BASELINE
BASELINE('Node' [, "useVariablesFrom"])
The BASELINE function returns the value of a node with no assumptions applied. Assumptions are removed from the referenced node and all upstream nodes that affect it.
Use this function to compare the effect of assumptions by seeing what a node’s value would be without them: BASELINE('Revenue').
Parameters
- NodeNode referenceRequired
- Input node, specified using the node name in single quotes (e.g.
'Revenue') - useVariablesFromKeywordOptional
- Determines which variable values are used in the calculation. Default:
"SCENARIO"."SCENARIO": Uses variable values as overridden by the scenario. This is the default."PROJECT": Uses the original project default values instead of scenario overrides.
Output shape
- Dimensionality
- Same as the input node.
- Values
- The input node’s values computed without any assumptions applied to it or its upstream nodes.
- Row count
- Same as the input node’s baseline values.
Watch out
- The input must be a single node reference. Combinations of operations (e.g.
'A' + 'B') are not valid. - If the model has multiple baselines, the baseline of the current scenario is used.
- The PROJECT mode only applies project default variable values to nodes calculated within the BASELINE function. Upstream nodes outside the BASELINE call still use scenario variable values.
- BASELINE removes assumptions from the node and all upstream nodes. To remove assumptions from only the specified node while keeping upstream assumptions, use NONSIM instead.
Examples
Baseline values without assumptions
This example shows the baseline result of multiplying two nodes when no assumptions or variable overrides are applied. The project default variable $MY_VAR is set to 10.
Project default variables: $MY_VAR = 10
Input node: 'Node 1'
| Year | Value |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $MY_VAR = 10 |
| 2026 | $MY_VAR = 10 |
| 2027 | $MY_VAR = 10 |
| 2028 | $MY_VAR = 10 |
Input node: 'Node 2'
| Year | Value |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
| 2027 | 1 |
| 2028 | 1 |
Formula: 'Node 1' * 'Node 2'
| Year | Value |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 10 |
| 2027 | 10 |
| 2028 | 10 |
These are the baseline results with no assumptions applied.
Values with scenario overrides and assumptions
This example shows how the same nodes look when a scenario overrides $MY_VAR to 20 and assumptions are activated on both nodes.
Variable override via scenario: $MY_VAR = 20
Input node: 'Node 1' (with overridden $MY_VAR as ‘Base’ and activated assumptions as ‘Change’)
| Year | Base | Change | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| 2026 | 20 | 10 | 30 |
| 2027 | 20 | 20 | 40 |
| 2028 | 20 | 30 | 50 |
Input node: 'Node 2' (with the initial measures as ‘Base’ and activated assumptions as ‘Change’)
| Year | Base | Change | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 2027 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 2028 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
Formula: 'Node 1' * 'Node 2'
| Year | Base (Node 1 × Node 2) | Change | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 × 2 | 5 | 45 |
| 2026 | 30 × 3 | 5 | 95 |
| 2027 | 40 × 4 | 5 | 165 |
| 2028 | 50 × 5 | 5 | 255 |
Comparing SCENARIO vs PROJECT mode
This example shows the difference between the two modes: SCENARIO uses the variable value overridden by the scenario (20), while PROJECT uses the original project default (10).
Formula: BASELINE('Result Node')
Equivalent to: BASELINE('Result Node', "SCENARIO")
| Year | BASELINE Result |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 |
| 2026 | 20 |
| 2027 | 20 |
| 2028 | 20 |
BASELINE removes all assumptions but keeps the scenario’s variable override ($MY_VAR = 20).
Formula: BASELINE('Result Node', "PROJECT")
| Year | BASELINE Result |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 10 |
| 2027 | 10 |
| 2028 | 10 |
PROJECT mode also reverts the variable to its project default ($MY_VAR = 10).
See also
- NONSIM
- When you only want to remove assumptions from the node itself. BASELINE removes assumptions from the node and all upstream nodes; NONSIM only removes them from the specified node.