Timescaled Baseline & BCWP Output

[roadkill]

I have numerous issues with the data put out via the Timescaled Analysis
feature of MSP. These issues mostly relate to apparently inconsistent or
bogus data for various baseline costs, when timescaled, as well as timescaled
BCWP when I change the baseline used for EV analysis. I'm hoping that I"ve
just done something wrong (although I'm not a novice at MSP). Is there a
good explanation of this feature somewhere, particularly as it relates to the
information I seek, that might help me better understand what's happening and
how to fix it and get the data I need? Or maybe I've set off a light bulb in
someone's head and that person is willing to share their wisdom right here(?).
Thanks,
Will

 

[JackD]

If you describe the problem clearly including the data that is inconsistant
it will be easier to troubleshoot.
You also mention changing the baseline which is used. Providing details of
what you have done would be helpful as well.

 

[roadkill]

Basically I'm having 2 problems:
1) The total Baseline Cost as seen rolled up on the top line of the project
and the total Baseline Cost when summed from the data provided by the
Timescale feature do not agree. On the schedule that I'm currently working
with, they differ by about $20K out of a total of about $6.4M. Any ideas on
what's happening? There are over 400 tasks in the project. Could this be
analogous to a rounding problem?
2) I have 2 baseline costs that I'm trying to measure against. Baseline
Cost and Baseline5 Cost. When I set Baseline5 as the baseline for EV
analysis, I get reasonable BCWP numbers in the Timescale output. However,
when I switch to Baseline as the baseline for EV values, I get BCWP values
that don't budge from 0 until a couple of months into the project and then
are only about 5% of what they should be.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Will

 

[JackD]

1) If you have added any tasks then those additions do not get rolled up
into the topline baseline, but they will show in the export data. Sumary
task baselines are NOT changed when you edit or change existing baseline
data from their subtasks.
That could be a reason.

2) Is the "baseline" valid? If you get good data from one baseline
(Baseline5) and not from the other it would suggest that the other baseline
has a problem of one sort or another. Perhaps the values in that baseline
are bad. I'd insert the relevant baseline fields (start, finish, cost ) for
both baseline and baseline5 and see if there are any discrepancies.

 

[roadkill]

1 below) Do you mean the $'s show up in the export for added tasks, or just
the name? Also when you say that summary task baselines are NOT changed...,
do you mean in the topline after updating the baseline for only certain
subtasks?
- Will

 

[JackD]

The export will export data from all tasks, even added ones.
The baseline within project for Summary tasks is not updated when you add a
task unless you specifically update it as well.
There is a good reason for this. A baseline is a baseline and it should not
be changed arbitrarily. Many organizations have a specific approval process
for changing baselines. If adding a task broke this, then they would be
upset.