Skip to content
Planix EngineeringConstruction intelligence
Request a demo
Free Primavera P6 tool

P6 Program Compare

Compare a baseline or previous XER with the latest Primavera P6 update in your browser. See where progress moved and every change to activities, durations, dates, logic, lags, constraints and calendars.

1

Base programme

The previous update or the approved baseline.

2

Updated programme

The current update or the revised programme.

Choose the base and the updated XER files to begin.

Both files are read on your own computer. They are never sent to a server or stored.

Programme comparison report

0Changed activities
0Cost weighted progress
0Activities added
0Activities deleted
0Logic and lag changes

Cost weighted progress breakdown

Which activities produced the movement in overall work done.

Budgeted cost basis
0%Previous work done
0%Updated work done
0 ppMovement explained
0Total budgeted cost
Activity IDActivity nameBudgeted costPrevious work %Updated work %Earned cost increaseProject contribution

Changes by WBS

Activity IDActivity nameChange typesChanged fieldsPrevious valuesUpdated valuesDifference
ProgressAddedDeletedDurationDateLogic and lagConstraintCalendar and details
Activities are matched by activity ID. Durations, float and lag are converted from XER hours using each activity calendar hours per day. Performance % complete is the sum of each activity budgeted cost times its P6 activity % complete, divided by the total budgeted cost, so the activity contributions add up to the project movement.
Secure Primavera P6 schedule comparison

See what changed between two P6 updates

Monthly reviews and delay claims both start with one question: what changed since the last programme? The tool matches activities by ID and lists every change by WBS, with a cost weighted bridge that explains the movement in progress. Both XER files are read on your device and are not uploaded or stored.

How to use it

  1. Export two XER filesThe baseline or previous update, and the current or revised programme.
  2. Open both hereDrop each file on its box. If a file holds several projects, pick the project.
  3. CompareClick Compare programmes. Swap the files if you loaded them the wrong way round.
  4. Review by WBSSearch or filter by change type: progress, added, deleted, duration, dates, logic, constraints or calendars.
  5. ExportDownload the Excel workbook or the PDF for the progress meeting or the delay record.

What the tool compares

The report is designed for practical P6 update reviews. It highlights changes that affect progress reporting, the critical path and extension of time discussions.

  • New and deleted activities
  • Start, finish and duration movement
  • Progress and performance percentage changes
  • Predecessor, successor, relationship and lag changes
  • Constraints, calendars and WBS grouping changes

Terms used in the report

XER file
A Primavera P6 export file containing schedule activities, relationships, dates, calendars, WBS data and project settings.
Programme comparison
A structured review of two P6 schedule versions to identify what changed between submissions or update periods.
Logic change
A change to relationships, predecessors, successors or lags that may alter the sequence and critical path of the programme.
Local processing
The XER file is processed by JavaScript inside your browser session instead of being transferred to a remote server.
Questions

P6 Program Compare FAQ

Short answers for planners, project managers and anyone using the tool for the first time.

Are my XER files uploaded?

No. Both files are read in your browser. Planix Engineering does not receive or store your schedules.

How are activities matched between the two files?

By activity ID. An ID found only in the updated file is reported as added, and an ID found only in the base file as deleted.

What changes does it find?

Progress, original and remaining duration, total float, start and finish dates, actual dates, constraints, calendars, activity names, status, WBS moves, relationships, relationship types and lags.

Why is the cost weighted progress empty?

It needs budgeted cost on resource assignments or expenses in the XER. Without cost the schedule changes are still listed in full.

Can I use it for a delay claim?

It is a fast way to find and record the changes between two updates. Keep the source XER files and check important findings in Primavera P6.

Next

More free tools

Every Planix tool runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

XER Viewer

Open any Primavera P6 XER file without P6: WBS, Gantt, logic and float.

Open

P6 Critical Path Finder

The ten lowest float paths, traced to their origin activities.

Open

P6 Program Control Room

Progress, earned value and variance from a baseline and an update XER.

Open

P6 Look Ahead Generator

Look ahead reports by days, weeks or months from an XER.

Open
SS
Built by Sajeeshkumar Sivan

Planning and project controls professional with 15 years on GCC building and infrastructure projects, working daily with Primavera P6 baselines, monthly updates and extension of time claims. Each Planix tool comes from that work.

About Planix Engineering

Want this for every update, across every project?

Root Cause Intelligence tracks each P6 update against the baseline and traces every delay to the activity where it started.

See Root Cause Intelligence Request a demoadmin@planixengineering.com