# Baseline Comparison (https://yapl.app/en/docs/user-guides/gantt/baseline-comparison)

# Baseline Comparison

Baselines capture a snapshot of your plan at a specific point in time. Comparing your current schedule to the baseline helps you track variance, identify slippage, and understand schedule performance.

<Callout type="info">
Baseline comparison requires a Professional tier subscription.
</Callout>

## What is a Baseline?

### Definition

A baseline is:
- A saved snapshot of your plan
- The approved schedule to measure against
- A reference point for variance analysis

### What Gets Captured

A baseline records:
- Task start and end dates
- Task durations
- Effort estimates (planned hours)
- Dependencies
- Milestone dates

## Creating a Baseline

### When to Baseline

Create a baseline when:
- Project is approved to start
- Major re-planning occurs
- Scope changes are approved
- New phases begin

### How to Create

1. Open your plan
2. Navigate to **Settings** or **Versions** tab
3. Find baseline options
4. Click **Create Baseline** or **Set Baseline**
5. Name and save the baseline

### Baseline Naming

Use descriptive names:
- "Initial Baseline - Jan 2025"
- "Post-Change Order #3"
- "Phase 2 Approved"

## Viewing Baseline Comparison

### Enabling Baseline Overlay

1. Open Timeline view
2. Find view options
3. Toggle **Show Baseline**
4. Baseline appears as shadow bars

### Visual Display

Baseline appears as:
- Gray or hollow bars behind current bars
- Different colored indicators
- Comparison markers on milestones

### Reading the Display

| Visual | Meaning |
|--------|---------|
| Current bar right of baseline | Task is late |
| Current bar left of baseline | Task is early |
| Bars aligned | Task on schedule |
| Current bar longer | Duration increased |
| Current bar shorter | Duration decreased |

## Variance Analysis

### Schedule Variance

Compare dates:

| Metric | Calculation |
|--------|-------------|
| Start Variance | Current Start - Baseline Start |
| Finish Variance | Current Finish - Baseline Finish |
| Duration Variance | Current Duration - Baseline Duration |

### Variance Indicators

Positive variance (late/longer):
- Red highlighting
- Plus sign (+5 days)

Negative variance (early/shorter):
- Green highlighting
- Minus sign (-3 days)

Zero variance:
- No highlighting
- On track

## Effort Variance

### Tracking Effort

If using effort tracking:

| Metric | Meaning |
|--------|---------|
| Baseline Effort | Originally planned hours |
| Planned Hours | Current estimated hours |
| Actual Hours | Work completed to date |
| EAC | Estimate at Completion |

### EAC Formula

```
EAC = Actual Hours + Remaining Hours
Variance = EAC - Baseline Effort
```

### Effort Performance

| Variance | Meaning |
|----------|---------|
| Positive | Using more effort than planned |
| Negative | Using less effort than planned |
| Zero | On track |

## Multiple Baselines

### Managing Baselines

You may have multiple baselines for:
- Different approval points
- Phase boundaries
- Major changes
- Version comparisons

### Selecting Baseline for Comparison

1. Open view options
2. Select which baseline to display
3. Switch between baselines as needed

### Baseline Comparison Grid

Compare all baselines:

| Baseline | End Date | Variance |
|----------|----------|----------|
| Initial | Mar 15 | - |
| Revision 1 | Mar 22 | +7 days |
| Current | Mar 29 | +14 days |

## Progress vs. Baseline

### Combining Views

View progress alongside baseline:
- Baseline shows planned schedule
- Progress shows completion
- Together show performance

### Status Assessment

| Current Date | Progress | Assessment |
|--------------|----------|------------|
| Behind baseline | On track | Recovering |
| Behind baseline | Behind | At risk |
| On baseline | On track | Healthy |
| Ahead of baseline | Ahead | Excellent |

## Baseline Reports

### Variance Report

Generate reports showing:
- All task variances
- Summary statistics
- Trends over time

### What to Include

| Metric | Use |
|--------|-----|
| Schedule variance summary | Executive overview |
| Task-by-task variance | Detailed analysis |
| Critical path variance | Risk assessment |
| Milestone variance | Key dates tracking |

## Best Practices

### Baseline Management

- Create baseline at project approval
- Name baselines meaningfully
- Document reason for new baselines
- Keep number of baselines manageable

### Review Frequency

- Compare to baseline weekly
- Report variance to stakeholders
- Investigate significant variance
- Update forecasts based on variance

### When to Re-Baseline

Consider re-baselining when:
- Approved scope changes occur
- Major schedule revisions needed
- Project restart after hold
- Original baseline no longer relevant

<Callout type="warn">
Re-baselining should be a deliberate decision. Too frequent changes make variance tracking meaningless.
</Callout>

## Baseline Permissions

### Who Can Manage Baselines

| Action | Permissions |
|--------|-------------|
| View baseline | All with plan access |
| Create baseline | Team Leads, Owners |
| Delete baseline | Team Leads, Owners |
| Compare baselines | Professional tier |

## Troubleshooting

### Baseline Not Showing

- Verify baseline exists
- Check view option is enabled
- Ensure Professional tier subscription
- Try refreshing page

### Variance Seems Wrong

- Verify correct baseline is selected
- Check if task dates changed
- Review baseline capture date
- Compare manually if needed

### Cannot Create Baseline

- Verify you have permission
- Check plan has tasks with dates
- Ensure plan is saved
- Try from Settings tab

### Baseline Data Missing

- Baseline captures point-in-time data
- New tasks won't have baseline
- Deleted tasks may not appear
- Check baseline creation date

## Related Topics

- [Timeline View](/docs/user-guides/gantt/timeline-view) - Viewing the chart
- [Critical Path](/docs/user-guides/gantt/critical-path) - Schedule analysis
- [Plans](/docs/user-guides/plans) - Plan versioning