted report sheet (PlanIQ_Health) with the score per check, the offending activities, and the profile used.

Compare Schedules baseline-compare

Compares an update against a baseline and lists every change by category.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Schedule Review › Compare Schedules, and P6 Live Database › Baseline Compare.

1. Baseline schedule card: choose P6 Database or XER File, browse and pick the project.
2. Update schedule card: choose the later schedule the same way.
3. Output layout: WBS Hierarchy (changes grouped under their WBS) or Simple Table.
4. Press COMPARE SCHEDULES.

What is compared (21 categories)

Added activities; deleted activities; name; WBS; activity type; status; % complete; actual start; actual finish; original duration; remaining duration; start; finish; total float; critical path; calendar; constraint; budgeted units; added relationships; deleted relationships; relationship type / lag.

Results go to a PlanIQ_Compare sheet.

OOS Scan oos-scan

Finds out-of-sequence relationships - logic that progress has contradicted - and lists each with the proof dates and a suggested action.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Schedule Review › OOS Scan, and P6 Live Database › Out-of-Sequence.

1. In Schedule source choose P6 Database or XER File and the project.
2. In Cases to test choose 3 Core Cases or All 5 Cases.
3. Press SCAN SCHEDULE.
4. To repair what was found, press Solve OOS... (see Solve OOS).

The five cases

1. FS: the predecessor has not finished but the successor has progressed or started.
2. FS: successor started before the predecessor started.
3. SS: successor started before the predecessor started.
4. FF: finish order does not match the actuals.
5. Successor finished while the predecessor never started.

Output: PlanIQ_OOS (summary) and PlanIQ_OOS_Activities (every breach with predecessor and successor status, relationship, and advice).

Delay Analysis delay-analysis

Measures what slipped between two updates of the same project - a contemporaneous period (window) analysis in the observational style of AACE RP 29R-03.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Schedule Review › Delay Analysis.

1. OLD update (start of window): choose the source and project.
2. NEW update (end of window): choose the later update the same way.
3. In Analysis options set Report an activity only if its OWN slip is at least N working days.
4. Optionally tick Measure only - lists own slips and skips the finish-impact counterfactuals (faster).
5. Choose Layout: Simple table (delayers first) or WBS hierarchy. Optionally tick Also save an HTML copy beside the NEW update (XER source only).
6. Press ANALYSE WINDOW. For more than two updates press Series of updates... (see Delay Series).

Results go to PlanIQ_Delay_... sheets.

Delay Series of updates delay-series

Runs the window analysis across a chain of updates and summarises the project finish movement window by window.

Where: Delay Analysis › Series of updates...

1. In Updates in the series, press Add XER files... (several at once) and / or Add from database.... Use Remove selected or Clear to adjust the list.
2. Set the same Analysis options as in Delay Analysis (own-slip threshold, Measure only, layout).
3. Press ANALYSE SERIES.

Updates are ordered by data date. Output includes a PlanIQ_Delay_Series sheet plus the window sheets.

Trend Analytics trend-analytics

Pick two or more XER updates of the same project: milestone slippage trend (vs first and previous update) and float erosion trend (critical, near-critical and negative-float counts per update).

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Schedule Review › Trend Analytics

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The Schedule Trend Analytics window opens.
2. Set the options in Analysis settings:
   • Create - tick any of: Milestone slippage trend, Float erosion trend
   • Critical = total float up to (days)
   • Near-critical = float up to (days) (Used by the float erosion trend)
   • Maximum milestones listed (Largest slippage first)
3. Press SELECT XER UPDATES & ANALYSE. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Two trend views over a series of schedule updates (XER files of the same project, sorted by data date):

PlanIQ_MilestoneTrend - every milestone with its finish date in each update, the slip against the first update and against the previous update, plus the project completion row. Slipping milestones are highlighted.

PlanIQ_FloatTrend - per update: open activities, critical, near-critical and negative-float counts, average and minimum float. Falling float and growing critical counts are early warnings of delay (a float erosion view in the spirit of schedule health trending).

Activities are matched by Activity ID, so IDs must not be renumbered between updates.

Recovery Simulator recovery-sim

Squeeze the critical activities, inside limits you set by activity code and duration, until a required finish date is met - then see every squeezed activity and the capacity left. Writes a new XER.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Schedule Review › Recovery Simulator

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The PlanIQ Recovery Simulator window opens.
2. Select project source - The progressed schedule - an XER export or a P6 database. Choose XER or P6 Database, then browse to the file (when it holds several projects, pick the project).
3. Required date - The finish to recover to:
   • Required finish
   • choose Whole project / Specific activity
   
   The end of this day is the target · Activity ID of the target (used when 'Specific activity' is chosen)
4. How to squeeze - Gradual steps follow the critical path as it moves:
   • choose Gradual / Maximum
   • Step (days)
   • Reschedule every
   • choose Earliest first / Latest first
   • tick: Include in-progress activities (their remaining duration)
   • tick: Thorough give-back (review every pass, slower)
   
   Which critical activities are squeezed first
5. Limits - How much of a duration may be taken - code rows first, then duration bands, then the default:
   • By activity code
   • button Load codes
   • max %
   • By original duration (working days)
   • from
   • to
   • max %
   • Default for everything else - max %
   
   Press 'Load codes' to read the activity code types of the source, then pick a type and a value · (leave blank to skip the row)
6. Notes:
   • tick: Preview only - build the report but do not offer to save an XER
7. Press RUN RECOVERY. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

Shows what it takes to finish by a required date, and writes the squeezed schedule as a NEW XER.

• Choose the required date for the whole project, or for one activity (its ID).
• PlanIQ finds the critical activities against that date (least float) and shortens their remaining durations, whole days at a time, never below 1 day.
• Gradual: a step of N days per activity, rescheduling every few activities, so the critical set is re-read as it moves. Maximum: each activity is squeezed to its limit in one go.
• Limits: how much of an activity's duration may be taken. Code rows are checked first (for example Trade = Piping: 15%), then duration bands (for example 0-10 days: 10%), then the default.
• Once the date is reached, the last batch is given back day by day so nothing is squeezed more than needed.

PlanIQ extras: the report lists the finish after every pass with a chart, every squeezed activity with the rule and cap that applied, and the capacity left if the date cannot be met. Proof: the written file is re-read and every early date must match the engine.

Resources, productivity and cost are not re-planned - treat the result as a what-if to agree with the site team.

Report: PlanIQ_Recovery_Report. Import the XER into P6 as a new project and press F9.

Solve OOS solve-oos

Repairs out-of-sequence (OOS) relationships found by the OOS Scan and re-tests the result.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Schedule Review › Schedule Fixes › Solve OOS (or the Solve OOS... button in the OOS Scan window).

What "out of sequence" means

A successor has progressed further than its logic allows - for example it started while an FS predecessor is unfinished.

Steps

1. Choose the source: XER file, Excel file or P6 database, and the project.
2. Choose All 5 cases or 3 core cases.
3. For a database, choose Overwrite this project (a backup is written first) or Save as database copy.
4. Press the action button.

What PlanIQ changes

• FS (and FF) breaches: if the predecessor really started on or before the successor the relationship becomes Start-to-Start, lag 0; otherwise it is deleted.
• SS and SF breaches: the relationship is deleted.
• A converted relationship that would duplicate an existing one is deleted instead.

Every change is listed in an explanation workbook with the actual dates that prove it, and the repaired network is re-tested before success is reported. XER: a new XER is written (original untouched). Excel: a fixed copy of the export plus a clean relationship list. Database: overwrite (backup first) or a repaired copy.

