In Microsoft Project, the Baseline Start and Start fields have different purposes and meanings:
1. Start Date (Start Field)
- Definition: The Start field shows the scheduled start date of a task based on the current project plan.
- Changes? Yes, it can change if the task is delayed, rescheduled, or dependencies shift.
- When is it used? It is used for tracking the current plan and adjusting schedules as needed.
2. Baseline Start Date (Baseline Start Field)
- Definition: The Baseline Start field shows the start date of a task at the time the baseline was set.
- Changes? No, it does not change unless you manually update the baseline.
- When is it used? It is used for comparing the original plan (baseline) with the actual or current schedule.
Key Differences:
| Feature | Start | Baseline Start |
|---|---|---|
| What it shows | Current scheduled start date | Original planned start date when the baseline was set |
| Can it change? | Yes, if the schedule updates | No, unless you reset the baseline |
| Purpose | Shows real-time scheduling | Tracks project performance vs. the original plan |
Example:
- You schedule a task to start on March 1 and save a baseline.
- Baseline Start = March 1
- Start = March 1
- Later, due to delays, the task is rescheduled to March 5.
- Baseline Start = March 1 (remains the same)
- Start = March 5 (updates to reflect the delay)
🔹 Why is this important?
Comparing Baseline Start with Start helps track project delays, measure performance, and report changes effectively.
Let me know if you need more details! 😊