import and export files

[kdsayang]

hi...

For some user, inputting all the subjects and subject code, teacher etc is a tedious work... So, I suggest that FET can import file to ease the user from inputting the details... We can save 1/3 or 1/2 time just to input that... I think the most suitable format is excel file format. Then the user can concentrate on inputting the activities and constraints etc

So, for the export files...  I think excel file format is the most suitable file because normally, me or other user (I think) edit the *.html files from FET in excel and also print it there... There are so many things that u can manipulate the data in excel.

to Volker Dirr: Hi, I've been to your website and download "Get unofficial FET 5.5.2.alpha.vd1 Windows executable (with CSV import)". When I extract It, there is no application *.exe file... So, do I have to compile the files to generate the *.exe file???

TQ

[Volker Dirr]

Ohh.. sorry. You are right. The exe is missing.
Yes, so you must compiler yourself :-(
You can import only teachers, rooms, subject and years.

I am currently coding a better import filter, so you can also import groups, subgroups, buildings, ... . The internal function already work well, but i am a beginner with Qt. So the user interface is still bad.
That is why i will not compile the old version again. Please do it yourself.
I am working on the new version and i will release that as soon as possible.
but like i told: i am a Qt beginner and i must also work as teacher, so it may take one or two weeks.

[Liviu Lalescu]

Did you open a .fet file with a text or xml editor? It is easy to understand. Please do that to see it and maybe you can find a way to generate a .fet file from an excel data.

I have to admit I did not think about ways to import/export data, because I tried to concentrate on the algorithm. But I hope Volker and maybe other contributors will work on that.

[kdsayang]

but like i told: i am a Qt beginner and i must also work as teacher, so it may take one or two weeks.

hehe... I also work as a teacher.... I've zero knowledge of Qt. Maybe it take months for me to compile and publish it.. hehe... Just do your best.. Slow and steady

[kdsayang]

Did you open a .fet file with a text or xml editor? It is easy to understand. Please do that to see it and maybe you can find a way to generate a .fet file from an excel data.

Yes I did.... The files are stored in XML syles... I think. hehe.. I'll try to do that.

I have to admit I did not think about ways to import/export data, because I tried to concentrate on the algorithm. But I hope Volker and maybe other contributors will work on that.

I also hope Volker work on that... Ganbatte Volker

[kdsayang]

For suggestion...

for the input file, we can separated it to 5 DIFFERENT files... I suggest the file extension is *.FIF=FET Input Files
(i) course list
(ii) room list
(iii) lecturer list
(iv) days per week
(v) period per day


for course list --> (i)

Year/Course, Group/Course group, Subgroup, subject code, subject name, number of student (-1 for auto), split into, duration, if activites on the same day force consecutives

*DIT,**DIT 1,MTA 223,***-0, Basic Computer Hardware,****-1, 1,3,
*DIT,**DIT 1,MTA 223,***-0, Basic Computer Hardware LAB,****-1, 1,3
*DIT,**DIT 2,MTP 113,Group 1, Basic Programming,35, 1,4
*DIT,**DIT 2,MTP 113,Group 1, Basic Programming LAB,35, 1,4
*DIT,**DIT 2,MPP 223,***-0,Oganization Behavior,30, 2,4,4,1 <-- why extra 4 and 1?? Becoz this 4 for another class period and 1=enable, -0=disable activites on the same day, force consecutives

for room list --> (ii)

room name, building, capacity,
A-A1,Kuliyah Muamalat,40
A-A2,Kuliyah Muamalat,40
B-A1,Kuliyah Arab,40
Computer Lab 1, Kuliyah IT,30

for lecturer list --> (iii)

lecturer
Hanif Ali
Liviu Lalescu
Volker Dirr

for days per week --> (iv)

days per week, day 1,day 2,etc
5,Sunday,Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday

period per day --> (v)

period, hour
23,08:00,08:30,09:00,09:30 etc


Legend
*     DIT= Diploma In Information Technology
**    DIT 1= Diploma In Information Technology in semester 1
      DIT 2= Diploma In Information Technology in semester 2      
***   -0= A value to show that there is no subgroup. If there any, just type the subgroup name
****  -1= automatic computing. If u don't want to use -1, just put the total of students

Finaly, we can add the ACTIVITIES, TIME CONSTRAINTS & SPACE CONSTRAINTS by manually.

I think it will be easier if we use the text documents *.txt as the input file as long FET can understand it. But for the long run, *.csv sytles in text documents or *.xls is better.

[Volker Dirr]

I remember there was an other solution some time ago on the mailling list. Here it is:

If i understand correct, then you can use it for example to import
teachers name from csv to a fet data file.

1. you need a csv file with teachernames (no seperator, just new lines)
example:
Tom
Al
Fred

2. visit http://www.creativyst.com/cgi-bin/Prod/15/eg/csv2xml.pl

3. Write into "Element ids" this: Name
Write into "Input" the csv teacher names.
Write into "Doc_id": Teachers_List
Write into "Row_id": Teacher

4. press convert

About your suggestions:

for course list --> (i)
Year/Course, Group/Course group, Subgroup, subject code, subject name, number of student (-1 for auto), split into, duration, if activites on the same day force consecutives

Currently i am working only on Years; Groups;subgroups.

