Support / Updating & baselines

Set a Baseline and Compare Progress

Updated · 2 min read

A baseline is a frozen copy of the plan that you measure progress against. Capture one when the schedule is approved, usually right after the owner accepts it.

Capture a baseline

Analysis ▾ → Capture baseline. It's saved as "Baseline (date)" and becomes the active baseline immediately.

Capturing again replaces the previous baseline. If you need to keep the old one, export the schedule first (P6 XER or Excel), or compare it with Claim Digger before re-baselining. Re-baseline only when the owner approves a revised plan. Otherwise you erase the record of slip. The blog covers this in baselines and rebaselining.

See it on the Gantt

Baseline bars appear as ghost bars behind each activity, so slip is visible at a glance.

Compare

Analysis ▾ → Compare baseline opens the comparison panel:

  • A summary: total finish slip in days, number of activities changed and slipped, and critical slips
  • A table of each change: Activity, Field, Baseline, Current

It compares names, WBS codes, planned start and finish, and durations.

Send it to the owner

From the comparison panel:

  • Download owner pack creates a variance report.
  • Copy owner share link creates a read-only link to the comparison that expires in 30 days.

The Owner pack is also under the Analysis menu.

Reports that use the baseline

These need an active baseline. Without one you'll see "No active baseline — capture one first."