You can use the auto compute actuals option to automatically calculate expected progress based on the schedule plan. The auto compute actuals feature is available for individual activities, resources, or expenses. Because the auto-compute actuals option is available for these individual elements, you can choose to selectively perform automatic progress calculations as needed for your project.
Activities
If you select to compute actuals automatically for an activity, the application calculates the actual dates, percent complete, remaining duration, and actual and remaining units for all assigned resources and for the activity expenses.
Caution: If you are collecting timesheet data for an activity, you should not choose the auto-compute actuals option. If you auto-compute actuals for an activity, when you update the project, actual and remaining units/costs are automatically updated for all of the activity's assigned resources. If assigned resources have existing actuals that they reported for the activity through timesheets in P6 Team Member Web, their reported data is overwritten by the auto-compute calculations.
If you want to update progress automatically for some, but not all, of an activity's resource assignments, clear the Auto Compute Actuals option for the activity and select the option for the specific resources you want to update automatically.
Resources
If you select to compute actuals automatically for a resource, the application calculates the actual and remaining units for all of the resource's assignments.
Note: To turn on the Auto Compute Actuals option for individual resources, you must have access to the features available through the Resources section of P6 and have access to the specific resources through 'Resource Security' privileges.
Expenses
If you select to compute actuals automatically for an expense, the application will automatically calculate the estimated expenditure for an expense, based on the schedule plan.