Hi,

I have a reader who is novice in MS PROJECT 2016, and he has a problem;

“Hi,

I hope you are in good health.

I have some quires about cost tracking in MS Project. I had previously saved a baseline and updated the progress for tasks in it…. then I had to make some changes and added another task. Now I had to save a new baseline for it. but this time cost table show actual cost of completed tasks for new baseline cost.How can we explain this? It is going to affect the planned cost for sure! is this the right method for cost control.?

I shall be waiting for your response. “

OK! I will show you that with simple Example in MS PROJECT 2016!

First, I’m going to create brand new Project:

and three Resources.

Finally, I’m going to assign Resources to Tasks:

Now I’m going to save the Baseline:

and:

Now I will show you Gantt Chart with some additional Columns:

OK! Let’s say that Task1 took 2 days instead of 1 day, and it is finished:

I will get:

As you can see, Cost, and Actual cost is larger that Baseline cost, because Duration is extended for 1 day.

Now let’s say, that we need additional Task for my Project:

As you can see, this Task is not in a Baseline. If I now save the Baseline again I will get:

I will get:

and then:

As you can see, now the Baseline Cost is the same and Actual Cost for Task 1, and it is $1600, which is not what I wanted.

So, to avoid that I will save the Baseline (of, course I have to make undo for previous saving before!), like this:

  and I will get:

And that is exact what I wanted. So, when you have some Actuals, and you want to save some changes, especially for new Tasks, in the Baseline, use firs Select those new Tasks, and then choose, Select tasks option.

Regards!