Using Stored Images in Primavera P6

Stored images is a relatively new feature that was introduced in version 18 of Primavera P6.

Prior to version 18, Primavera P6 did not have options for storing images, and users would have to insert their own images from an external source when preparing a print layout for a report. The introduction of the stored images function enables organizations to save specific header and footer images as part of print layouts for reports. This not only saves time, but allows for greater visual consistency across reports, as well as improved readability and aesthetic appeal. The ability to set up stored images is controlled by security settings, usually accessible to the P6 Administrator. To allow P6 users make modifications in the Stored Images Manager, their Global Security Profile must have “Add/Edit/Delete Stored Images” privilege enabled.

The P6 Administrator can store up to 20 images for the entire company to access. Each image must be no larger than 500 x 500 pixels.

How do I Add Stored Images in Primavera P6 Professional?

Provided you have the necessary access privileges, adding images to Primavera P6 is simple.

1. 1. On the Menu bar, click on Enterprise then select Stored Images (figure 1).

Figure 1

1. 1. In the Images Manager dialog box (figure 2), click the Add button.

Note: Images must be 500 x 500 pixels or smaller.

Figure 2

1. 1. After clicking Add, you can select the image from your computer (figure 3). The software accepts a range of image types including .jpeg, .png, and .bmp.

Figure 3

Note: A maximum of 20 images can be added.

1. After adding the image, double-click in the Description field to add a description.

Note: Only the P6 Administrator has the ability to assign the Default image for the organization.

• To find an image easily, click the Group & Sort button, then select either Purpose or Description from the Group By dropdown (Figure 4). If you do not wish to sort the images, select None.

Note: Purpose sorts by whether the image was added via P6 Pro or P6 EPPM Web Access. In the Web Access version, this information can be found under “Upload Application”.

Figure 4

Note: To save a local copy of an image on your computer, click the Save button.

How to use a Stored Image in a Layout for a Report

Stored images make it easier to customize your header and footer for printing layouts. Stored images can be placed in the Header or Footer of the Page Setup for any preset layout. When designing a layout for a report, use Page Setup to customize all of the formatting prior to printing.

1. In the Activities window, open any layout for the base of your report.
2. On the Menu bar, click File. Select Print Preview.
3. Click Page Setup. Alternatively, on the Menu bar, click File, then select Page Setup (Figure 5).

Figure 5

The Header Tab

The Header tab of the Page Setup dialog box (Figure 6) controls the top portion of the print out. By default, the header is divided into 3 sections. Each section has a few set options for what can be shown, defined in a dropdown menu. In versions 18 and later of Primavera P6, the dropdown menus in the header sections include Stored Images as an option.

Figure 6

When you select Stored Images, the bottom of the Header section will show the Default image from the Images Manager.

To change the image:

1. Click on the Browse button (the square button with “…” at the end of the Select Filename field). This will open the Images Manager dialogue box.
2. In the Images Manager, click Select (Figure 7).
3. Click the Close button to exit the Images Manager.

Note: We recommend checking the box for ‘Resize picture to fit the section’.

Figure 7

The Footer Tab

The process for adding stored images to the footer is the same as for the Header (Figure 8).

Figure 8

When you are finished adding your images, click OK to close the Page Setup dialogue box. The print preview will update with your selected Header and Footer images (Figure 9).

Figure 9

If you want to save your Page Setup settings for future reports, you must save the layout.

To save the Layout (Figure 10):

1. Close the Print Preview.
2. On the Menu bar, click View, then Expand Layout.
3. Select Save As. Type an appropriate name for your layout.
4. Click the Save button.

Figure 10

When you create a custom layout for a report, all of the Page Setup settings for the layout are retained. This makes it convenient to print PDF reports, as you don’t need to make any adjustments for subsequent reports under the same project.

Using Stored Images in Primavera P6 Web Access EPPM

In P6 Web Access EPPM, Stored Images are accessed under the Administration tab, in Enterprise Data > Stored Images.

Stored Images in P6 EPPM Web Access function the same way as in the Primavera P6 Professional Images Manager.

Note: you can see which platform was used to upload an image to the database in the Upload Application column (Figure 11). This column is equal to the Purpose column in the P6 Pro Images Manager.

Figure 11

Printing a layout in P6 EPPM Web Access is a feature that has been improving with every new version of the software. In 2014, Primavera P6 release 8 was solely a Java-based program. In 2015, Oracle began phasing out Java and moving toward HTML5 with the release of P6 Web Access version 15.

Early versions of the HTML-based P6 Web Access were missing some features that had been available in the classic Java versions of the program. Features such as print screens, activity tables, and Gantt charts were not added until later years.

Version 20 of P6 EPPM finally allows the user to print the activity view. This version also allows for the insertion of Stored Images in the Print Options for the Header and Footer (Figure 12).

Figure 12

To insert stored images in the P6 EPPM, simply click Edit Header or Edit Footer in the Print Options screen (Figure 13).

Figure 13

When you click Edit Header, the header expands with some menu options (Figure 14).

Click on the Add Image button to expand a dropdown list of all the pictures from the Images Manager. To add an image to the header, select it from the dropdown.

Figure 14

Click Return to Preview to go back to the Print Options page (Figure 15).

Figure 15

Recent versions of Primavera P6 project management software make it easy to add stored images to your report header and footer. This feature is a great time-saver. If you’re not already using Stored Images, now is a great time to start. And if you want more Primavera training or need a refresher, check out our online Primavera training courses.

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