From time to time it may be necessary to add tasks to the project schedule after the baseline has been set. When these changes affect the agreed project schedule beyond the project's tolerances, a new baseline should be set. When no new baseline needs to be set, you can decide to add these new tasks to the baseline.
In case you want to add new tasks to the baseline:
Select the newly added task(s)
Select tab Project and then select Set Baseline
To add the new task(s) to the baseline, select Set Baseline
Select the Selected tasks option
Click OK
In the screenshot below you see a baselined project schedule where the duration is equal to the baseline duration:
In the screenshot below you will see the result of adding an extra task to the baseline as described above. See that the Baseline Duration of summary task 'deliverable 2' is not affected. Additional options when setting the baseline for 'Selected tasks' (Roll up baselines):
From subtask into selected summary task(s)
If you select the new task ('extra task added') as well as the corresponding summary task (deliverable 2), choose 'Selected tasks' and select the 'From subtasks into selected summary task(s)' check box, MS Project rolls up the baseline information from 'extra task added' into the baseline information of the selected summary task. (See the Baseline Duration of the 'deliverable 2' in the example below compared to the situation above.)
To all summary tasks
If you select the new task ('extra task added'), choose 'Selected tasks' and select the 'To all summary tasks' check box, MS Project rolls up the baseline information from the new task to all the summary tasks. Be careful with this option as it changes the baseline to the highest level. See Baseline Duration on line 1 ('project ABC') in the example below compared to the situation above. If on the highest level the Project Plan Triangle stays intact (you took hours for contingency for example) it is OK to roll up. In other cases, do not use this option.
Adding tasks to the baseline in MS Project
What are your questions about adding tasks to the baseline? Share them in the comments below, we'd love to help you.
In the screenshot below you see a baselined project schedule where the duration is equal to the baseline duration:
In the screenshot below you will see the result of adding an extra task to the baseline as described above. See that the Baseline Duration of summary task 'deliverable 2' is not affected. Additional options when setting the baseline for 'Selected tasks' (Roll up baselines):
