	Related Topics:
	Backups and Database Maintenance

Project Baselines

One of the many data management capabilities offered by the Synthesis Platform is the option to create and manage baselines for any analysis project. Within the context of Synthesis, the word “baseline” refers to an exact replica of the project at a particular point in time (i.e., a backup) that can be restored when and if it is needed. A baseline will include all the data that the project contained at the time the baseline was created, including information about the project properties, security settings and project owner.

There are a variety of ways that this functionality could be used, depending on your particular analysis process and data management requirements. For example, if you are about to begin a major revision to an existing project, you could choose to archive the original version as a baseline and then proceed with updating the project. This would ensure that the active projects in the database contain only the most recent information but also provide easy access to a fully editable copy of the previous version of the analysis if it is ever needed.

The following sections describe how you can manage project baselines.

Create/Restore Baselines for a Project

If you are currently working in a project and you have any of the following permissions in the database:

Project owner.
"Create project baselines" permission.
"Manage other repository settings" permission.

then you can create a baseline for the project at any time by choosing Project > Management > Project Baselines > Create Baseline or by right-clicking the name of the project in the project list and choosing the command on the shortcut menu.

To restore all data from an existing baseline, use the Restore Baseline command. This opens the Restore Baseline window, which displays a list of all existing baselines for the project, if any. You have two options for restoring a baseline:

Overwrite existing project allows you to roll back the current project to an earlier state. The restore process will complete as long as the project is not currently in use by another user. There is no undo for project overwrites. Therefore, it would be prudent to create a new baseline for the project before you overwrite it with one of the older baselines.
Create new project allows you to restore the baseline as a new project. You may enter a unique name for the new project. When the restore process completes, the new project will be accessible from the project list.

Manage all Baselines that Exist for the Database

If you have the "Manage other repository settings" permission, you can manage all the project baselines that have been created in the database by choosing File > Manage Repository > Project Baselines.

This opens the Project Baselines window, which displays the details for each of the baselines. This includes the date when the baseline was created, the name of the baseline creator, the project name and any additional notes that the baseline creator may have added to help identify the purpose or context of the baseline. In Xfmea/RCM++, the project profile that was used to set the configurable project settings is also displayed.

To create a new baseline, click the Create button. The Create Baseline window will appear, which displays a list of all projects in the current database. Choose a project from the list, enter any notes that are appropriate to describe the purpose or the circumstances of the baseline and click OK.
To delete an existing baseline, select the row and click the Delete button or press DELETE. There is no undo for delete.
To create a new project that restores all of the data from an existing baseline, select the row and click the Create Project from Baseline button. You will be prompted to specify a unique name for the new project. When the process completes, you can close the Project Baselines window and see that the new project is now accessible from the project list.