Project Task Attributes Table

The table below explains how some project task record fields work differently at different stages of the project.

For each project task field below, you'll see how it works at the following stages:

Before Baseline – This is the planning stage of a project before a baseline is set.
After Baseline – This is the planning stage of a project after a baseline is set, but before a task starts.
Active Project Stage – This is when work has begun on project tasks.
Project Task Completion – This is when the project task is marked complete.

Task Field Name	Field Data Function
Start Date
Before Baseline	The estimated start date for the project task. You can change it at this stage, but it may affect dependent task start and end dates for Fixed Start constraint tasks. Otherwise, this date depends on other task dependencies and work.
After Baseline	The estimated start date for the project task. If you change this date (or change dependent tasks in a way that impacts this date) after the baseline is set, it's still only an estimate. It won't change the baseline date for which variance will be recorded. Note: If you set a new baseline, the value in the Start Date field will replace this value and all previous history will be lost.
Active Project Stage	The actual date the project task started. After time is entered against the task, this field is set to the date of the first time entry against the task.
Project Task Completion	The actual date the project task started. After time is entered against the task, this field is set to the date of the first time entry against the task.
Baseline Start Date
Before Baseline	This field doesn't have a value until a baseline is saved.
After Baseline	The value in the Start Date field when the baseline is set. Start date variance will be recorded against this field. Note: If you set a new baseline, the value in the Start Date field will replace this value and all previous history will be lost.
Active Project Stage	The value in the Start Date field when the baseline is set. Start date variance will be recorded against this field. Note: If you set a new baseline, the value in the Start Date field will replace this value and all previous history will be lost.
Project Task Completion	The value in the Start Date field when the baseline is set. Start date variance will be recorded against this field. Note: If you set a new baseline, the value in the Start Date field will replace this value and all previous history will be lost.
Start Date Variance
Before Baseline	This field doesn't have a value until a baseline is saved.
After Baseline	The difference between the Baseline Start Date and the estimated Start Date.
Active Project Stage	The difference between the Baseline Start Date and the estimated Start Date.
Project Task Completion	The difference between the Baseline Start Date and the estimated Start Date.
End Date
Before Baseline	The estimated end date for a project task. This date is derived from the estimated work and other task dependencies.
After Baseline	The estimated end date for a task. You can change this date only by changing one of the following: the amount of work resources assigned dependency relationships for a certain task changing other tasks that have dependencies with this task
Active Project Stage	The estimated end date for a project task. You can change this date only by changing one of the following: the amount of work resources assigned dependency relationships for a certain task changing other tasks that have dependencies with this task
Project Task Completion	After the project task is marked complete, the end date becomes the actual end date, based on the last time entry. After that, the task won't appear as an option in time entry forms.
Baseline End Date
Before Baseline	This field doesn't have a value until a baseline is saved.
After Baseline	The End Date value when the baseline is set becomes the Baseline End Date. All end date variance is recorded against this date. Note: If you set a new baseline, the value in the End Date field will replace this value and all previous history will be lost.
Active Project Stage	The End Date value when the baseline is set becomes the Baseline End Date. All end date variance is recorded against this date. Note: If you set a new baseline, the value in the End Date field will replace this value and all previous history will be lost.
Project Task Completion	The End Date value when the baseline is set becomes the Baseline End Date. All end date variance is recorded against this date. Note: If you set a new baseline, the value in the End Date field will replace this value and all previous history will be lost.
End Date Variance
Before Baseline	This field doesn't have a value until a baseline is saved.
After Baseline	The difference between the baseline end date and the estimated end date.
Active Project Stage	The difference between the baseline end date and the estimated end date.
Project Task Completion	The difference between the baseline end date and the actual end date.
Estimated Work
Before Baseline	The estimated work for the project task. You can change it at this stage, but it may affect start and end dates for dependent tasks.
After Baseline	The estimated work for the project task. If you change this after the baseline is set, it's still only an estimate. The baseline work is still recorded for variance purposes. Note: If you set a new baseline, the value in the Start Date field will replace this value and all previous history will be lost.
Active Project Stage	The estimated amount of work for a project task. If you change this after task work has started, it affects the entire project schedule, such as dates for other tasks and variances.
Project Task Completion	After a project task is marked complete, the value in this field is set to the sum of all time entries entered against the task.
Actual Work
Before Baseline	This field doesn't have a value until time has been entered against a scheduled project task.
After Baseline	This field doesn't have a value until time has been entered against a scheduled project task.
Active Project Stage	The actual time entered against a scheduled project task.
Project Task Completion	The actual time entered against a scheduled project task.
Baseline Work
Before Baseline	This field doesn't have a value until a baseline is saved.
After Baseline	The value in the Estimated Work field at the time the baseline is set.
Active Project Stage	The value in the Estimated Work field at the time the baseline is set.
Project Task Completion	The value in the Estimated Work field at the time the baseline is set.
Remaining Work
Before Baseline	The estimated work minus the actual work. Until the task has started, this is equal to estimated work.
After Baseline	The estimated work minus the actual work. Until the task has started, this is equal to estimated work
Active Project Stage	The estimated work minus the actual work.
Project Task Completion	After a task is marked complete, this is always 0.
Work Variance
Before Baseline	This field doesn't have a value until a baseline is saved.
After Baseline	The difference between the baseline work and the estimated work.
Active Project Stage	The difference between the baseline work and the estimated work. Note: This doesn't update as work is completed, it's based on the overall task estimate.
Project Task Completion	The difference between the estimated work and the actual work.
Percent Complete
Before Baseline	N/A – Actual Work / Estimated Work = 0
After Baseline	N/A – Actual Work / Estimated Work = 0
Active Project Stage	Actual Work / Estimated Work
Project Task Completion	After a task is marked complete, this is always 100%
Estimated Cost
Before Baseline	The estimated cost of the labor associated with a task. This only has a value after work and resources are assigned.
After Baseline	The estimated cost of the labor associated with a task. Changing the amount of work or the resources assigned will affect this value.
Active Project Stage	The estimated cost of the labor associated with a task. Changing the amount of work or the resources assigned will affect this value.
Project Task Completion	The estimated cost of the labor associated with a task. Changing the amount of work or the resources assigned will affect this value.
Actual Cost
Before Baseline	This field doesn't have a value until time has been entered against a scheduled task.
After Baseline	This field doesn't have a value until time has been entered against a scheduled task.
Active Project Stage	The actual cost of the time entered against the task.
Project Task Completion	The actual cost of the time entered against the task.
Baseline Cost
Before Baseline	This field doesn't have a value until a baseline is saved.
After Baseline	The estimated cost of the labor resources * the estimated work assigned to a task.
Active Project Stage	The estimated cost of the labor resources * the estimated work assigned to a task.
Project Task Completion	The actual cost of the labor resources * the actual work completed on a task.
Estimated Cost Variance
Before Baseline	This field doesn't have a value until a baseline is saved.
After Baseline	The difference between the baseline cost and the estimated cost.
Active Project Stage	The difference between the baseline cost and the estimated cost.
Project Task Completion	The difference between the baseline cost and the actual cost of the completed task.

