Start variance fields

The Start Variance field contains the amount of time that represents the difference between a baseline start date of a task or assignment and its currently scheduled start date.

There are several categories of Start Variance fields.

Data Type    Duration

Start Variance (task field)

Entry Type    Calculated

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

Start Variance = Start - Baseline Start

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

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

Remarks    If the start variance is a negative number, the task is scheduled to start earlier than planned (as shown in the baseline). If the start variance is a positive number, the task is scheduled to start later than planned. If the start variance is zero, the task is scheduled to start exactly when planned.

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

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

Start Variance (assignment field)

Entry Type    Calculated

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

Start Variance = Start - Baseline Start

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

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

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

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