Copy Tasks Copies Baseline Data

[Rick]

Is there any known option or method for preventing baseline information from
being copied when a baselined task is copied?

The issues is that we take a baseline at a certain point in time and expect
that baseline to remain unchanged. Project Managers are allowed to update
the plan of course and this includes adding tasks; however, those changes
should not be reflected in the baseline. Unfortunately, when a Project
Manager copies an existing task, the baseline data is copied into the new
task. In essence, this is changing the baseline without actually using the
Save Baseline option.

Ideally, when a baselined task is copied, the baseline information should be
cleared in the new task.

Additional Information:
Even though the baseline information is stored with the new task, the
basline data is NOT rolled-up to summary level tasks unless the Save Baseline
option is used. This is good in a way, but can cause confusion when
comparing task level values to the summary level values. It makes it look
like Project is not calculating summary level tasks properly. Things get
even more confusing if you export the Timephased data to Excel and compare
the totals in Project to the totals in Excel. THEY WON'T MATCH.

 

[JulieS]

Hi Rick,

I don't know of a method to prevent all task information (including
baselines, tracking data, assignment data etc.) from being copied if you
select the entire task row and then copy.

An option is a Project Manager could select just the task name and duration
(if appropriate) and then copy and paste just that data. No baseline
information will be captured, nor will links, or assignment data. The PM
will need to link the new task appropriately, but this may be a work around
for your situation.

Hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie