How to set a baseline and track progress in an .mpp file
A baseline is the plan you agreed. Tracking is what actually happened. Here is how to do both in a Microsoft Project file on a Mac or iPad, in a few taps a day.
Updated 17 October 2026
Quick answer
In MPP Studio, click Lock Plan to save the schedule as the baseline. Then record actual start, actual finish and % complete as work happens. MPP Studio reschedules the rest and compares the forecast finish with the baseline. Everything is saved in the .mpp.
What a baseline is
A baseline is a saved copy of the planned start, finish and duration of every task. Once set, every change and every recorded actual can be compared with it, so you can see which tasks slipped and by how much. Microsoft Project stores baselines inside the .mpp file, and they travel with it.
Lock the plan
- Open the schedule in MPP Studio and get it to the plan everyone agreed.
- Click Lock Plan in the toolbar. MPP Studio saves the current schedule as the baseline and locks the planned dates.
- Actual start, actual finish and % complete stay editable, so you keep recording progress and saving.
Need to re-plan? Choose Unlock Plan… in the toolbar or the View menu, adjust, and lock again.
Record progress every day
| WHEN | RECORD |
|---|---|
| A task starts | Actual start |
| A task is part done | % complete |
| A task finishes | Actual finish, or 100 % |
| A task starts late | Its actual start; successors reschedule |
On an iPad this works offline, so you can update the programme on site and save when you’re back in signal.
Read the forecast
From what you record, MPP Studio reschedules the remaining work through the links and shows the forecast finish. The sidebar compares it with the baseline, so you can see whether the job is ahead or behind, and the critical path shows which tasks decide the end date.
Save, and the baseline and actuals are in the .mpp, where Microsoft Project users see them in their own tracking views.
Questions people ask
Does the baseline stay in the .mpp file?
Yes. Baselines and actuals are saved in the .mpp and show in Microsoft Project’s tracking views.
Can I change the plan after locking it?
Yes. Choose Unlock Plan…, change the plan, and lock it again to save a new baseline.
Track your programme from site
Lock the plan and record progress on Mac and iPad, offline.
Related
Microsoft and Microsoft Project are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. MPP Studio is not affiliated with Microsoft. Other product names are trademarks of their owners. Competitor details are taken from their own websites and App Store listings in October 2026; check with the vendor for current prices.