Forum Discussion
Baseline fallback formula fails in project center
Hi Community,
I have multiple projects: some have only a single baseline, some have two (Baseline and Baseline 1), and others have none.
Later, I created a new project‑level, date‑type custom field. In this new field, I used the following formula:
IIf([Baseline 1 Start] = ProjDateValue("NA"), [Baseline 1 Start], [Baseline Start])
The issue is:
- When I add this custom field to the Project Center view, the column shows as empty.
- When I open the same project in Project Professional (desktop) and check the Project Information, the field displays #ERROR.
Has anyone run into this before or know the correct approach for checking if Baseline 1 exists, and otherwise falling back to the main Baseline date?
Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
Allow me to tag: Dale_HowardMVP John-project
11 Replies
Knowledgeseeker, to summarize and specify
The formula you must enter in French is (copy and paste):
IIf([Début de référence1]=projdatevalue("NC");[Début de référence];[Début de référence1])
NC=Not calculated/Not concerned
NA gives an #ERREUR#
For all old projects, you must Open (calculate) + Save (upload to server) + Publish (available in Project Center). Otherwise, the field may appear empty or with "#ERREUR" until a recalculation is forced.
Optionally, Publish can include Save.
New projects (created after defining the formula) will apply the formula without issue.
I hope you find it useful
Ignacio
Knowledgeseeker,
Based on the input from my colleague Dale, you might try this alternate "old school" approach I have used for many years.
Date1=IIf([Baseline1 Start]>50000,[Baseline Start],[Baseline1 Start])
John
Hi John-project
To my knowledge, this solution would only be visible locally in my Project Professional, and would not appear online for all project managers, Please correct me if I’m mistaken.Knowledgeseeker,
Again, I don't know because I don't use Project Online. Perhaps Dale can comment.
John
Knowledgeseeker --
My business partner and I have both encountered the problem you describe in new Project Online instances. The formula you shared should work fine in Project Online, yet it does not.
Neither of us have any idea why the test for the "NA" value is failing. In response, I have reached out to my contact within Microsoft Support to see if this is a known problem in Project Online. I will contact you when I get a reply.
I appreciate you checking this and confirming it’s not just on my side.
Thanks as well for contacting Microsoft Support ... I’ll be very interested to hear if they’ve seen this before.
Please keep me posted, and I’ll share any updates I come across too.
I’ve seen this before. The #ERROR usually happens when the field evaluates against an NA date. Also your IIf logic looks reversed for your intent. If you want “use Baseline 1 when it exists, otherwise use Baseline”, try:
IIf([Baseline 1 Start] <> ProjDateValue("NA"), [Baseline 1 Start], [Baseline Start])
Notes:
Make sure the custom field is Project-level, Date type, and uses a formula.
Open each project, calculate, then Publish so the value appears in Project Center.
If it still shows blank in Project Center, check that the view includes this field and that the project has been republished after creating the formula.For context, I ran into similar calculated-field behavior on my https://altahoorquraninstitute.com/
Thanks!
Knowledgeseeker,
You shall seek and you shall find.
Your formula is a little bit backward and the fields have an extra space. Try this:
IIf([Baseline1 Start]=projdatevalue("NA"),[Baseline Start],[Baseline1 Start])
This works in Project Pro desktop. I can't speak to Project Center since I don't use PWA.
John
Thank you for taking the time to reply to me. My formula is in French, so the one I shared was actually a translation of the French field names.
Even after changing the fields as you suggested, nothing appears.
What I find most strange is that even when I keep only [Baseline Start] in the formula, nothing is displayed.
Knowledgeseeker,
Let's see your formula in French, maybe I can pick up something.
What exactly do you mean about keeping only Baseline Start? When you say nothing is displayed are you talking about In Project Center or Project desktop?
I'd like to see a screen shot of a typical task line with Baseline Start and Baseline1 Start and the Date field you customized with the formula.
John
Hi John-project,
Thank you for taking the time to reply to me. My formula is in French, so the one I shared was actually a translation of the French field names.
Even after changing the fields as you suggested, nothing appears.
What I find most strange is that even when I keep only [Baseline Start] in the formula, nothing is displayed.
