Forum Discussion
Baseline Resourcing Assistance
- Jan 10, 2026
Hello Kristi_in_heels
Project doesn't calculate or relate the baseline data itself. Even if you enter the Start and Finish dates for the baseline, the Baseline Duration isn't calculated, nor is the Work done by resources on that baseline between those dates. Even manually entering baseline work for a task doesn't distribute the work hours across the baseline duration.
If you have the initial project, you can compare the fields you want from that project with those of the current project using the option: Report > Project > Compare Projects.
I hope this helps.
Ignacio
Kristi_in_heels,
Kick your heels off, let's see if we can get to the bottom of this.
First of all, what version of Project are you using?
Second, I think there is some misunderstanding in terminology. You mention needing a report of the current state, which you call "baseline1" and the original state, which you call "baseline". In Project the current state is the "live" plan, the original state is the baseline, assuming one was set before any activities were started.
Then I'm confused about the manual loading of the "original baseline dates" into the Baseline Start and Baseline Finish fields. The original baseline dates are the baseline start and baseline finish dates, again, assuming a baseline was set at the onset.
So, what really happened? There is no reason to manually do anything with baselines. Setting a baseline will automatically populate all the Baseline fields which then provide the data to compare with the current plan (active schedule) in any report. If you did not set a baseline before plan execution started then depending on how far the plan has progressed (i.e. actual performance), it may or may not be feasible to get a report of schedule performance from the onset. The best you may be able to do is to set a baseline now. You will at least be able to prepare valid reports of plan performance from this point forward.
John
Thank you, my terminology may be misleading.
Original schedule prior to commencement was created in another program, and baselined.
Various iterations were updated throughout the course of the project.
Latest (current state) version exported from that program and created in MS Project, resource loaded and working.
Request to compare current state against very first original baseline was received.
Original baseline dates from other software program was then entered into 'Baseline Start / Finish' dates column to get a comparison, noting that current version has many different tasks now expanded as the project has matured.
So the current state was essentially built before the requirement for the original baseline was requested which is why the dates have been added retrospectively.