When you set a baseline, Microsoft Project copies the Scheduled Finish dates for a task or assignment and stores them in the Baseline Estimated Finish fields (Baseline Estimated Finish to Baseline1 Estimated Finish through Baseline10 Estimated Finish). 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 Finish fields. For automatically scheduled tasks, the values in the Baseline Finish fields and the Baseline Estimated Finish fields are exactly the same.
The Baseline Estimated Finish field stores scheduled finish dates for tasks or assignments saved with the baseline that you set first. Likewise, the Baseline1 Estimated Finish through Baseline10 Estimated Finish fields store planned finish dates for Baseline 1 through Baseline 10.
There are two categories of Baseline0-10 Estimated Finish fields.
Data Type Date
Baseline0-10 Estimated Finish (task field)
Entry Type Calculated or Entered
How Calculated As soon as a baseline is set, the date in the task's Scheduled Finish field is copied into the corresponding task’s Baseline Estimated Finish field. The Baseline Estimated Finish field used (Baseline Estimated Finish, Baseline1 Estimated Finish, 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 Finish fields to a task view when you've set at least one baseline and you want to compare baseline estimated finish dates with scheduled or actual finish dates for tasks. You can also use multiple baselines to compare baseline finish dates 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 finish dates to see the calculations for finish dates independent of the finish dates you’ve entered on the manually scheduled tasks. You add the Baseline Estimated Finish, Baseline1 Estimated Finish, and Baseline2 Estimated Finish fields to the Task Sheet view.
Remarks The Baseline Estimated Finish 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 Finish (assignment field)
Entry Type Calculated or Entered
How Calculated As soon as a baseline is set, the date in the assignment's Scheduled Finish field for the task is copied into the corresponding Baseline Estimated Finish field for the assignment. The Baseline Estimated Finish field used (Baseline Estimated Finish, Baseline1 Estimated Finish, 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 Finish fields to the Task Usage or Resource Usage view when you've saved at least one baseline and you want to compare Baseline Estimated Finish dates for assignments to scheduled or actual finish dates for assignments. With multiple baselines, you can also compare Baseline Estimated Finish 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 the 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 Finish dates independent of the finish dates that you’ve entered on the manually scheduled tasks and in the context of resources and their assignments. You add the Baseline Estimated Finish, Baseline1 Estimated Finish, and Baseline2 Estimated Finish fields to the Resource Usage view. The Baseline Estimated Finish dates for assignments appear with the assignment fields below each resource name.
Remarks The Baseline Estimated Finish 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.
