Field Configuration

Field Configuration is a powerful customization tool in ProjectLibre Cloud that allows you to control exactly which data points are displayed across your project environment. Whether you are looking at a spreadsheet or a graphical diagram, this tool ensures you only see the information relevant to your current task.

I. Accessing configuration

To open the configuration sidebar, click the Gear Icon (⚙️) located in the top-right corner of the interface. This sidebar provides two primary ways to interact with your data:

• Active Fields View: By default, the sidebar lists all fields currently active in your current view. This applies to the spreadsheets in the Gantt Chart, Resource Pool, and Portfolio, as well as the data displayed within the nodes of the WBS and Network Diagram.

• Manage Mode: Clicking the Manage link at the top of the sidebar opens the full customization suite, allowing you to modify the display.

II. Customizing your display

Once in Manage mode, the sidebar expands to show an Available Fields library on the right.

Adding and reordering fields

• Add Fields: To add a new data point to your view, find the desired field in the “Available Fields” list and drag it to the “Active Fields” list on the left.

• Reorder Fields: Within the “Active Fields” list, you can change the order in which columns appear in a spreadsheet (or the sequence of data in a WBS/Network node) by using drag and drop. Moving a field higher in the list moves it further to the left in a spreadsheet view.

Organizing the library

The “Available Fields” library can be vast. To find what you need quickly, you can organize fields by:

• Group: Categories such as “Main,” “Baselines,” “Actuals,” “Calendar,” or “Notes”.

• Type: The format of the data, such as “Date,” “Duration,” “Currency,” or “Text”.

• Search: Use the search bar at the top of the library to find a specific field by name.

III. Impact on graphical views

While Field Configuration directly changes columns in spreadsheet views, it also dictates the content of visual nodes:

• WBS & Network Diagrams: The first few fields in your “Active Fields” list will typically populate the information boxes (nodes) in these diagrams.

• Consistent Data: Changes made here are reflected across the system, ensuring that if you add a custom “Risk” field to your Gantt chart, you can also see it in your WBS layout.

Pro Tip: Multi-View Consistency

You can create specific Field Lists for different phases of your project. For example, use a “Planning” list focused on Durations and Predecessors, and switch to an “Execution” list focused on Actual Costs and Percent Complete during the construction phase.

Printing and exporting data

ProjectLibre Cloud provides a robust Export Data engine that serves as the primary method for both printing your project information and extracting data for external manipulation. Instead of a traditional “Print” button, the system uses high-fidelity exports to ensure your data remains structured and professional.

I. Accessing the export tool

To begin an export or prepare a document for printing, click the Export Data Icon (an arrow pointing out of a box) located on the far right of the main toolbar.

II. Configuration options

When you click the export icon, the Export Data dialog box appears, offering several parameters to customize your output:

• View to Export: You can choose to export data from your current active view (e.g., Gantt Chart, Resource Pool, or Portfolio).

• Fields to Export:

  • Active Fields: Exports only the columns currently visible in your spreadsheet (as defined in your Field Configuration). This is the best option for clean, focused printing.

  • All Fields: Extracts every single data point associated with the tasks or resources for deep-dive auditing.

• File Format:

  • Excel (.xlsx): The preferred format for data manipulation, complex calculations, and creating custom charts.

  • CSV (.csv): A universal text format ideal for importing your project data into other enterprise systems or databases.

  • PDF: (Where applicable) Select this format for high-resolution snapshots ready for physical printing or email distribution.

III. Printing via export

Because ProjectLibre Cloud is a browser-based enterprise solution, the most reliable way to print is to:

1. Configure your spreadsheet columns to show exactly what you want on the page.

2. Select Excel or PDF as your export format.

3. Click Download.

4. Open the downloaded file and use your local software’s print settings (such as “Fit to One Page” or “Landscape Orientation”) to finalize the hard copy.

IV. Data manipulation in Excel

For advanced users, exporting to Excel opens up a world of possibilities beyond the standard PM interface:

• Custom Pivot Tables: Create complex resource allocation summaries.

