URGENT: Problem with Actual Dates (Start & Finish)

J

Jake Cole

I need as much information as possible on the actual start and actual
finish dates. I have four date fields set up: Estimated Start,
Estimated Finish, Actual Start, Actual Finish. Every time I put a date
in the Estimated Start field for example and go to put a different
date in the actual start, project changes my estimated start date to
match my actual start date. Why is this? How can I prevent project
from changing my dates around?
 
T

The Spaniard

I'm assuming your objective is to be able to compare your actual dates to
your initial estimates. Project's baseline function provides this ability
by taking a snapshot of your initial start and finish dates "estimates",
copying them into the baseline start and baseline finish fields in
project's database. The baseline fields are not affected by the entry of
actuals. In addition to start and finish dates, several other fields are
baselined including duration, cost, etc.

Project's help file provides full explanations on how to track your
project's actual performance by saving baselines and producing variance
reports.

Hope this helps.

Mark
 
D

Dale Howard [MVP]

Jake --

To preserver your original Estimated Start and Estimated Finish values, you
must first baseline your project. Doing so will store these values in the
Baseline Start and Baseline Finish fields. The behavior you are seeing in
the software is by design and you cannot change this behavior because
"actuals" always replace "estimates" in the project. The baseline fields
help you to keep track of your original "estimates" in the project. Hope
this helps.
 
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