How does Progress Line in Primavera P6 work?

Primavera P6 provides a useful tool called Progress Line, which allows users to visually compare Actual Progress (% Complete) with the Baseline directly on the Gantt chart.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Project Setup

We begin with a simple project that has an assigned Project Baseline.

2. Update the Project

After updating the project:

• Activity A finishes 2 days late, causing Activity B to start late and fall behind schedule.
• Activity C finishes 2 days early, allowing Activity D to start early and move ahead of schedule.

Now, we want to visualize the current progress compared to the baseline.

3. Enable Progress Line

• Right-click on the Gantt chart → Select Bar Chart Options
• Go to the Progress Line tab
• Choose:
  • “By connecting progress points based on activity’s”
  • “Percent Complete”

Click OK, then go to the View menu → Select Progress Line

4. Interpreting the Progress Line

Primavera will display a vertical red line:

• The line shifts left if the activity is behind schedule
• The line shifts right if the activity is ahead of schedule

The point (where the red line connect) represent the Activity % Complete. But now it show on Baseline bar so that we know the activity is late or early.

Activity B is 30% complete, then the progress line will be drawn 30% of the way along the baseline bar.

Activity D is 70% complete, then the progress line will be drawn 70% of the way along the baseline bar.

This visual line helps quickly identify which activities are ahead or behind schedule..

Note :

Normally the Progress line is only used to analyze on-going activity. It  will be drawn at same place with Data Date if:

• The activity is a Milestone.
• The activity does not exist in the baseline.
• The activity is completed.
• The activity is not started, and the baseline start is after or on the Data Date

Using the “Remaining Duration” Option

Alternatively, you can select the “Remaining Duration” option in the Progress Line settings.

The progress point is calculated as:

Progress Point = Baseline Finish – Remaining Duration

For example:

• Activity B: Baseline Finish = 03 Sep, Remaining Duration = 7 days → Progress Point = 28 Aug
• Activity D: Baseline Finish = 03 Sep, Remaining Duration = 3 days → Progress Point = 01 Sep

With this option we can also quickly see which activity is behind schedule and which activity is ahead schedule.