MS Project 2019 Clearing Resource Baseline Work

[RCook1959]

We recently migrated to MS Project 2019.  We've noticed that when we replace a resource on a task using Assign Resources, the original resource's baseline work is cleared or reduced.  On our previous Project the new resource would retain all the replaced resource's baseline work. 

Is there an option somewhere to remove the clearing of a baseline from a task resource during a replace?  Or does one of the CU's fix this issue?

[#2]

RCook1959,
First of all, no, there is no option to clear the baseline when a resource is changed. Baseline fields are static, it takes direct user action to set a baseline, change a baseline or clear a baseline.

How exactly are you replacing the resource? Do you remove the original resource before assigned the new resource? Do both resource have the same Base Calendar and Max Units and are they the same type (e.g. Work)?

What is your version and build? The latest is version 2308 (build 16731.20234 CTR).

John

[#3]

@John-project

I normally use the "Assign Resources" dialog to replace resources. There are a couple of other ways but that's the primary method.

The more I think about the problem, the more I think the process was changed by Microsoft because the new resource was not present during baseline. As such, a new resource should not contain the baseline originally laid in during planning.

I would have liked for the process to keep the original resource with their baseline timephasing intact and zero out the remaining work. The new resource would be added with the remaining work and no baseline. There is a way around this but it takes longer to do as you can't just replace the existing resource and feel everything is good to go.. 

[#4]

RCook1959,
Okay, it finally dawned on me that you are referring to the Assignment baseline data, not the Task baseline date. Indeed, assignment level baseline information doesn't exist until a resource, existing or new, is actually assigned to a task.

If you have a process to get what you want, I'd go with that. I think what you are asking is beyond the intent of how Project operates but you might consider submitting a request via the feedback portal, "I have a suggestion".

John

[#5]

RCook1959 --

I can confirm everything you are seeing with Baseline information in Microsoft Project when you replace one resource with another. You are correct that the Baseline information remains with the previous resource, which leaves the new resource with no Baseline information. However, keep in mind that the Baseline allows you to analyze variance. When I teach people how to use Microsoft Project, we always talk about how to analyze task variance, such as Duration variance, Start variance, Finish variance, Work variance, and Cost variance. We NEVER talk about analyzing resource variance.

If the change of resources on one or more tasks does impact items such as Duration, Start, Finish, Work, and/or Cost, then I would recommend that you update the Baseline for only the tasks in which you changed the resource. DO NOT rebaseline the entire project, as you will lose all of your historic variance up to that point. But if you update the baseline for only the selected tasks, then the new resource will have Baseline information.

Hope this helps.