Project 2010 - Setting a Baseline

Baselines provide the basis for comparison of schedule and budget performance as the project is executed. The initial baseline should be set once the plan is realistic, finalised and approved. Only then is a plan ready to track actual progress against it.

To set a baseline:

1. In the ribbon on the Project tab, within the Schedule group of commands, click set baseline -> set baseline. 

The Baseline value (without any number) will always represent the current baseline.


2. Making sure Set Baseline and Entire Project are set, clicking OK sets the Baseline.

3. Notice as the baseline is now set the values of the start, finish, baseline start and baseline finish  columns are now the same.