• External Reporting: Combine ProjectLibre data with financial data from your accounting software.

• Bulk Editing: While ProjectLibre 2.0 supports powerful AI and Inline editing, some users prefer Excel’s native features for massive data cleanup before re-importing.

Pro Tip: The “Clean Print” Secret

Before exporting for a presentation, use the Zoom to Fit tool on the Gantt chart and hide unnecessary columns using the Field Configuration sidebar. This ensures your exported file is concise and readable for stakeholders who may not need to see technical fields like “Total Slack” or “Constraint Type.”

Filter and sort portfolio or project data

Watch: Video: Filter and Sort

Sorting and filtering data

ProjectLibre 2.0 provides streamlined tools to organize and isolate your project data. These functions are primarily used within spreadsheet views, such as the Gantt Chart, Resource Pool, and Portfolio, to help you find specific information quickly.

I. Filtering data

The Filter function allows you to temporarily hide rows that do not meet specific criteria. This is essential for managing large projects with hundreds of tasks or resources.

• How to Filter: Click the Filter Icon (typically found in the top toolbar or within the spreadsheet header area). This activates the filter input fields.

• Applying a Filter: Enter your search criteria directly into the field header.

• Example: In the Resource List, if you wish to see only resources whose names begin with the letter “C,” simply enter “C” into the Name filter field. The view will instantly refresh to display only matching entries.

II. Sorting data

Sorting allows you to reorder your spreadsheet rows based on a specific data point, such as chronological dates or alphabetical names.

• How to Sort: There is no dedicated “Sort” button in the toolbar. Instead, sorting is performed directly on the Spreadsheet Headers.

• The Toggle Mechanism:

  • Click once on a header (e.g., Start Date) to sort the rows in ascending order.

  • Click again on the same header to reverse the sort to descending order.

Sort by Start Date ascending

Sort by Start Date descending

• Visual Indicators: ProjectLibre 2.0 provides two clear signals that a sort is active:

  1. Header Arrow: A small arrow icon will appear inside the spreadsheet header you clicked, indicating the sort direction (Up for ascending, Down for descending).

  2. Red Activation Icon: A red icon will appear on the far left of the screen. This serves as a global indicator that the current view is sorted and may not represent the default project ID order.

III. Key considerations

• View-Specific: Sorting and filtering only affect your current view. Reordering your tasks by “Finish Date” in the Gantt spreadsheet will not change the structural hierarchy of your project in the WBS view.

• Clearing Sorts: To return to the default project structure (ordered by Task ID), click the active sorted header until the sort icon disappears, or refresh the view.

• Sorting by Date: Sorting by Start or Finish dates is one of the most effective ways to identify “What’s happening next” without manually scrolling through a long schedule.

Pro Tip: Multi-Level Analysis

Use Filter and Sort together for maximum efficiency. For example, filter your Resource Pool for a specific department, then sort by “Standard Rate” to quickly identify the highest-cost resources within that specific group.

Country-specific date and currency formats

Coming soon: select country-specific date and currency formatting options.

Selecting a country-specific date format and currency

ProjectLibre offers a convenient way to set your currency and date format based on your country’s convention. This will change the data entry from DD/MM/YYYY to MM/DD/YYYY and also the currency displayed.

Access the Admin:

• Click on the Application Preferences.
• Choose Date/Currency setting based on Country.
• The Date/Currency Locale box is a drop down where you can select the Country and Language. This will also set the currency. Example in the image is French (France) which would be different from French (Canada).
• Selecting your country will automatically adjust the date format in ProjectLibre to match the most common convention used in that location.
• Example, if you choose English (United States): the date format will be MM/DD/YYYY (month/day/year) and the currency will be $. If you choose French (France), it will change to DD/MM/YYYY and the currency will be €.
• By following these steps, you can easily ensure that ProjectLibre displays dates in the format that’s most familiar and convenient for you based on your location.