Finish Variance fields

The Finish Variance field contains the amount of time that represents the difference between the baseline finish date of a task or assignment and its current finish date.

There are several categories of Finish Variance fields.

Data Type    Duration

Finish Variance (task field)

Entry Type    Calculated

How Calculated    The Finish Variance field contains "0 days" until the finish date varies from the baseline finish date. Project then calculates finish variance as follows:

Finish Variance = Finish - Baseline Finish

Best Uses    Add the Finish Variance field to a task view when you want to analyze whether your tasks are finishing on, before, or after their planned finish dates.

Example    You set a baseline for your project three months ago, and you now want to review the finish variances on the tasks. You add the Finish Variance field to the Task Sheet view to analyze the task's progress and performance to date.

Remarks    If the Finish Variance is a negative number, the task is scheduled to finish earlier than planned, as shown in the baseline. If the Finish Variance is a positive number, the task is scheduled to finish later than planned. If the Finish Variance is zero, the task is scheduled to finish exactly when planned.

You set a baseline in the Set Baseline dialog box. This copies the current value for the scheduled Finish field into the corresponding Baseline Finish field.

You can use the Tracking Gantt view to see the finish variance shown graphically with Gantt bars. Also, the Variance table includes the Finish Variance field by default.

Finish Variance (assignment field)

Entry Type    Calculated

How Calculated    The Finish Variance field contains "0 days" until the finish date varies from the baseline finish date. Project then calculates finish variance as follows:

Finish Variance = Finish - Baseline Finish

Best Uses    Add the Finish Variance field to the Task Usage view when you want to analyze whether your assignments are finishing on, before, or after their planned finish dates.

Example    You set a baseline for your project three months ago, and you now want to review the finish variances on the assignments. You add the Finish Variance field to the Task Usage view to analyze the assignment's progress and performance to date.

Remarks    If the finish variance is a negative number, the assignment is scheduled to finish earlier than originally planned, as shown in the baseline. If the finish variance is a positive number, the assignment is scheduled to finish later than planned. If the finish variance is zero, the assignment is scheduled to finish exactly when planned.

You set a baseline in the Set Baseline dialog box. This copies the current value for the scheduled Finish field into the corresponding Baseline Finish field.