Using Project Baselines
Baselines provide a “snapshot” of project status by storing a complete set of project data for a specific point in time.
By comparing baseline schedules and costs with current information, you can see the areas of the project that are deviating from the original plan. In many cases, project baselines serve as the basis of contractual agreements related to project performance.
Open Plan enables you to store multiple project baselines that you can refer to each time a major replanning of the project occurs. For some planners, a single baseline is sufficient for determining subsequent project performance. Other planners prefer to create baselines in order to maintain a historical record of changes over the life of the project.
You can create a project baseline at any time. Typically, you create a baseline after the initial plans are complete but before you begin entering progress information. You may create additional baselines each time a major replanning of the project occurs or when you progress with the project.
After you have loaded baselines for a project, you can access baseline fields just as though they were part of the standard project database.
You can also use baseline fields in filters, sorts, global edits, and calculated field expressions. However, take note that the values of baseline fields depend on which baseline is currently loaded for a project.
When selecting fields to display in a view, note that the Baseline Start and Baseline Finish fields from the Activity table contain information from the baseline identified as Baseline 1.
Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB)
Open Plan also enables you to create a performance measurement baseline (PMB) that is used for cost calculations. If a PMB exists, it is used even if it is not one of the selected baselines. By always using the PMB when it is available, Open Plan provides consistency and reliability.
If there is no baseline named PMB, Open Plan uses the currently selected baseline, or, in the case of multiple selected baselines, the baseline identified as Baseline 1 for the project.
Creating a Baseline
You can create, copy, and update a project baseline at any time. Typically, you create a baseline after the initial plans are complete but before you begin entering progress information. Later, you may need to update it or copy it. To create, copy, or update a baseline, use the Baselines command from the Processes tab to display the Add Baseline dialog box.
After you create a baseline, you can update it with the current project information at any time. When updating an existing baseline, you can have Open Plan update information for activities already present in the baseline as well as for new activities (that is, activities missing from the original baseline).
Updating an Existing Baseline
When you update an existing baseline, Open Plan displays the Update Baseline dialog box.
Copying an Existing Baseline
When you copy an existing baseline, Open Plan displays the Copy Baseline dialog box. When the Copy Baseline dialog box displays, the baseline is given the name COPY_<baseline name>. You can change the name as well as the description if you desire. However, you cannot change the dates on which the baseline is based.