Total Float Reducer float-reducer

Find activities with excessive total float, diagnose the cause (constraint, open end, genuine slack) and reduce it by extending durations or adding logic - the project finish stays exactly the same.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Schedule Review › Schedule Fixes › Total Float Reducer

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The PlanIQ Total Float Reducer window opens.
2. Select project source - The schedule to analyse - an XER export or a P6 database. Choose XER or P6 Database, then browse to the file (when it holds several projects, pick the project).
3. Float limits - What counts as too much float, and how far it may be reduced:
   • choose Extend durations / Add links
   • Float above (d)
   • Keep at least (d)
   • Min duration (d)
   • Max added (d)
   • Max added %
   • Max duration (d)
   
   Extend: lengthen the activity by its float. Link: tie it to a later activity · Days are working days of the activity's own calendar. The two 'max added' limits apply to the extend method
4. Stopping and exclusions:
   • tick: Keep going until nothing is above the limit
   • Otherwise stop at (% above limit)
   • Exclude WBS
   • tick: Preview only - build the report but do not offer to save an XER
   
   WBS names, comma separated - everything below them is left alone
5. Press RUN FLOAT REDUCER. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

Finds activities with excessive total float and reduces it, keeping the project finish and every critical date exactly as they are. Writes a NEW XER.

• Diagnosis first: float caused by a late / finish constraint, a far-out finish constraint, an open end or a finish that drives nothing is reported but NEVER absorbed into durations - fix the cause.
• Extend durations: an activity is extended by up to the float it carries, limited by 'Max added days / %' and 'Max duration', and never so far that its float drops below the floor.
• Add links: the activity gets a Finish-to-Start link to the closest related later activity (same WBS, then same parent WBS, then a shared activity code, then project-wide), as long as the resulting float stays at or above the floor.
• Excluded WBS elements (and everything below them) are not touched.

PlanIQ extras: the report diagnoses every high-float activity by cause, lists the root-cause activities and constraints, the float distribution before and after as a chart, every change with the reason, and every activity left alone with the reason. Proof: one CPM run over all changes, then a re-read of the written file.

Report: PlanIQ_FloatReducer_Report. Import the XER into P6 as a new project and press F9.

Critical Activity Balancer critical-balancer

Bring the share of critical activities into a healthy band (for example 15-20%) by absorbing float or shortening non-protected critical activities - with the finish date unchanged.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Schedule Review › Schedule Fixes › Critical Activity Balancer

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The PlanIQ Critical Activity Balancer window opens.
2. Select project source - The schedule to balance - an XER export or a P6 database. Choose XER or P6 Database, then browse to the file (when it holds several projects, pick the project).
3. Goal - Share of critical activities PlanIQ should aim for:
   • Band low (%)
   • Band high (%)
   • Keep paths
   • Critical = float up to (d)
   • tick: Count milestones in the share
   
   Keep paths = the longest critical paths that are protected. Critical = total float at or below the number of days (0 = zero float)
4. Raise / reduce options - Limits for the changes PlanIQ may make:
   • Max extension (%)
   • Max new links each
   • tick: Shorten critical activities - up to (%)
   • tick: Overlap FS links (SS + FF) - up to (%)
   • tick: Remove redundant relationships
   • Exclude WBS
   • tick: Preview only - build the report but do not offer to save an XER
   
   WBS names, comma separated - everything below them is left alone
5. Press RUN BALANCER. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

Balances the share of critical activities (zero or near-zero float) against a goal band, for example 15-20%, and writes a NEW XER. The project finish stays exactly the same.

• Too few critical activities: float is taken from near-critical activities - extended by exactly their float when that is within the 'max extension %' of the duration, otherwise linked to a critical successor and extended by the gap (up to 'max new links' per activity).
• Too many critical activities: non-protected critical construction activities are shortened, optionally FS links are overlapped into SS + FF, optionally redundant links are removed - until the share is back in the band.
• The longest critical paths ('keep paths') are protected and never shortened or overlapped.
• Activities of different trades are not overlapped when activity codes allow PlanIQ to tell (otherwise it says so in the report).

PlanIQ extras: the report shows the share before and after against the band as a chart, the protected paths, changes by stage and every change with float before and after. Proof: one CPM run over all changes (finish identical) and a re-read of the written file.

Report: PlanIQ_Balancer_Report. Import the XER into P6 as a new project and press F9.

Redundant Relationships redundant-relationships

Find relationships that an existing chain of links already implies, or that decide no date, and remove them - every date and float is proven unchanged.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Schedule Review › Schedule Fixes › Redundant Relationships

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The PlanIQ Redundant Relationships window opens.
2. Select project source - The schedule to clean - an XER export or a P6 database. Choose XER or P6 Database, then browse to the file (when it holds several projects, pick the project).
3. Options - What counts as redundant:
   • tick: Also remove date-only redundant links
   • tick: Preview only - build the report but do not offer to save an XER
   
   Off: only structural links are removed (safe whatever the progress). On: links that do not decide any date today are removed too - proven by a CPM run over the whole set
4. Press REMOVE REDUNDANT. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

Finds relationships that are redundant and removes them, writing a NEW XER.

• Structural: a Finish-to-Start link (lag 0 or less) that a chain of FS links with lag 0 or more through open activities already implies. Removing it can never change a date.
• Date-only (option): a link that neither drives its successor nor binds its predecessor's late finish in the current schedule. Removed only if one CPM run over the whole set leaves every early and late date and the finish unchanged - otherwise they are taken back.
• A guard refuses any removal that would leave an activity with an open start, an open end or a dangling relation.

PlanIQ extras: the report lists every redundant link with its implying chain, the result and the reason; the proof is the CPM run plus a re-read of the written file.

Report: PlanIQ_Redundant_Report. Import the XER into P6 as a new project and press F9.

Duplicate Relation Detector duplicate-relationships

Find activity pairs joined by more than one relationship and drop the weaker links, or just review them. Proven by a CPM run over the removals.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Schedule Review › Schedule Fixes › Duplicate Relation Detector

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The PlanIQ Duplicate Relation Detector window opens.
2. Select project source - The schedule to check - an XER export or a P6 database. Choose XER or P6 Database, then browse to the file (when it holds several projects, pick the project).
3. Options - What to do with the duplicates:
   • choose Remove dominated / Review only
   • tick: Preview only - build the report but do not offer to save an XER
   
   Remove: weaker links go, the stronger one stays. Review only: nothing is changed - the report lists every group
4. Press FIND DUPLICATES. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

Finds pairs of activities that are joined by more than one relationship and removes the links that are dominated by a stronger one. Writes a NEW XER.

• Same type: the larger lag dominates.
• FS dominates SS / FF / SF with an equal or smaller lag; SS or FF dominates SF.
• Mixed types are only judged when nothing in the pair has started; anything PlanIQ cannot judge safely stays as 'Review' for you.
• 'Review only' lists every group without removing anything.

PlanIQ extras: every group is listed with its verdict, the reason and the link that kept the logic; proof = one CPM run (every early and late date and the finish identical) plus a re-read of the written file.

Report: PlanIQ_Duplicates_Report. Import the XER into P6 as a new project and press F9.

