Question on Variances specially Duration Variance

[Leo R]

We have just implemented Project Server2003.
i would like to know when does the Duration variance field (and other
variance fields for that matter) gets calculated by the system?
In the resource tab in the PWA, the system can provide you with a list of
tasks assigned to a resource including such info as when the task was last
updated and the duration variance of the task. To see how the data in that
view changes, I create a small project with tasks assigned to me. I noticed
that the value for the duration variance remain blank even after I approved
the updates I've submitted.
But when I added the Duration Variance column in the project plan in MS
Project, the column contains values for each task.
Can anyone explain the reason for differences for me?
Thank you very much in advance.

 

[Ben Howard]

Hi Leo,
The variance is the difference between the current value and the baselined
value, so 1st off you need to baseline the project. Secondly, the values
will be displayed in PWA once the project is published.

 

[Leo R]

Hi Ben,

It is my habit that I baseline and publish the project before I do anything
with it.
Otherwise, I will not be able to see the project in the PWA or be able to
compare the changes with something---in this case the baseline values.