Multi-Level Filtering – The Official Site for Zümmer – CPM Schedule Analysis & Comparison

The Filter option is probably the Scheduler’s most powerful tool in P6. The Filter option allows the Scheduler to display only specific activities based on the Filter criteria. There are a vast amount of options that go beyond the scope of this article.

However, in this article, we will explore a not-well known or understood feature I’ll describe as “Multi-Leveling”. In other words, you can implement the multi-level filter technique that allows for multiple filter criteria to be combined into a single Filter.

In the sample Project shown below, “Thyme Street Bridge Construction” consists of the construction 3 Piers comprised of Piles, Footers, Columns and Caps. The Project is planned with 3 crews: a) a Pile Driving Crew; B) a Footer Construction Crew; and C) a Carpenter Crew responsible for building the Columns and Caps.

In this scenario, a reasonable CPM model for this Project would appear as shown below:

Now suppose we need to display (or Filter) only the Cap construction for Piers 1 and Piers 3. Since the sample set above is small, there are multiple options to accomplish this. However, for the purposes of illustration, the most common solution would be to create 2 Filters. One filter to select only the Cap Construction, then another to select Piers 1 and Piers 2. Once the 2 independent Filters are defined, the option to “Show activities that match” is set to “All selected filters”.

The common solution approach consists of:

Create a Filter to Select only Cap Construction as shown below:

The Filter shown above uses the “(All of the following)” option to select only activities containing the word “Cap”.

Create a Filter to Select Pier 1 or Pier 3 Construction as shown below:

The Filter shown above uses the “(Any of the following)” option to select only activities containing the word “Pier 1” or “Pier 3”.

Under the “Show activities that match” text, select the “All selected filters” option, then select both Filters created above as shown below:

The results of the 2 Filter selection criteria are correctly shown below:

The above solution is correct and operative, however, with the use of Multi-level Filtering, a better and more efficient solution can be constructed by combining both Filters into one Filter Criteria as shown below.

Create the first Filter criteria exactly as in Step 1 above as shown below:

Next, Include the next criteria similar to Step 2 above:
- Add a third line using the “(Any of the following)” option similar to Step 2 above.
- Add a fourth line, then enter the criteria “Where Activity Name contains Pier 1”. Make sure that Line 3 as shown below contains the “-“ symbol on the left indicating a second level is defined for the filter criteria. If the “-“ symbol is not shown, then click on the “Shift Right” arrow to create the second level. Notice also that the second “-“ symbol is indented indicating the second level criteria.

Add the fifth and final line, then enter the criteria “Where Activity Name contains Pier 3”. Make sure line 5 begins with “Or”. When done, select OK.

The results of the 1 Filter selection criteria are correctly shown below:

This solution is more efficient since only 1 Filter used eliminating the need to specify the “Show activities that match” option.

In conclusion, this simple example shows that the Filter option is more robust than what may initially appear. If necessary, additional levels can be added for more complicated Filters. The best way to improve your proficiency with Filters is to experiment with known results thereby better understanding its structure and behavior.