Solve Dangling Activities solve-dangling

Tie open starts, open ends and dangling activities to the nearest related activity (same WBS first) with the least disturbance - dates are proven unchanged.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Schedule Review › Schedule Fixes › Solve Dangling Activities

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The PlanIQ Solve Dangling Activities window opens.
2. Select project source - The schedule to fix - an XER export or a P6 database. Choose XER or P6 Database, then browse to the file (when it holds several projects, pick the project).
3. Options - How far PlanIQ may go:
   • tick: Last resort: add FF / SS where no FS partner works
   • tick: Also link milestones
   • tick: Preview only - build the report but do not offer to save an XER
   
   Off: activities with no FS partner are left alone and listed · Off: milestones are only retyped (start / finish milestone)
4. Press SOLVE DANGLING. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

Finds activities with an open start (no predecessor), an open end (no successor), a start driven only by FF / SF predecessors or a finish that drives nothing, and links them in. Writes a NEW XER.

• Each is tied to the NEAREST related activity - same WBS, then same parent WBS, then a shared activity code, then project-wide - by the smallest gap, with a Finish-to-Start link at lag 0.
• Last resort (option): where no FS partner works, an FF or SS link is added on the existing partner.
• Milestones are only retyped (start / finish milestone) unless you choose to link them.
• Every fix is undone one at a time if it would move a date.

PlanIQ extras: the report lists every defect with the action, the partner, the tier and gap, and the float before and after; and every activity left alone with the reason. Proof: one CPM run (finish and early dates unchanged, no new defects) plus a re-read of the written file.

Report: PlanIQ_Dangling_Report. Import the XER into P6 as a new project and press F9.

Look-Ahead lookahead

Builds a 1-to-12-week look-ahead from a P6 schedule: what starts, finishes or should have started in the window.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Update Cycle › Look-Ahead (XER), and P6 Live Database › Look-Ahead.

1. In Schedule source choose the source and project.
2. In Look-ahead window set Window start (blank = the data date; click to pick), Weeks ahead (1 to 12) and Total float up to (days) (blank = all activities, 0 = critical only).
3. Tick Include late starts to add activities that should have started before the window, and Add resource units per day to include resource loading.
4. Choose Output layout: WBS Hierarchy or Simple Table.
5. Press BUILD LOOK-AHEAD.

Output: PlanIQ_LookAhead_... sheets.

Split Revision split-revision

Splits every in-progress activity at the data date into an actual part (original ID, completed) and a remaining part (new ID, not started). Smart logic routing, budget and resources split, constraints and steps moved, with a proof report.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Update Cycle › Revised by Splitting › Split Revision (Activity Revision)

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The PlanIQ Split Revision window opens.
2. Schedule to revise - The project you updated and scheduled to the new data date - an XER export or a P6 database
3. Names and Activity IDs - How the two parts are named - {pct} is replaced by the progress % before the split:
   • Old activity name suffix
   • New activity name suffix
   • tick: Add the remaining % to the new activity name
   • New activity ID suffix
   • ID prefix (optional)
   • Preview
   
   The actual part (original ID) · The remaining part (new ID)
4. Split rules - PlanIQ defaults are the safe, auditable choice - change only when the contract or the P6 setup asks for it:
   • Progress basis
   • Budget of split activities
   • Minimum progress to split (%)
   • Keep these whole (IDs)
   • tick: Smart logic routing (recommended) - successors follow the finish, SS links stay with the actual part
   • tick: Preview only - build the report but do not offer to save an XER
   
   Activities below this progress stay in progress. 0 = split everything that has started · Optional: Activity IDs separated by commas or spaces that must NOT be split
5. Press START SPLIT. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

Splits every in-progress activity at the data date into an ACTUAL part and a REMAINING part, and writes a new XER.

• Actual part keeps the original Activity ID: Completed at the data date, duration = elapsed working time, name + old suffix.
• Remaining part gets the new ID (prefix + ID + suffix): Not Started, duration = remaining, forecast dates, name + new suffix.
• Smart logic routing: FS/FF successors and FF/SF predecessors follow the finish; SS/SF successors and FS/SS predecessors stay with the actual part. An FS link joins the two parts.
• Budget, resources, expenses, steps, codes, notes and UDFs are split / cloned. Start constraints stay with the actual part, finish constraints move to the remaining part.

{pct} in a suffix = progress % before the split. Milestones, LOE and WBS summaries are never split.

PlanIQ proves the result (counts, cost and units unchanged, one link per split, unique IDs, CPM finish before/after) on the PlanIQ_Split_Report sheet before it saves anything.

After importing the XER into P6, press F9 (Schedule).

Rebaseline XER (no split) rebaseline

Planned dates and durations aligned with actuals, costs redistributed so earned value = planned value at the data date. No activity is split. Shows EV, PV and SPI before and after.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Update Cycle › Revised by Splitting › Rebaseline XER (No Split)

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The PlanIQ Rebaseline window opens.
2. Schedule to rebaseline - The updated project - an XER export or a P6 database
3. Rebaseline rules - Earned value = planned value at the data date after the rebaseline:
   • Progress basis
   • Budget
   • tick: Re-time physical / units activities so planned value = earned value
   • tick: Align not-started activities to their forecast dates
   • tick: Preview only - build the report but do not offer to save an XER
4. Press START REBASELINE. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

Aligns the plan with what really happened, without splitting any activity, and writes a new XER.

• Completed: planned dates = actual dates, duration = elapsed working time.
• Not started: planned dates = forecast dates, duration = remaining duration.
• In progress: planned start = actual start; duration = elapsed + remaining. Physical / units activities are re-timed so planned value = earned value at the data date.
• Optional: budget reset to actual + remaining (EAC).

The PlanIQ_Rebaseline_Report shows EV, PV and SPI before and after (SPI returns to 1.000 on the weighted basis), the CPM finish before and after, and proof checks. After importing, press F9 and assign the file as the project baseline.

Copy Update copy-update

Transfer progress recorded after the split from the tracking schedule into the revised file. Split activities get the update on the remaining part only; unstarted activities transfer 1:1; completed history is never touched.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Update Cycle › Revised by Splitting › Copy Update

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The PlanIQ Copy Update window opens.
2. Revised file (the split schedule) - The XER / database created by Split Revision or Rebaseline
3. Tracking schedule (with the new progress) - The schedule you kept updating after the split
4. How the split parts were named - Same settings as the Split Revision - they identify the remaining parts:
   • Old activity name suffix
   • New activity ID suffix
   • ID prefix (optional)
   • tick: Copy resource actuals and remaining units / costs
   • tick: Move the data date to the tracking data date
   • tick: Preview only - build the report but do not offer to save an XER
5. Press START COPY UPDATE. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

After a split revision you keep tracking progress in the old (tracking) schedule. Copy Update moves that progress into the revised file and writes a new XER.

• Split activities: progress recorded after the split goes to the REMAINING part only (status, actuals, remaining duration, physical %, resources).
• Activities that were never split: transferred 1:1.
• Completed history in the revised file is locked - never touched; any difference from the tracking file is listed as drift.
• Activities new in the tracking file are reported, not copied.
• The data date moves to the tracking data date.

Split pairs are found by the ID convention (prefix / suffix) AND proved by the FS link and the completed actual part. The PlanIQ_CopyUpdate_Report reconciles actual and remaining cost per activity against the tracking file.