Task Field Name

Field Data Function

Start Date

Before Baseline

The estimated start date for the project task. You can change it at this stage, but it may affect dependent task start and end dates for Fixed Start constraint tasks. Otherwise, this date depends on other task dependencies and work.

After Baseline

The estimated start date for the project task. If you change this date (or change dependent tasks in a way that impacts this date) after the baseline is set, it's still only an estimate. It won't change the baseline date for which variance will be recorded.

Note: If you set a new baseline, the value in the Start Date field will replace this value and all previous history will be lost.

Active Project Stage

The actual date the project task started. After time is entered against the task, this field is set to the date of the first time entry against the task.

Project Task Completion

The actual date the project task started. After time is entered against the task, this field is set to the date of the first time entry against the task.

Baseline Start Date

Before Baseline

This field doesn't have a value until a baseline is saved.

After Baseline

The value in the Start Date field when the baseline is set. Start date variance will be recorded against this field.

Note: If you set a new baseline, the value in the Start Date field will replace this value and all previous history will be lost.

Active Project Stage

The value in the Start Date field when the baseline is set. Start date variance will be recorded against this field.

Note: If you set a new baseline, the value in the Start Date field will replace this value and all previous history will be lost.

Project Task Completion

The value in the Start Date field when the baseline is set. Start date variance will be recorded against this field.

Note: If you set a new baseline, the value in the Start Date field will replace this value and all previous history will be lost.

Start Date Variance

Before Baseline

This field doesn't have a value until a baseline is saved.

After Baseline

The difference between the Baseline Start Date and the estimated Start Date.

Active Project Stage

The difference between the Baseline Start Date and the estimated Start Date.

Project Task Completion

The difference between the Baseline Start Date and the estimated Start Date.

End Date

Before Baseline

The estimated end date for a project task. This date is derived from the estimated work and other task dependencies.

After Baseline

The estimated end date for a task. You can change this date only by changing one of the following:

the amount of work
resources assigned
dependency relationships for a certain task
changing other tasks that have dependencies with this task

Active Project Stage

The estimated end date for a project task. You can change this date only by changing one of the following:

the amount of work
resources assigned
dependency relationships for a certain task
changing other tasks that have dependencies with this task

Project Task Completion

After the project task is marked complete, the end date becomes the actual end date, based on the last time entry. After that, the task won't appear as an option in time entry forms.

