What Is the Data Date in Primavera P6?

In Primavera P6, the Data Date is a crucial scheduling concept that every project planner must understand. It’s not just a date on the screen — it’s the point in time where actual progress ends and planned work begins.

In simple terms:
The Data Date is the “status date” line in your schedule — the reference point where past and future are separated.

Why the Data Date Matters in P6

 Whether you’re creating baseline reports or running a critical path analysis, setting the correct Data Date is essential. Here’s why:

  1. It defines the point up to which you have recorded what is completed vs. Remaining

• Everything to the LEFT of the Data Date is actual work that has been completed.
• Everything to the RIGHT is planned or remaining work — what’s yet to happen.

 This distinction allows Primavera P6 to:

• Track schedule performance accurately
• Calculate the float and the critical path
• Measure earned value and forecast project completion

 2. It Drives the Scheduling Engine

The scheduling process (F9) in P6 starts from the Data Date. If it’s wrong, your entire forecast could be off — activities may appear to start before they logically can or show negative float when they shouldn’t.

 3. It Keeps Project Reporting Honest

All performance metrics — like Planned Value (PV) and Earned Value (EV) — depend on the Data Date. If the date is incorrect, progress reports will show misleading results, and stakeholders will get the wrong picture of your project’s health.

Is the Data Date the Same as Today’s Date?

Not always. And this is one of the most common misconceptions.

Let’s look at a real-world example:

• It’s Monday morning, and you’re in a weekly project meeting.
• You’re reviewing a Primavera schedule that was updated and printed on Friday at 5 PM.
• That schedule shows a Data Date of Friday — because that’s when it was last updated.

So, even though today is Monday, the data in the schedule is accurate only through Friday. Anything that happened over the weekend or Monday morning is not reflected in the report.

The Data Date is not when you open the file.
It’s when the project data was last updated.

Common Mistakes with Data Dates (and How to Avoid Them)

Best Practices for Using the Data Date in Primavera P6

• Update the Data Date BEFORE entering actuals

• Set the Data Date to match your reporting period (e.g., every Friday at COB)

• Always include the Data Date in your reports, so your team knows how current the information is

• Move the Data Date forward regularly during updates to reflect progress accurately

Final Takeaway: The Data Date = The Truth Line of Your Schedule

In Primavera P6, the Data Date is not just another setting — it’s the defining line between what’s done and what’s left.

It answers the question:

“As of what point in time is this schedule accurate?”

So next time you’re reviewing a schedule or running an update, don’t overlook the Data Date. It’s the heartbeat of your project — and it tells you whether the story your schedule is telling is still true