Split Listed Activities split-listed

Older sheet-driven split: you list the activities in Excel and PlanIQ splits them in a copy of the P6 database.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Update Cycle › Revised by Splitting › Split Listed Activities (database copy)

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The Split Revision window opens.
2. Choose the source: P6 Database (a P6 Professional standalone SQLite .db file) or XER File. Browse to the file; when it holds several projects, pick the project from the list.
3. This tool changes a database, so PlanIQ shows a preview first. Choose whether to write a new copy or the original (a backup is taken first).
4. Set the options in Activities to split:
   • Worksheet with the list
   • Suffix for the remaining part (New Activity ID = old ID + suffix, unless the sheet gives one)
   • Move remaining resources - tick to switch on (Remaining units and cost go to the new part; the budget is split, not duplicated)
5. Press PREVIEW & BUILD COPY. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Typical use: work stopped and restarts later, or the remaining work is re-planned. For every listed activity that is IN PROGRESS PlanIQ:

1. Closes the original activity at the split date (Completed, remaining 0) - it keeps the actual start and becomes the actual part.
2. Creates a new activity (same WBS, calendar, codes and constraints) with the remaining duration, status Not Started.
3. Links original -> new with a Finish-to-Start relationship and moves the original's successors to the new activity, so the logic flows through the remaining work.
4. Optionally moves the remaining resource units and cost to the new activity (budget is split so the total does not change).

Because new rows are added, the result is ALWAYS written to a NEW COPY of the database - never to the original. Open the copy in P6, check it, press F9, and only then adopt it.

Only In Progress task/resource-dependent activities with remaining duration are split.

Progress Update progress-update

Writes progress from an Excel sheet into a P6 database project, matched on Activity ID.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Update Cycle › Progress Update.

1. Progress sheet: choose the sheet, the header row, and map the columns - Activity ID, % Complete, Actual Start, Actual Finish, Expected Finish, Remaining, Physical %. Set Remaining in Days or Hours.
2. P6 database to update: browse to the .db and pick the project.
3. Settings: set the Data date; tick Remaining from % complete when Remaining is blank, Skip activities that are already complete in P6, and Update resource units and costs to follow the new progress as needed; choose Write to New copy (recommended) or Original, backup first.
4. Press UPDATE P6. A preview is written to PlanIQ_Progress_Log; confirm to write.

Rules

• Actual Finish: status Completed, remaining 0 (needs an Actual Start).
• Actual Start, % Complete, Remaining: status In Progress, remaining duration updated.
• Expected Finish is written to the activity's Expected Finish field (use Use Expected Finish Dates when scheduling in P6).
• 35, 0.35 or 35% all mean 35 percent; physical % is updated for activities with a Physical % complete type.
• Rows that do not make sense (unknown ID, finish before start, % outside 0-100, negative remaining, text instead of a date) are rejected and listed, never guessed.

Close P6 before using Original. After writing, open the database in P6 and press F9.

Physical % Sync physical-sync

For IN-PROGRESS activities using PHYSICAL % complete: rebuild remaining duration, units, cost and expenses from the physical percentage so hand-typed figures stop contradicting it. Works on an XER or the P6 database; audits every contradiction, protects posted actuals, proves the result and always previews first.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Update Cycle › Physical % Sync

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The PlanIQ Physical % Sync window opens.
2. Where is the schedule? - The updated project - an XER export or a P6 database
3. What to rebuild from the physical % - P = physical % complete of the activity:
   • tick: Remaining duration
   • tick: Units and cost
   • tick: Expenses
   • Activities to sync
   • Flag a gap above (pts)
   • Keep these whole (IDs)
   • tick: Protect posted actuals - never reduce an actual that is already above P x budget
   
   = original duration x (1 - P) · = budget x P actual, budget x (1 - P) remaining · = the same split on the activity's expense items
4. Notes:
   • tick: Preview only - build the report but do not offer to save an XER
   
   Only IN-PROGRESS activities whose % complete type is PHYSICAL are touched. Not-started and completed activities, Duration- and Units-type activities, actual dates and the physical % itself stay exactly as they are. You see the full report before anything is saved
5. Press SCAN AND SYNC. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

For IN-PROGRESS activities measured by PHYSICAL % complete, the hand-typed remaining figures are rebuilt from the physical % (P) and written to a new XER.

• Remaining duration = original duration x (1 - P)
• Units and cost: actual = budget x P, remaining = budget x (1 - P), per resource assignment
• Expenses: the same split on every expense item

Not-started and completed activities, other % types, actual dates and the physical % itself are left exactly as they are.

PlanIQ extras: the audit lists every activity whose hand-typed duration / units / cost % contradicted the physical % (largest gap first); posted actuals above P x budget can be protected; overtime actuals are kept; proof checks show actual + remaining = budget on every assignment and that nothing else moved.

A full report is written first (PlanIQ_PhysSync_Report and PlanIQ_PhysSync_Changes), then you confirm the save. After importing the XER into P6, press F9.

As Built Schedule as-built

Turn a progressed schedule into an as-built: planned dates become the actual dates, logic preserved by writing the exact lag on the relationships that decide the dates (driving links and out-of-sequence links, or every link). Open starts are pinned, actuals can be cleared, and a forward pass over the written file proves every activity re-schedules to its as-built dates.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Update Cycle › As Built Schedule

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The PlanIQ As Built Schedule window opens.
2. Select project source - The progressed schedule - an XER export or a P6 database. Choose XER or P6 Database, then browse to the file (when it holds several projects, pick the project).
3. Options - What the as-built file looks like:
   • tick: Pin open starts with a Start On constraint
   • tick: Clear actual units && costs
   • tick: Include all lags
   
   An activity with no predecessor would otherwise slide to the project start when P6 schedules the file · Actuals are removed and the remaining units and cost go back to the budget - the budget itself never changes · Off: only the driving link and any link that would push its successor late get an exact lag. On: every link does
4. Notes:
   • tick: Preview only - build the report but do not offer to save an XER
   
   By default only the lags that matter are written - the driving link, plus any link that would otherwise push its successor late (out-of-sequence work, which produces negative lags). Every other relationship keeps its original lag. You see the full report before anything is saved
5. Press BUILD AS-BUILT XER. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

Turns a progressed schedule into an AS-BUILT schedule and writes a new XER.

• Planned (target) dates become the dates each activity actually had: actual dates for completed activities and for the start of in-progress ones, the current forecast where an activity has no actuals yet. The duration is rebuilt to fit.
• Every activity goes back to Not Started with no actual dates, so P6 schedules the file like a plan.
• Logic is preserved by writing the EXACT lag on the relationships that decide the dates: the driving link of each activity and any link that would otherwise push its successor late (out-of-sequence work, which gives a negative lag). Every other relationship keeps its original lag. 'Include all lags' writes one on every link.
• Open starts (no predecessor) are pinned with a Start On constraint at their as-built start.
• 'Clear actual units & costs' removes the actuals and sets the remaining back to the budget.

PlanIQ extras: the lag register shows every relationship with its old and new lag, role and float; the proof is a forward pass over the WRITTEN file - every activity must re-schedule to its as-built start and finish, and the project finish must match. The lag calendar follows the project's scheduling option (predecessor, successor, 24-hour or project default).

Reports: PlanIQ_AsBuilt_Report and PlanIQ_AsBuilt_Dates. Import the XER into P6 as a new project and press F9.

