Baseline1-10 Start fields

The baseline start fields (Baseline1 Start through Baseline10 Start) store the planned beginning date for a task or assignment at the time you save a corresponding baseline. The Baseline1 Start field stores planned start dates for tasks or assignments saved with Baseline 1. Likewise, the Baseline2 Start through Baseline10 Start fields store planned start dates for Baselines 2 through 10.

There are several categories of Baseline1-10 Start fields.

Data Type    Date

Baseline1-10 Start (task fields)

Entry Type    Calculated or entered

How Calculated    As soon as a baseline is saved, the date in the task's scheduled Start field for the task is copied into the corresponding task baseline start field. The baseline start field that is used (Baseline1 Start, Baseline2 Start, and so on) depends on which baseline was saved (Baseline 1, Baseline 2, and so on).

Best Uses    Add one of the Baseline1-10 Start fields to a task view when you've saved more than one baseline and you want to compare baseline start dates with scheduled or actual start dates for tasks. You can also use multiple baselines to compare baseline start dates saved at different points in the project.

Example    At the start of your project two months ago, you saved a project baseline. A month ago, the scope of your project changed, and you saved a second baseline with Baseline 1. Since then, you've made further adjustments and have saved a third baseline with Baseline 2. You now want to compare and analyze the three sets of baseline start dates. You add the Baseline Start, Baseline1 Start, and Baseline2 Start fields to the Task Sheet.

Remarks    The baseline start fields contain "NA" until you save a corresponding baseline, which you can do at any time during the project in the Set Baseline dialog box. Select the baseline you want—Baseline or Baseline 1 through Baseline 10. Setting a baseline copies the currently scheduled fields for tasks into the corresponding baseline fields.

Baseline1-10 Start (resource fields)

Entry Type    Null

Best Uses    Add one of the Baseline1-10 Start fields to the Resource Usage view when you've saved more than one baseline and you want to display or filter baseline start dates for assignments. With multiple baselines, you can also compare baseline start dates saved at different points in the project.

Example    At the start of your project two months ago, you saved a project baseline. A month ago, the scope of your project changed, and you saved a second baseline with Baseline 1. Since then, you've made further adjustments and have saved a third baseline with Baseline 2. You now want to compare and analyze the three sets of baseline start dates in the context of resources and their assignments. You add the Baseline Start, Baseline1 Start, and Baseline2 Start fields to the Resource Usage view. No information appears in the baseline start fields next to the resource names. However, the baseline start dates for their assignments appear in the baseline start assignment fields below each resource name.

Baseline1-10 Start (assignment fields)

Entry Type    Calculated or entered

How Calculated    As soon as a baseline is saved, the date in the assignment's scheduled Start field is copied into the corresponding baseline start field. The baseline start field that is used (Baseline1 Start, Baseline2 Start, and so on) depends on which baseline was saved (Baseline 1, Baseline 2, and so on).

Best Uses    Add one of the Baseline1-10 Start fields to the Task Usage or Resource Usage view when you've saved more than one baseline and you want to compare baseline start dates to scheduled or actual start dates for assignments. You can also use multiple baselines to compare baseline start dates saved at different points in the project.

Example    At the start of your project two months ago, you saved a project baseline. A month ago, the scope of your project changed, and you saved a second baseline with Baseline 1. Since then, you've made further adjustments and have saved a third baseline with Baseline 2. You now want to compare and analyze the three sets of baseline start dates. You add the Baseline Start, Baseline1 Start, and Baseline2 Start fields to the Task Usage view.

Remarks    The baseline start fields contain "NA" until you save a corresponding baseline, which you can do at any time during the project in the Set Baseline dialog box. Select the baseline you want—Baseline or Baseline1 through Baseline 10. Setting the baseline copies the currently scheduled fields for assignments into the corresponding baseline fields.