Why a Gantt chart without a baseline hides slippage
A standard Gantt chart only shows today's forecast. If an activity has slipped six weeks, its bar simply sits six weeks further right — and nobody in the room can tell, because there is nothing to compare it with.
A baseline comparison puts the original plan back on the slide. Each activity gets a thin shadow bar showing its baseline dates, and the finish slip is written next to it. Delays stop being something the audience has to take on trust and become something they can see at a glance.
How to show baseline vs actual in PowerPoint
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Add your baseline dates
Put baseline start and finish dates next to the current dates in your Excel file, or type them straight into GanttSnap's data table.
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Pick the Baseline Comparison template
Open GanttSnap in PowerPoint and choose the Baseline Comparison layout.
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Draw
GanttSnap draws the current bars, the baseline shadow bars and the slip labels in seconds.
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Update each reporting period
Change the current dates and draw again. The baseline stays put, so the slip grows or shrinks in front of your audience.
What the slide shows
Baseline shadow bars
A slim bar under every activity marks its baseline start and finish.
Finish slip in days
Red for late, green for early — beside each activity, so the variance reads without a legend.
Milestones drift too
Current and baseline milestone dates side by side, so a moved key date can't hide.
Swimlanes by WBS
Group activities into colour-coded swimlanes so each phase's variance reads together.
Data date line
A clear line across the chart marks where the schedule stands today.
Native, editable shapes
Every bar and label is an ordinary PowerPoint shape you can restyle or annotate.
Built for progress reviews
Steering committees and client reviews ask the same question every month: what has moved since last time? A baseline comparison slide answers it directly — the late activities stand out in red, the recovered ones in green, and the ones that held need no discussion.
Because the chart is made of native PowerPoint shapes, you can add a callout to the one activity that matters, dim the rest, or drop the slide straight into your monthly report deck.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the baseline dates come from?
From your Excel file — add baseline start and finish columns next to the current dates — or typed straight into GanttSnap's built-in data table.
How is the slip calculated?
It is the difference in days between the current finish and the baseline finish. A positive slip (late) is shown in red, a negative slip (early) in green.
Does it work for milestones?
Yes. Milestones show their current and baseline dates side by side, so a moved key date is as visible as a slipped activity.
Is my schedule uploaded anywhere?
No. Your schedule is read inside the add-in on your own machine; your schedule data is not sent to GanttSnap's servers.
How much does it cost?
Baseline comparison is part of the Advanced plan at €59 per year, together with Primavera P6 and MS Project import, critical path and the DCMA 14-point analysis. The free Starter plan lets you try GanttSnap with up to 10 activities first.