Activity ID Remap id-remap

Change Activity IDs (and names) safely from an Excel list or by rules - find / replace, pattern with running numbers and WBS code. Validates the whole list first (unknown IDs, duplicates, 20-character limit, collisions, swaps), proves that logic and every other field are unchanged, and writes a new XER plus an old>new map sheet. Works on an XER or the P6 database.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Activity Tools › ID Remap

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The PlanIQ Activity ID Remap window opens.
2. Schedule - The project whose Activity IDs change - an XER export or a P6 database
3. New Activity IDs - Where the new IDs come from:
   • choose Excel list / Rules
   • Sheet
   • Header row
   • Old ID column
   • New ID column
   • New name column
   • tick: Ignore upper / lower case when matching Old IDs
   • Find in ID
   • Replace with
   • New ID pattern
   • Start at
   • Step
   • Digits
   • Numbering order
   • tick: Upper-case the new IDs
   • Activities
   • ID starts with
   • Name find
   • Name replace
   • Example
   
   · A blank New name keeps the current name. A blank New ID is skipped unless a New name is given · {old} = ID after find / replace {n} = running number {wbs} = WBS code
4. Safety:
   • tick: Preview only - build the report but do not offer to save an XER
   
   Only the Activity ID (and the name, if you give one) changes. Everything else is proved identical before you can save, and your source is never touched
5. Press REMAP IDS. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

Renames Activity IDs (and optionally names) and writes a new XER. Only the Activity ID / name change - relationships, resources, steps, codes and UDFs follow automatically.

EXCEL LIST: pick the sheet and the Old ID, New ID and optional New Name columns.

RULES: no list needed - find / replace inside the ID, a pattern with {old}, {n} (running number) and {wbs} (WBS code), upper-case, and an optional name find / replace. Numbering follows WBS order then start date, or the current ID order. Limit the scope to open or not-started activities, or to IDs starting with some text.

Before anything is renamed PlanIQ validates the whole list: unknown Old IDs, blank or over-long New IDs (20 characters), the same Old ID listed twice, two activities getting one New ID, a New ID already held by an activity that is not renamed. Chains and swaps (A>B, B>A) are applied at once and are safe.

Proof checks afterwards: only IDs / names changed, every other field identical, the logic read in Activity IDs is the old logic mapped through the renames, IDs unique. PlanIQ_IdRemap_Map is the old>new table for remapping Excel trackers, and its two columns swapped is the undo list.

Logic Trace (sheet) logic-trace-sheet

Trace predecessors and successors of an activity from an XER, a P6 database or an Excel sheet of logic. Shows driving links, float, open ends and loops.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Activity Tools › Trace (sheet)

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The PlanIQ Logic Trace window opens.
2. Logic source - An XER, a P6 database or the Excel sheet that holds your logic
3. Trace - Which activity and which way:
   • Activity ID
   • button Use selected cell
   • Direction
   • choose Predecessors / Successors / Both
   • Depth (levels)
   • tick: Stop at completed activities
   • tick: Driving links only
   
   0 = all the way
4. Excel sheet columns - Used only when the source is the Excel sheet:
   • Sheet
   • Header row
   • Activity ID
   • Predecessors
   • Activity name
   • tick: Paint the traced rows on the sheet
   
   ·
5. Press TRACE LOGIC. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

Traces the logic network around one activity and writes the chain to the PlanIQ_Trace sheet: level, relationship with lag, status, dates, float and whether each link is DRIVING.

SOURCE: an XER, a P6 database, or an Excel sheet with an Activity ID column and a Predecessors column (several predecessors separated by commas; a relationship and lag may follow, e.g. 'A1010 FS+2d').

Predecessors, successors or both; limit the depth or go all the way; stop at completed activities; keep only driving links (XER / database only).

Level -n = n links before the activity, +n = n links after. Link gap 0 = the predecessor drives the successor. The sheet reports open ends and logic loops on the trace.

With an Excel source you can also paint the traced rows on your sheet (it colours the rows; nothing is cleared).

Activity Finder activity-finder

Find activities from an ID list or by text, status, float, dates, constraints, open ends and resources. Lists the IDs that are not in the schedule.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Activity Tools › Activity Finder

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The PlanIQ Activity Finder window opens.
2. Schedule - An XER export or a P6 database
3. Activity IDs to find (optional) - A list of IDs to look up - leave on 'No list' to search the whole schedule by criteria:
   • choose No list / Excel column / Type / paste
   • Sheet
   • Header row
   • Activity ID column
   
   
4. Criteria (optional) - Every criterion you set must be met:
   • Text contains
   • Status
   • Type
   • Total float
   • Days
   • Dates
   • From
   • To
   • Constraint
   • Open ends
   • Resource
   
   In the Activity ID, name or WBS. Use | for OR and * as a wildcard - e.g. pil*|excav · Resource name or ID. | for OR, * as a wildcard
5. Press FIND ACTIVITIES. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

Finds activities in an XER or a P6 database and writes them to the PlanIQ_Finder sheet with filter arrows.

IDs TO FIND (optional): an Excel column of Activity IDs, or IDs typed / pasted. The sheet then shows those activities and lists the IDs that are NOT in the schedule.

CRITERIA (optional, all must be met): text in ID / name / WBS (use | for OR and * as a wildcard), status, type, total float, a date window, constraints, open ends (no predecessor / no successor) and resources.

With both a list and criteria, you get the listed activities that also meet the criteria; the others are reported as 'filtered out'.

The result includes status, % complete, dates, float, critical flag, durations, constraint, links, resources and why each activity matched, plus a comma-separated list of the found IDs to paste elsewhere. The window stays open so you can refine the search.

Activity ID Length Limit id-length

Check Activity IDs against the length limit (and the room needed for revision suffixes), shorten long IDs into a new XER, or raise the stored limit in a database copy.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Activity Tools › ID Length Limit

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The PlanIQ Activity ID Length window opens.
2. Schedule - An XER export or a P6 database
3. Length rule - What counts as too long:
   • Maximum ID length
   • Reserve for revisions
   • tick: Also shorten the IDs over the limit and save a new XER
   • tick: Also raise the stored limit in a copy of the P6 database
   • New stored limit
   
   Characters. P6 default 20, maximum 40 · Characters that Split Revision / Copy Update add (e.g. _R = 2) · Used only when the box above is ticked and the source is a P6 database
4. Press CHECK AND RUN. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

Checks the Activity IDs of a schedule against a length limit (P6 default 20, administrators can set up to 40).

REPORT (PlanIQ_IdLength): length distribution, IDs over the limit, IDs that are fine today but too long after the suffix that Split Revision / Copy Update adds (the reserve), where the long IDs come from, and the limit you need.

SHORTEN: builds unique short IDs (the start of the ID is kept and a counter added), runs them through the same validated remap as 'ID Remap' - proof checks, then saves a NEW XER.

RAISE THE STORED LIMIT (P6 database only): PlanIQ searches the settings tables of the database (read-only) for a stored Activity ID length. If one is found and you tick the option, the new limit is written to a NEW COPY of the database after a preview. If none is found, the limit is held by P6 itself: Admin > Admin Preferences > ID Lengths > Activity ID (up to 40), then log in again.

Remove Duration Decimals remove-decimals

Round Original Durations to whole days using each activity calendar (Round, Round Down or Round Up), audit the calendars for exceptions, and write a new XER with a before/after report.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Activity Tools › Remove Duration Decimals

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The PlanIQ Remove Duration Decimals window opens.
2. Select project source - The schedule to clean - an XER export or a P6 database. Choose XER or P6 Database, then browse to the file (when it holds several projects, pick the project).
3. Rounding mode:
   • choose Round / Round Down / Round Up
   
   
4. Options:
   • tick: Not-started activities: set Remaining Duration = new Original Duration
   • tick: Include completed activities
   • tick: Preview only - build the report but do not offer to save an XER
   
   Durations below half a day are raised to 1 day so no activity turns into a milestone
5. Press REMOVE DECIMALS. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

Rounds every Original Duration to a whole number of days and writes a NEW XER. The source is never modified.

