User guide

User Guide — Project Performance Portal

This guide explains each section of the dashboard, what it tracks, and how to use it effectively.

One file, one project

Copy the file, rename it (e.g. BridgeProject.html), open it in a browser, and complete setup. Each project is completely independent.

First-time setup

Fill in Project Name, Project ID, Client, Owner Name, and Email. Create an Owner password and optionally a Temp password for team members. A Recovery Key file downloads automatically — save it in the same folder as your HTML file.

Daily use

Open your project HTML file in any browser. Your data loads automatically from browser local storage. Closing the browser does not lose your data.

Passwords & access levels

Owner — full access: edit all data, manage imports, export backup
Temp — limited access: add notes, update forecast and actual dates; set an expiry for contractors or temporary team members
Read-Only — view everything; no editing or export

New computer

Export a full JSON backup first (Data & Import → Export Full Backup). On the new computer, open the app, go to Data & Import → Restore from JSON, and select your backup file. Everything restores including passwords.

Importing data

Use the Excel templates provided (download from Data & Import tab). Import DPs in sequence — Original first, then Forecast, then Actual. Notes are never deleted by any import. Accepted date formats: MM/DD/YYYY, MM/DD/YY, YYYY-MM-DD, DD-Mon-YY.

Backup

Export JSON backup regularly from the Data & Import tab. The app warns you if you try to close with unsaved changes.

Overview

S-curve shows cumulative progress over time: Plan (locked baseline), Forecast (current expectations), and Actual (what really happened).
Next week highlights upcoming milestone deadlines so you can prep reviews before dates slip.
Total DPs — deliverable packages (numbered design submission packages) on the register.
RFC Approved — packages whose final client review milestone is marked complete.
Active DPs — packages still moving through milestone work before that final approval clears.
Burn rate — percent of allocated budget spent so far (same dollar logic as Finance).
Total Budget — sum of every category's allocated amount; subtitle shows how many categories.
Subconsultants — roster count plus how many firms are flagged certified.

Submittals

Each DP moves through 30%, 60%, 100%, and RFC with three dates per milestone: Plan (baseline), Forecast (current target), and Actual (submitted).
Update without a spreadsheet: open a row and change upcoming dates when the team agrees — use Forecast for rescheduled targets and Actual when the milestone is submitted.
Notes on the DP capture meeting decisions and reasons for changes; those notes also appear on Meeting Notes so you have one searchable archive.
Summary table statuses: Submitted (actual on file), Pending (dated but waiting), Not scheduled (no plan date).
Narrow the table with filters for milestone stage, discipline, or lead.

Finance

Budget grid lists each category's dollars allocated (plan) versus spent (actual).
Burn rate KPI — percent spent of total allocation; warns when spend is outpacing remaining budget.
EAC (estimate at completion) under burn rate forecasts total cost if today's performance continues.
Remaining — allocation minus spend; subtitle shows approximate percent of budget untouched.
Invoice to date / Payment received mirror Data & Import → Project billing for cash view separate from internal budget tracking.
Approved COs vs Pending COs roll up Change Order dollar impact; ESDC diverted highlights dollars flagged toward ESDC.
Earned value row decodes as: EV finished-dollar value earned; PV dollar value planned by today; AC dollars really spent.
SV schedule variance (“dollars ahead/behind plan”); CV cost variance (“dollars under/over spend for work done”).
SPI schedule performance index (~1 = on pace); CPI cost performance index (~1 = efficient spend).

DCN & CO

Design Change Notices capture drawing revisions; Change Orders track dollar and schedule impacts.
Statuses and flags (including ESDC) stay separate from baseline DP milestones so contractual changes stay traceable.
Finance KPIs downstream read approved versus pending totals — keeping this log accurate protects budget forecasts.

Meeting Notes

One searchable log spanning every milestone note entered anywhere in Submittals.
Filters by milestone stage plus keyword search make meeting prep and forensic reviews fast.
Export CSV for minutes or archival packages; imports never wipe notes automatically.
Pair with Submittals: inline DP notes populate here automatically for a full project storyline.

Data & Import

Downloads official Excel templates; keep filenames untouched so uploads auto-detect type.
Always import DPs in order: Original → Forecast → Actual.
JSON export is a full snapshot (data + passwords); schedule it like any other backup routine.
Restore JSON on a new machine after setup to pick up exactly where you left off.
Project billing fields feed the Finance tab's invoice/payment KPIs — update them when cash position changes.

Start your project

Your dashboard is ready.

Open Dashboard