When you set a baseline, Microsoft Project copies the Scheduled Start dates for a task or assignment and stores them in the Baseline Estimated Start fields (Baseline Estimated Start to Baseline1 Estimated Start through Baseline10 Estimated Start). This is true whether the tasks are manually or automatically scheduled. For manually scheduled tasks, these values might be different from what is stored in the Baseline Start fields. For automatically scheduled tasks, the values in the Baseline Start fields and the Baseline Estimated Start fields are exactly the same.
The Baseline Estimated Start field stores scheduled start dates for tasks or assignments saved with the first baseline that you set. Likewise, the Baseline1 Estimated Start through Baseline10 Estimated Start fields store planned start dates for Baseline 1 through Baseline 10.
There are two categories of Baseline0-10 Estimated Start fields.
Data Type Date
Baseline0-10 Estimated Start (task field)
Entry Type Calculated or Entered
How Calculated As soon as a baseline is set, the date in the task's Scheduled Start field is copied into the corresponding task’s Baseline Estimated Start field.
The Baseline Estimated Start field used (Baseline Estimated Start, Baseline1 Estimated Start, and so on) corresponds to the baseline that was saved (Baseline, Baseline 1, and so on).
Best Uses Add one or more of the Baseline Estimated Start fields to a task view when you've set at least one baseline and you want to compare baseline estimated start dates with scheduled or actual start dates for tasks. You can also use multiple baselines to compare baseline start dates that have been set at different points in the project.
Example Your project includes a mix of manually and automatically scheduled tasks, and some of the manually scheduled tasks still have incomplete schedule information. At the start of the project two months ago, you set a project baseline with Baseline. A month ago, the scope of the project changed, and you set 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 estimated start dates to see the calculations for start dates independent of the start dates you’ve entered on your manually scheduled tasks. You add the Baseline Estimated Start, Baseline1 Estimated Start, and Baseline2 Estimated Start fields to the Task Sheet view.
Remarks The Baseline Estimated Start fields contain "NA" until you save a corresponding baseline, which you can do at any time during the project. To set a baseline, on the Project tab, in the Schedule group, click Set Baseline. In the dialog box, click Set Baseline. Select the baseline you want—Baseline or Baseline 1 through Baseline 10. Setting a baseline copies all currently scheduled fields for tasks into the corresponding baseline fields.
Baseline0-10 Estimated Start (assignment field)
Entry Type Calculated or Entered
How Calculated As soon as a baseline is set, the date in the assignment's Scheduled Start field for the task is copied into the corresponding Baseline Estimated Start field for the assignment.
The Baseline Estimated Start field used (Baseline Estimated Start, Baseline1 Estimated Start, and so on) corresponds to the baseline that was saved (Baseline, Baseline 1, and so on).
Best Uses Add one or more of the Baseline Estimated Start fields to the Task Usage or Resource Usage view when you've saved at least one baseline and you want to compare Baseline Estimated Start dates to scheduled or actual start dates for assignments. With multiple baselines, you can also compare Baseline Estimated Start dates saved at different points in the project.
Example Your project includes a mix of manually and automatically scheduled tasks, and some of the manually scheduled tasks still have incomplete schedule information. At the start of the 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 Estimated Start dates independent of the start dates you’ve entered on the manually scheduled tasks and in the context of resources and their assignments. You add the Baseline Estimated Start, Baseline1 Estimated Start, and Baseline2 Estimated Start fields to the Resource Usage view. The Baseline Estimated Start dates for assignments appear with the assignment fields below each resource name.
Remarks The Baseline Estimated Start fields contain "NA" until you save a corresponding baseline, which you can do at any time during the project. To set a baseline, on the Project tab, in the Schedule group, click Set Baseline. In the dialog box, click Set Baseline. Select the baseline you want—Baseline or Baseline 1 through Baseline 10. Setting a baseline copies all currently scheduled fields for tasks into the corresponding baseline fields.