• Days are worked out with each activity's OWN calendar (hours per day), so 12 hours on an 8-hour calendar is 1.5 days, on a 10-hour calendar 1.2 days.
• Round: 8.4 days becomes 8, 8.5 becomes 9. Round Down and Round Up always go the same way.
• Durations below half a day are raised to 1 day so no activity turns into a milestone. Milestones, level of effort and WBS summaries are not touched.
• Not-started activities keep Remaining = Original (option).

PlanIQ extras: a calendar audit (hours per day, week hours, calendars whose days are approximate), a chart of changes by calendar, a register of every change, and a proof that every converted duration is whole and nothing else changed.

Report: PlanIQ_Decimals_Report. Import the XER into P6 as a new project and press F9.

Resource Match resource-match

Match the update's re-inserted resources back to the baseline Resource IDs (identical ID, then type + units + cost on the same activities, then assignment fingerprint) and write a renamed XER. Guesses and new resources go to a review sheet.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Resource Control › Resource Match

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The PlanIQ Resource Match window opens.
2. Where is the BASELINE? - The schedule whose resource IDs are right - an XER or a P6 database
3. UPDATE XER - the file with the wrongly re-inserted resources:
   • Update XER
   • button Browse Update
   
   Resources are matched in stages: identical IDs first, then same type + units + cost on the same activities, then the overall assignment fingerprint. Clear matches are renamed automatically into a new file next to the update (..._Matched.xer). Anything that needed guessing - and any genuinely new resource - is listed on a review sheet in the active workbook. The update file itself is never modified
4. Matching rules - How sure PlanIQ must be before it renames:
   • Evidence needed
   • tick: Also rename guessed matches (same name and type only) - not recommended
   • tick: Also give the update resource the baseline's resource name
   • tick: Preview only - build the report but do not offer to save an XER
5. Press MATCH RESOURCES. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

The update was progressed with wrongly re-inserted resources, so its Resource IDs no longer match the baseline and P6 duplicates them on import. This tool matches each update resource to its baseline twin and writes a renamed copy of the update (..._Matched.xer).

MATCH STAGES (strongest first)

1. Identical Resource ID.
2. Same type, and the same units + cost on the same activities (a minimum share of the assignments must agree, and no other baseline resource may fit equally well).
3. The overall assignment fingerprint - type, number of assignments, total units and cost - when the activities differ.
4. Same name and type - a GUESS.

Clear matches are renamed automatically. Guessed matches, ambiguous matches and genuinely new resources are NOT renamed; they are listed on PlanIQ_ResMatch_Review in the active workbook (tick 'also rename guessed matches' to apply the guesses).

Only the Resource ID (and, if you tick it, the name) of the update's resources change. Assignments, rates and activities are untouched; proof checks confirm it. The update file itself is never modified.

At Completion at-completion

Force Actual Units / Cost to equal Budget x progress on every started activity (completed = 100%). Not-started activities are never touched. Report shows EV and CPI before the run.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Resource Control › At Completion

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The PlanIQ At Completion window opens.
2. Select project source - An XER export or a P6 database. Choose XER or P6 Database, then browse to the file (when it holds several projects, pick the project).
3. Update scope - Actual = budget x progress, remaining = the rest:
   • tick: Cost
   • tick: Units
   • Progress taken from
   • Keep these whole (IDs)
   • tick: Protect posted actuals - never reduce an actual that is already above progress x budget
   
   = actual cost on resource assignments and expense items · = actual units, remaining units and units per hour
4. Notes:
   • tick: Preview only - build the report but do not offer to save an XER
   
   Not-started activities are never touched. Completed activities go to 100%. Status, actual dates, durations and the % complete itself stay exactly as they are. You see the full report before anything is saved
5. Press SET AT COMPLETION. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

Forces the ACTUAL units / cost of every started activity to equal its BUDGET x PROGRESS, and writes a new XER.

• Completed activities go to 100% (remaining = 0).
• In-progress activities use their own % complete type (Duration, Physical or Units), or the basis you choose.
• Cost: actual = budget x progress and remaining = the rest, on every assignment and expense item. Units: the same on budgeted units.
• Not-started activities are never touched; rows with a budget of 0 are skipped; overtime actuals are kept.

PlanIQ extras: the report shows earned value and the CPI BEFORE the run, every activity whose actual moved (largest first), posted actuals that are already above progress x budget are protected, and proof checks show actual + remaining = budget on every assignment and that nothing else moved.

A full report is written first (PlanIQ_AtCompletion_Report and PlanIQ_AtCompletion_Changes), then you confirm the save. After importing the XER into P6, press F9.

Assign Resources assign-resources

Assign resources to activities from an Excel list (Activity ID, Resource ID, Units, optional price). Cost from the resource rate table; existing assignments skipped or updated; new XER with proof.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Resource Control › Assign Resources

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The PlanIQ Assign Resources window opens.
2. P6 database or XER source - The project that receives the resources
3. Your list (Excel) - One row per assignment:
   • Sheet
   • Header row
   • Activity ID
   • Resource ID
   • Budgeted units
   • Unit price
   
   · Unit price is optional - without it the resource's rate table is used
4. Rules - What happens to each row:
   • If already assigned
   • Price from
   • tick: Skip completed activities (recommended)
   • tick: Preview only - build the report but do not offer to save an XER
5. Press ASSIGN RESOURCES. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

Creates resource assignments in the schedule from an Excel list and writes a new XER.

LIST COLUMNS: Activity ID, Resource ID (short name, name or internal id), Budgeted Units, and optionally Unit price.

• Cost = units x price. The price is the resource's current rate at the activity's start (or the Unit price column of your list).
• Remaining = budget, actuals = 0; dates follow the activity; the activity's labor / equipment totals are refreshed.
• An assignment that already exists is left as it is, or its budget is updated (actuals kept).
• Milestones, WBS summaries and (optionally) completed activities are skipped; unknown activities or resources are listed with a 'did you mean' hint.

The report lists every row of your list and what happened to it, and proof checks show the budget rose by exactly the cost added and nothing else moved. After importing the XER into P6, press F9.

Remove Resources remove-resources

List the resources used in the project and tick the ones to remove, or remove from an Excel list of activities and resources. Assignments with actuals are kept by default. New XER with proof.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Resource Control › Remove Resources

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The PlanIQ Remove Resources window opens.
2. P6 database or XER source - The project whose assignments are cleaned
3. What to remove - Pick resources from the list, or give an Excel list of activities and resources:
   • choose Pick resources / Excel list
   • button Load resources
   • tick: Select all listed
   • Sheet
   • Header row
   • Activity ID
   • Resource ID
   • tick: A blank Resource ID removes every resource of the activity
   
   Search by resource ID, name or type · 0 of 0 selected ·
4. Safety - What is protected and what else goes:
   • tick: Keep assignments that have actuals (recommended)
   • tick: Also delete the expense items of the activities affected
   • tick: Also drop a resource from the dictionary when nothing in this file uses it any more
   • tick: Preview only - build the report but do not offer to save an XER
5. Press REMOVE SELECTED. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

Deletes resource assignments (TASKRSRC rows) and writes a new XER.

PICK RESOURCES: press 'Load resources' to list every resource used in the project with its number of assignments, actuals and budget; tick the ones to remove - every assignment of those resources is deleted.

