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RENUMBERING ACTIVITIES IN P6

When preparing a baseline or starting a new schedule from a template schedule, it is often desired to renumber the

Primavera Activity ID field. Furthermore, it may be beneficial to build in some identifiers with the Activity ID instead of just

the sequential renumbering. This can be completed with a global change and an export/import with Excel.

Step 1: Create a User Defined Field

First create a user defined field and call it New ID. This is done from the menu command, view columns. Then from the

available columns list on the right select User Defined, and add a new field. Add this New ID field to the selected options

below Activity ID as shown in the picture below.

The result on the bar chart layout will show the New ID field and look like the following;

TECH_TIP

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(Note: one method is to populate the New ID field using a global command and an operatorto renumber. However, the method described below gives some more flexibility and control.)

Step 2: Export Activities to Excel

Use the menu command to File Export and select the box called export to spreadsheet (xls) as shown below.

On the next screen select Activities as the export type. You will need to select Modify the template to add the New ID

field as shown below.

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Then finish the export wizard by selecting Next and Finish. Be sure to know the location of your Excel file.

Step 3: Modify the New Activity ID in Excel

Open the activities in Excel. You can use the sort commands in Excel to arrange your activities as long as you do not

modify the column headings. Using the commands in Excel renumber your activities using the New ID field for the new

activity ID. First copy the old Activity ID to the new ID field. You can use the text functions to renumber from selected

location and add some specific identifiers within the ID as shown in the example below. Note the function shown in the top

edit bar.

In this example, the createand numbercolumns are temporary added columns used to renumber the IDs. The first alpha

identifier in the Activity ID was preserved and the renumber began at each of these points. After the createcolumn is

complete, simply use the Excel command copy paste special values to transfer the calculated values in the create

column to the new idfield. Delete the temporary columns and save the Excel file.

Step 4: Import Activities from Excel

Use the menu command File Import to enter the import wizard. Follow the steps in the wizard and select your Excel file.

Then select Update Existing Project as shown below.

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Step 5: Change the Activity ID using a Global Change

Now the New ID field contains your desired new renumbered Activity ID. Use a global change to transfer this field to your

Activity ID. Select the menu command Tools Global Change and add a global change as shown below.

From this dialog box, select change and then commit to the change by clicking the box at the bottom of the log screen.

This will complete the renumbering of the activity IDs.

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