Baseline End Date

Before Baseline

This field doesn't have a value until a baseline is saved.

After Baseline

The End Date value when the baseline is set becomes the Baseline End Date. All end date variance is recorded against this date.

Note: If you set a new baseline, the value in the End Date field will replace this value and all previous history will be lost.

Active Project Stage

The End Date value when the baseline is set becomes the Baseline End Date. All end date variance is recorded against this date.

Note: If you set a new baseline, the value in the End Date field will replace this value and all previous history will be lost.

Project Task Completion

The End Date value when the baseline is set becomes the Baseline End Date. All end date variance is recorded against this date.

Note: If you set a new baseline, the value in the End Date field will replace this value and all previous history will be lost.

End Date Variance

Before Baseline

This field doesn't have a value until a baseline is saved.

After Baseline

The difference between the baseline end date and the estimated end date.

Active Project Stage

The difference between the baseline end date and the estimated end date.

Project Task Completion

The difference between the baseline end date and the actual end date.

Estimated Work

Before Baseline

The estimated work for the project task. You can change it at this stage, but it may affect start and end dates for dependent tasks.

After Baseline

The estimated work for the project task. If you change this after the baseline is set, it's still only an estimate. The baseline work is still recorded for variance purposes.

Note: If you set a new baseline, the value in the Start Date field will replace this value and all previous history will be lost.

Active Project Stage

The estimated amount of work for a project task. If you change this after task work has started, it affects the entire project schedule, such as dates for other tasks and variances.

Project Task Completion

After a project task is marked complete, the value in this field is set to the sum of all time entries entered against the task.

Actual Work

Before Baseline

This field doesn't have a value until time has been entered against a scheduled project task.

After Baseline

This field doesn't have a value until time has been entered against a scheduled project task.

Active Project Stage

The actual time entered against a scheduled project task.

Project Task Completion

The actual time entered against a scheduled project task.

Baseline Work

Before Baseline

This field doesn't have a value until a baseline is saved.

After Baseline

The value in the Estimated Work field at the time the baseline is set.

Active Project Stage

The value in the Estimated Work field at the time the baseline is set.

Project Task Completion

The value in the Estimated Work field at the time the baseline is set.

Remaining Work

Before Baseline

The estimated work minus the actual work. Until the task has started, this is equal to estimated work.

After Baseline

The estimated work minus the actual work. Until the task has started, this is equal to estimated work

Active Project Stage

The estimated work minus the actual work.

Project Task Completion

After a task is marked complete, this is always 0.

Work Variance

Before Baseline

This field doesn't have a value until a baseline is saved.

After Baseline

The difference between the baseline work and the estimated work.

Active Project Stage

The difference between the baseline work and the estimated work. Note: This doesn't update as work is completed, it's based on the overall task estimate.

Project Task Completion

The difference between the estimated work and the actual work.

Percent Complete

Before Baseline

N/A – Actual Work / Estimated Work = 0

After Baseline

N/A – Actual Work / Estimated Work = 0

Active Project Stage

Actual Work / Estimated Work

Project Task Completion

After a task is marked complete, this is always 100%

Estimated Cost

Before Baseline

The estimated cost of the labor associated with a task. This only has a value after work and resources are assigned.

After Baseline

The estimated cost of the labor associated with a task. Changing the amount of work or the resources assigned will affect this value.

Active Project Stage

The estimated cost of the labor associated with a task. Changing the amount of work or the resources assigned will affect this value.

Project Task Completion

The estimated cost of the labor associated with a task. Changing the amount of work or the resources assigned will affect this value.

Actual Cost

Before Baseline

This field doesn't have a value until time has been entered against a scheduled task.

After Baseline

This field doesn't have a value until time has been entered against a scheduled task.

Active Project Stage

The actual cost of the time entered against the task.

Project Task Completion

The actual cost of the time entered against the task.

Baseline Cost

Before Baseline

This field doesn't have a value until a baseline is saved.

After Baseline

The estimated cost of the labor resources * the estimated work assigned to a task.

Active Project Stage

The estimated cost of the labor resources * the estimated work assigned to a task.

Project Task Completion

The actual cost of the labor resources * the actual work completed on a task.

Estimated Cost Variance

Before Baseline

This field doesn't have a value until a baseline is saved.

After Baseline

The difference between the baseline cost and the estimated cost.

Active Project Stage

The difference between the baseline cost and the estimated cost.

Project Task Completion

The difference between the baseline cost and the actual cost of the completed task.

Related Topics