EXCEL LIST: a sheet with an Activity ID column and a Resource ID column (resource ID, name or internal id); each row deletes that resource from that activity. A blank Resource ID can mean 'every resource of the activity'.

Assignments that already carry actual units or cost are KEPT unless you untick the option - deleting them loses posted progress. You can also delete the expense items of the activities listed, and drop a resource from the dictionary when nothing uses it any more (this file only - another project may still use it).

The report lists every assignment deleted or kept, totals per resource and the budget before / after; proof checks show exactly the listed assignments disappeared and nothing else moved. After importing the XER into P6, press F9.

Solve Resource Issues solve-resources

Repair assignment target / actual / remaining date mismatches, completed activities with remaining, orphan and duplicate assignments and negative values. The proof re-scans the repaired file.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Resource Control › Solve Resource Issues

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The PlanIQ Solve Resource Issues window opens.
2. P6 database or XER source - The project whose resource assignments are checked
3. What to repair - Tick the repairs you want - every change is on the report before you save
   Dates of assignments with a lag are left alone. Duplicates and orphans are the only repairs that delete rows
4. Notes:
   • tick: Preview only - build the report but do not offer to save an XER
5. Press SCAN AND REPAIR. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

Scans the resource assignments (TASKRSRC) for the problems that imports, merges and manual edits leave behind, repairs them and writes a new XER.

DATES

• Target dates: the assignment's target start / finish = the activity's.
• Actual dates: not started = none, in progress = actual start only, completed = start and finish like the activity.
• Remaining dates: the assignment's remaining start / finish = the activity's remaining dates.

STRUCTURE

• Completed activity that still has remaining units or cost: set to 0.
• Assignment whose activity or resource no longer exists: deleted.
• Duplicate assignment (same activity, resource, role, account) without actuals: the extra is deleted; duplicates WITH actuals are only reported.
• Negative units or cost: set to 0.

Reported only: not-started activities that carry actuals, and units with no cost (resource without a price).

The proof re-runs the same scan on the repaired schedule - it must find nothing. A full report is written first (PlanIQ_ResIssues_Report), then you confirm the save. After importing the XER into P6, press F9.

XER Viewer xer-viewer

Turn a full XER file or a P6 database project into ONE standalone HTML page that looks like the P6 activity window: WBS tree, Gantt, activity codes, resources, predecessors and successors, trace logic and baseline. Send it to a client or contractor and they can browse the schedule in a browser without P6 and without this add-in. Costs are left out unless you tick them.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Share › XER Viewer

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The XER Viewer window opens.
2. Choose the source: P6 Database (a P6 Professional standalone SQLite .db file) or XER File. Browse to the file; when it holds several projects, pick the project from the list. A Baseline project (optional) can be chosen the same way.
3. Set the options in What goes into the page:
   • Relationships - tick to switch on (Predecessors and successors on every activity, with the trace view.)
   • Resources - tick to switch on (The names and units assigned to each activity.)
   • Costs - tick to switch on (Budgeted, actual, remaining and at-completion cost, Planned Value and Earned Value. OFF by default - with this unticked, no money figure is written into the file at all.)
   • Save viewer as (.html)
   • After saving - tick to switch on (Open the viewer in the browser)
4. Press BUILD VIEWER. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Builds ONE standalone HTML page that looks and works like the Primavera P6 activity window:

• WBS tree with level colours, expand / collapse and 'Expand to level'; group by WBS, activity status, any activity code, or a flat list.
• Activity grid with the P6 columns (start, finish, actuals, durations, % complete, float, constraints, calendar, primary resource, activity codes, baseline dates and variance) - choose and resize columns.
• Gantt chart with progress, milestones, WBS summary bars, baseline bars, critical-path highlight, relationship lines and a data-date line; day / week / month / quarter / year / fit.
• Details panel: General, Status, Resources, Relationships (with driving flag and link float), Codes, Notebook and Steps.
• Trace Logic view of the selected activity (1-5 levels of predecessors and successors).
• Filters (status, type, critical, float, activity code, dates, text), project summary, CSV export and print.

Baseline: pick a baseline XER (matched by Activity ID) or a baseline project - it drives the BL Project Start / Finish columns, the baseline bars and Planned Value. With none, the file's own planned (target) dates are used.

Costs are left out unless you tick them: with Costs off no money figure is written into the page.

The driving flag on relationships is calculated by the PlanIQ CPM engine from the stored dates - open the schedule in P6 for the official figures.

Project Vault project-vault

Manages the projects of a P6 standalone (SQLite) database: import and export XER, duplicate and delete projects.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Share › Project Vault.

1. Browse to the P6 Database; the EPS and projects appear as a tree. Click an EPS node to open or close it, or use Expand all / Collapse all. Type in Search to filter.
2. Import XER... adds the projects of an XER under an EPS node you choose. Calendars, resources, roles and codes the database lacks are added; existing ones are matched by name and reused. Project IDs that already exist get a -1, -2 ... suffix.
3. Export XER writes the selected project to an XER file.
4. Duplicate... deep-copies the selected project (activities, WBS, relationships, resources, codes, UDFs, notes), with or without baselines. Every key is renumbered.
5. Delete removes the selected projects and their baselines. Nothing else is touched.
6. The Database issues card opens Remove Shared User, Reset DB Password, Database Cleaner and Database Repair.

Every write runs as one transaction (all or nothing) after a timestamped backup (<name>.<date_time>.bak), is checked with SQLite's integrity check and is logged on PlanIQ_Patch_Log. Import and Duplicate write a proof report, PlanIQ_Vault_Report. Close P6 before you write.

Remove Shared User Error shared-user-error

Clear the project locks and user sessions a crash left behind, so P6 stops reporting a shared user error. Works on a copy or on the original after a backup.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Database Issues › Remove Shared User Error

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The Remove Shared User Error window opens.
2. Locks found in this database - Browse to a database and the shared-mode locks and user sessions are listed here
3. What to clear - Close P6 on every PC first - a lock of a program that is really running would be lost:
   • tick: Also remove the user session records (USESSION)
   
   Removes all project locks (PROJSHAR). The usual fix after a crash · Keeps the locks of sessions that are still marked as logged in
4. Press CLEAR THE LOCKS. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

Use this when P6 (standalone SQLite) says a project is open in shared / exclusive mode by another user, or that you cannot delete or open a project, after P6 or the PC crashed or was closed without logging out.

P6 records who has a project open in PROJSHAR and who is logged in in USESSION. A crash leaves those rows behind, so P6 thinks someone is still using the project.

1. Close P6 on every PC that uses this file.
2. Browse to the database - the locks found are listed (project, user, session).
3. Keep 'Clear every lock' when nobody has P6 open, or choose 'only stale locks' to keep the locks of sessions that are still logged in.
4. Press CLEAR THE LOCKS. A summary is shown first and nothing is written until you agree.

Projects, activities and schedules are never touched - only the lock records. Work on a copy first; the original is only changed after a full backup.

Reset DB Password db-password-reset

Reset a forgotten P6 login password in a standalone SQLite database: copy the password of another user or clear it. Previewed first, copy or backup.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Database Issues › Reset DB Password

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The DB Password Reset window opens.
2. This tool works on a P6 Database (a P6 Professional standalone SQLite .db file). Browse to the file.
3. This tool changes a database, so PlanIQ shows a preview first. Choose whether to write a new copy or the original (a backup is taken first).
4. Set the options in Reset method:
   • Action - choose List users only / Copy password from another user / Clear the password
   • User to reset (login name) (The account that is locked out)
   • Copy the password from (login name) (An account whose password you know)
5. Press PREVIEW & APPLY. The status line at the bottom of the window shows the progress and any problem.

