---
title: Baselines
summary: Save a copy of the schedule dates, choose which copy to compare with, and see how far each task is from its baseline.
order: 4
menu: Schedule > Tasks
route: /wbstasks
who: People who have the View Tasks permission can see baseline dates. Creating and switching need the Edit Tasks permission. Deleting needs the Delete permission.
---

A baseline is a saved copy of the schedule dates. Later, you compare the live dates with the baseline. The difference tells you how late or early the project is.

Example: on 1 March the plan says the slab of Acme Heights finishes on 30 April. You save a baseline. In May the slab finishes on 10 May. Against the baseline, the slab is 10 days late.

Superwise also makes a baseline by itself each time a new revision of the schedule is approved. Its title starts with "Auto-generated on Schedule Approval". See [Revisions](revisions.md).

## Before you start

- The project needs a schedule. You cannot create a baseline without one.
- Open **Schedule > Tasks** and choose the project.

## How to see baseline dates

1. Open **Schedule > Tasks**.
2. Click **Baseline** above the tree. The bar chart shows the baseline dates as thin bars under the task bars.
3. Click a row and read **Baseline start** and **Baseline finish** in the **Inspector**.
4. Read the line at the bottom. It shows the **Project finish** date and how many days it is from the baseline, for example `+4 d vs baseline`. It says `on baseline` when there is no difference.

## How to see the list of baselines

1. Click **More actions**.
2. In the second group, choose **View Baseline**.
3. The window **Baselines** lists each baseline with **Created On**, **Title**, **Created By** and **Active?**. A tick in **Active?** marks the baseline in use.

![The More actions menu. The second group holds the baseline actions.](../media/schedule-quick-menu.png)

![The Baselines window lists each baseline, who created it and which one is active.](../media/schedule-baseline-list.png)

## How to create a baseline

1. Click **More actions** and choose **Create Baseline**.
2. In the box, type a title (mark 1), for example `Baseline before monsoon`. Each title must be different.
3. Click **Save** (mark 2). The button works only when the title is not empty.
4. The message **Baseline Saved** appears.

![The Create Baseline window. Mark 1 is the title and mark 2 is Save.](../media/schedule-baseline-create.png)

## How to change the baseline in use

1. Click **More actions** and choose **Switch Baseline**.
2. Choose a baseline in the list **Select a Baseline** (mark 1).
3. Turn **Use Planned Dates?** (mark 2) on or off.
4. Click **Switch**. The message **Baseline Changed successfully!** appears.

![The Switch Baseline window. Mark 1 is the list of baselines and mark 2 is the Use Planned Dates switch.](../media/schedule-baseline-switch.png)

With **Use Planned Dates?** on, the baseline shows the dates that were first planned. With it off, the baseline shows the dates the schedule had when the baseline was saved.

## How to delete a baseline

1. Click **More actions** and choose **Delete Baseline**.
2. Choose the baseline in the list.
3. Click **Delete**. The message **Baseline Deleted!** appears.

## Rules to know

- Only one baseline is active at a time. A tick in **Active?** marks it.
- A baseline title cannot be repeated. Superwise says "Title cannot be repeated".
- If the project has no schedule, Superwise says "Please create a Schedule before creating a Baseline".

> **Warning:** Deleting a baseline cannot be undone.

## If something goes wrong

| What you see | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| No **Create Baseline** in the menu | You need the Edit Tasks permission. Ask your administrator. |
| **Save** is grey | Type a title. |
| Title cannot be repeated | Type a different title. |

## Related pages

- [Tasks](task-list.md)
- [Gantt chart](gantt.md)
- [Revisions](revisions.md)