01 - Analytics how-to

How to use XER Analytics

Use this guide to operate the Analytics module controls, filters, tabs, drilldowns, and exports.

Quick Start

Open a project workspace and choose Analytics from the project-level module buttons.
Select the baseline/reference schedule and current/target schedule.
Choose Full Schedule or constrain the view to one or more milestones.
Use the tab row to move through Overview, Trends Over Time, Delay Analysis, Performance, Hit Rate, Cost, Resource, Change Log, and Reports.
Use the question-mark, expand, drilldown, print, and export buttons directly from each card or chart.

Go to My Projects or Projects and open the project you want to review.
In Project level modules, choose Analytics.
Use Open Analytics to launch the module in the embedded workspace.
Use the expand control if you want the module to fill the browser window.
Use Open in new tab from the expanded view when you want a separate browser tab.

Use Baseline / Reference Schedule to choose the schedule used as the comparison starting point.
Use Current / Target Schedule to choose the update you want to compare against the baseline.
If the module is opened in a standalone demo view, use the file area to drop XER files, Load Demo, Clear All, and Run Analysis.
After schedules are loaded, use the schedule dropdowns again at any time to switch the comparison pair.
When the schedule pair changes, review each tab again because the visible rows, cards, and charts update to the selected pair.

Use Constrained Milestone / Scenario to search by milestone ID, name, or date.
Choose Single Milestone when you only want one target milestone in scope.
Choose Multi-Select when you want several milestones included together.
Choose Full Schedule to remove the milestone constraint and return to the full project schedule.
Use Activity Code Type to select a Primavera activity code grouping.
Use Project Activity Code to narrow the analysis to one selected code value.
Clear the code value or return the selector to the all-activity option to remove the code filter.

Click a tab name to change the active analytics view.
Click the question-mark button on a KPI or chart to see how that visual is assembled and what controls apply to it.
Click the expand icon on a chart to open a larger version of that chart.
Click drilldown controls on charts, rows, or KPI cards to open the related activity table or detail popout.
Use table sorting by clicking column headers where sort indicators are shown.
Use Export CSV in drilldowns or tables when you need the visible rows outside the browser.
Close popouts with the X button or by returning to the main tab view.

Open Overview from the tab row.
Use the Metric Basis toggle to switch cards between EV / Duration and Activity Count basis.
Use the Project Workspace and Action Queue cards as entry points into the selected project comparison.
Click a KPI card question-mark for that card-specific calculation note.
Click a KPI card drilldown control to open its related rows when available.
Use the Schedule Quality section cards the same way: question-mark for help, drilldown for supporting activity rows.
Use the chart cards lower on the page for the active schedule pair and active filters.

Open Trends Over Time from the tab row.
Use the schedule count shown in parentheses to confirm how many loaded updates are included.
Use the shared milestone and activity-code selectors above the tabs to change the trend scope.
Open the question-mark on each trend chart for chart-specific controls.
Use expand on larger trend charts when the timeline is crowded.
Use drilldown controls to open the rows that feed the selected chart when available.

Open Delay Analysis from the tab row.
Use the Period Bridge to review each update period in the selected schedule history.
Click a period block, period row, or drilldown control to open that period detail.
In the period detail, use the delays, gains, and change lists to open supporting activity rows.
Use View Gantt from the delay detail when you want the filtered in-period activities in a timeline view.
Use the End Date Variance chart in the same Delay Analysis view for the selected schedule history.
Use the table below the visual to sort or inspect period-by-period rows.
Use the Show Cumulative toggle when you want cumulative rows instead of in-period rows.

Open Performance from the tab row.
Use Plan vs Actual Complete to compare the visible curves for the selected schedule pair.
Use SPI Over Time for the loaded update history.
Use Activity Starts by Month and Activity Finishes by Month to review monthly distribution ribbons.
Click a month ribbon or its drilldown control to open the month-specific activity list.
Use the question-mark on each performance visual for control-specific help.
Use expand when the monthly distribution or curve chart needs more screen space.

Open Hit Rate from the tab row.
Choose the Hit Rate Baseline / Reference schedule.
Choose the Hit Rate Current / Target schedule.
Set Hit Basis to Finish Dates or Start Dates.
Set Tolerance to Exact Match, +/-1 Day, +/-3 Days, or +/-7 Days.
Use Activity Code Type and Project Activity Code to narrow the hit-rate population.
Use the report and drilldown controls to open the eligible activity rows.
Use CSV export from the drilldown or report controls when you need the hit-rate rows outside the module.

Open Cost to view cost-loaded schedule cards, charts, and rows for the selected schedule pair.
Open Resource to view labor/resource-loaded schedule cards, charts, and rows for the selected schedule pair.
Use the shared schedule selectors before opening these tabs if you want a different comparison pair.
Use the shared milestone and activity-code selectors to scope the cost or resource view.
Use question-mark, expand, drilldown, and export controls on the visible cost or resource visuals.
If a schedule has no cost or resource loading, keep the tab available but expect fewer populated controls.

Open Change Log from the tab row to review update-to-update additions, removals, duration changes, logic changes, and criticality changes.
Use filters and drilldowns in Change Log to isolate the change category you want to inspect.
Open Reports from the tab row to access report cards.
Use Print / PDF on a report card to open a printable view.
Use CSV on a report card to download the related report rows.
Use JSON Snapshot or BI Feed downloads when you need the current analysis payload outside the browser.
Use Save Session Snapshot when you want to preserve the current module state for later review.