What it does

Use this when nobody remembers the password of a P6 login in a standalone (SQLite) database.

1. List users only - shows the user table, the login and password columns PlanIQ found and whether a password is set.
2. Copy password from another user - the stored (encrypted) password of an account whose password you DO know is copied to the locked account. Afterwards both accounts use that known password.
3. Clear the password - the stored password is emptied so the account logs in with a blank password (works only if P6 allows blank passwords in your setup).

The change is previewed first. Write a NEW COPY (recommended) and open it in P6; use the original only after you are sure - a backup is made first. Use this only on databases you are authorised to administer.

Database Cleaner database-cleaner

Safely remove orphaned P6 database records and compact the database.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Database Issues › Database Cleaner

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The P6 Database Cleanup window opens.
2. Additional cleanup options - Orphaned project data is always removed. Tick what else should go:
   • tick: Remove unused calendars
   • tick: Remove unused resources
   • tick: Delete all projects
   • tick: Also remove EPS and WBS structure
   • tick: Purge deletion history (REFRDEL)
   
   Keeps every calendar still required by retained data · Keeps assigned resources and their parent hierarchy · Deletes every REFRDEL row in the same transaction; the file is compacted afterwards as usual
3. Remove selected projects (baselines are included automatically):
   • button Select All
   • button Clear
   
   Browse to a database to list its projects
4. Press ANALYZE AND CLEAN. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

Removes the leftovers that make a standalone P6 SQLite database large and slow, and compacts the file.

Always done: orphaned rows are removed - data that belongs to a project, baseline or activity that no longer exists (activities, WBS, relationships, resource assignments, notes, UDF values and so on). Live projects, EPS nodes and global data are never touched by this step.

Optional:

• Remove unused calendars: keeps every calendar a project, activity, resource or another calendar still needs, and the default calendar.
• Remove unused resources: keeps assigned resources and their parent hierarchy.
• Delete all projects: removes every project and baseline. 'Also remove EPS and WBS structure' empties the EPS as well.
• Purge deletion history (REFRDEL): deletes every REFRDEL row.
• Remove selected projects: ticked projects and their baselines are deleted.

ANALYZE AND CLEAN first counts exactly what would be removed (nothing is written), shows you the numbers and asks. Then the cleanup runs in one transaction (all or nothing), the file is compacted (VACUUM) and the integrity check is run. A report is written to the sheet PlanIQ_DB_Cleanup.

Close P6 first. Work on a copy - the original is only changed after a full backup.

Database Repair database-repair

Repair recoverable P6 SQLite database index and data integrity problems safely.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › Database Issues › Database Repair

Steps

1. Click the ribbon button above. The P6 Database Repair window opens.
2. Automatic repair actions - All actions are selected by default:
   • tick: Repair malformed P6 values
   • tick: Rebuild database indexes
   • tick: Remove invalid orphan UDF values
   • tick: Rebuild and compact database
   • tick: Remove hidden characters that stop P6 Export to Excel
   
   Control characters and invisible marks in names, codes and notes
3. Press REPAIR DATABASE. A report is written to the workbook first; PlanIQ asks you to confirm before it saves anything.

What it does

Repairs the problems that can be fixed without losing schedule data.

• Repair malformed P6 values: blank text stored in number and date columns becomes empty (NULL), text that is a clean number becomes a number. Dates that are not valid are only reported - never changed.
• Rebuild database indexes: REINDEX. Fixes 'row missing from index' and slow or wrong lookups.
• Remove invalid orphan UDF values: user-defined field values whose field or owner no longer exists.
• Rebuild and compact database: VACUUM rewrites the whole file, frees unused space and removes fragmentation.
• Remove hidden characters that stop P6 Export to Excel: control characters, DEL, zero-width space and byte-order marks in text fields. Normal spaces, tabs, line breaks and Arabic / Unicode text are kept. Password fields are never touched.

PlanIQ runs the integrity check before and after. The data repairs are counted first in a trial that is rolled back, you see the numbers and agree before anything is written. If the integrity check still fails afterwards, PlanIQ also salvages every readable table into a new file.

Close P6 first. Work on a copy - the original is only changed after a full backup. The report is written to the sheet PlanIQ_DB_Repair.

AI Settings ai-provider

Chooses the AI that answers Ask PlanIQ and tells it how you work.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › AI Assistant › AI Settings.

1. Provider: Claude, Gemini, OpenAI, OpenRouter, a model on your own PC with Ollama, or any OpenAI-compatible server.
2. Connection: paste the API key (use Show to check it), choose the Model (Load models fetches the list) and, for local or compatible servers, the Base URL.
3. Test connection confirms the key and model work.
4. About your projects: set Contract form, Output language, Delay analysis method, Standards the AI should follow and Your own rules (optional). The preview shows exactly what PlanIQ tells the AI.
5. Output quality: Fast = one pass; Balanced = one pass with the full rules and a fixed structure; Thorough = a draft followed by an independent review pass that re-checks every number against your data.
6. SAVE SETTINGS. Remove saved key deletes the stored key.

Ask PlanIQ ask-planiq

Asks the AI you configured about the cells you have selected in Excel.

Where: PlanIQ P6 Bridge › AI Assistant › Ask PlanIQ.

1. Select the table or cells in Excel that hold your data.
2. Open the window. In Your question choose a Task - Free question, Explain the delay drivers, Draft an EOT narrative, Review schedule logic and quality, Summarise progress for the monthly report, Recommend a 3-week lookahead focus, or Explain this table in plain words - and type your Question.
3. Choose Fast / Balanced / Thorough and press ASK PLANIQ.
4. Use COPY, INSERT IN SHEET or CLEAR on the answer. AI Settings... opens the provider window (see AI Settings).

Update Manager update-manager

Checks planiqtool.com for a newer PlanIQ, downloads it and installs it.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Help › Update Manager. Help › Check for Updates opens the same window and checks straight away.

1. Press CHECK FOR UPDATES. The message panel says "You are up to date" or shows the new version, its date and a one-line summary.
2. When a newer version is found the button changes to DOWNLOAD & INSTALL. Press it. PlanIQ downloads the ZIP, verifies its SHA-256 against the value published on this site, and installs it.
3. Close Excel and open it again to start using the new version.
4. Skip this version (not offered for required updates) stops reminders for that version; Check for Updates shows it again.

Automatic checks

In Auto-update settings the toggle Automatic update check checks quietly when Excel starts and shows the result in this window. Check every sets how often it runs (1 to 90 days, default 1). Press Save Settings to keep the change.

About PlanIQ about

Shows who built PlanIQ, the installed version and links.

Where: PlanIQ Workbench › Help › About PlanIQ.

• The Links & Tools block lists planiqtool.com and the other PlanIQ resources.
• Quote the version number shown at the bottom when you contact support@planiqtool.com.
• Press DONE to close.

Troubleshooting troubleshooting

Still stuck?

Email support@planiqtool.com with your PlanIQ version (Help › About), your Excel version and a screenshot of the window. A small XER that shows the problem speeds things up.

Help topic IDs topic-ids

Reference for developers: each PlanIQ window opens https://planiqtool.com/help/?topic=<id>. The live list is published at /api/help-topics.json.