Looks like you also want to import the whole lesson planing. My source is very portable. So i can try to add that later. But i will do it different. split into is not a good suggestion. Example: someone write duration 5 and split into 2 lessons. So what should i do? That's why i prefer "duration" and "splitted duraion" and so you can say: 5; 4+1 or 5; 3+2 or 5; 2+2+1 or ...

room name, building, capacity,

i am working on that. (Just a little bit more common, you will see hopefully in a week.)

for lecturer list --> (iii)

i am working excactly on that.

for days per week --> (iv)
period per day --> (v)

hmmm.... that's a little bit different from my current csv import style.

but i think that can be added later.

currently i try to add the import filter very common, so everyone should be able to use it with his current school administration software. Wait a little bit and you will see that.
The last two suggestions are pretty special and doesn't fit to files of school administration software that i know.

[kdsayang]

Example: someone write duration 5 and split into 2 lessons. So what should i do? That's why i prefer "duration" and "splitted duraion" and so you can say: 5; 4+1 or 5; 3+2 or 5; 2+2+1 or ...

If someone want 5 duration and split into 2 lesson, you meant that the class have 2 activites per week and each class have 5 period right? or this "4+1 or 5; 3+2 or 5; 2+2+1" mean anything else??
-->4+1 = 2 activities per week. 1st activity is 4 period. 2nd is 1 period
-->2+2+1 = 3 activities per week. 1st activity is 2 period. 2nd is 2 period. 3rd is 1 period

Let say that the teacher have 4 activites per week and each period is 2+1+2+1.
The input will be:

Year/Course, Group/Course group, Subgroup, subject code, subject name, number of student (-1 for auto), split into, duration, if activites on the same day force consecutives

*DIT,**DIT 2,MPP 223,***-0,Oganization Behavior,30,4,2,1,2,1,1

hmmm.... that's a little bit different from my current csv import style.

but i think that can be added later.

may be you add it like this... Instead of doing it horizontal, u make it vertical???

for days per week --> (iv)

horizontal
days per week, day 1,day 2,etc
5,Sunday,Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday

vertical
5
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday

period per day --> (v)

horizontal
23,08:00,08:30,09:00,09:30 etc


vertical
23
08:00
08:30
09:00
09:30
etc

The last two suggestions are pretty special and doesn't fit to files of school administration software that i know.

Maybe it doesn't fit to fit to files of school administration software that u know. But it fit me.. hehe and now u know hehe  

[Volker Dirr]

sorry for delay.

The input will be:

Year/Course, Group/Course group, Subgroup, subject code, subject name, number of student (-1 for auto), split into, duration, if activites on the same day force consecutives

*DIT,**DIT 2,MPP 223,***-0,Oganization Behavior,30,4,2,1,2,1,1

i did it a little bit different. just open your current data set and export it. then you can see how to import activities.

may be you add it like this... Instead of doing it horizontal, u make it vertical???

you are right. that fit to my style.
but i haven't enought time now to do that.

please check the current beta ( http://www.timetabling.de/ ) and tell me if it work well. i released source and windows executable. i still need to do a few code cleanups, but i haven't enough time at the moment and i think the current version is good enough to release it as a beta version.

i will maybe add import of days and periods later.

[kdsayang]

sorry for delay.


please check the current beta ( http://www.timetabling.de/ ) and tell me if it work well. i released source and windows executable. i still need to do a few code cleanups, but i haven't enough time at the moment and i think the current version is good enough to release it as a beta version.

i will maybe add import of days and periods later.

hi,

I've tried this new features of yours. It is very good. In my opinion, I think It is better your put one subject per column in *.csv instead of cramming all of them in just one column. It look nicer and easy to troubleshoot. Well done. Love it...  

Can u PLEASE update it to the latest versions?? TQ

Image BELOW is the old one.... Image ABOVE is my suggestion...

[Volker Dirr]

In my opinion, I think It is better your put one subject per column in *.csv instead of cramming all of them in just one column. It look nicer and easy to troubleshoot. [...] Image BELOW is the old one.... Image ABOVE is my suggestion...

hmmm.. i don't understand what you mean.
can you explain it one more time please?

did you already notice/checked, that several fields are allowed to be empty?

each line contain one activity. to each line must exacly contain one subject.
it can contain (but must not) a teacher set, a student set, activity tag or room constraint.

it must have value total duration or splitted duration. if you enter both values, then both values must be the same.

Can u PLEASE update it to the latest versions??

not today, hopefully next weekend.

[Volker Dirr]

Now i understand what you mean. You didn't mean "subject", you mean "activity".

ok. i will explain. (But maybe the english terms are incorrect, because i have installed only a german version and maybe i translate incorrect.)

if you want to import a cvs-file with openOffice calc, then you need to do this:
- open cvs file
- check separators "others" and add sign | in that field.
- remove sign " from textseparator
- press ok.

if you want to export a cvs-file with open Office calc, then you need to do this:
- save cvs file, check "filter settings" and press "save"
- modify field separator to sign |
- modify text separator to no sign
- press ok.


hmmm... maybe i should change sign | to sign ;
and add textseparators.
advantage: nobody need to change settings in openOffice
disadvantage: maybe problems if someone use sign ; or " in teacher/building/students/subjects/... names.

[Volker Dirr]

maybe it is better to use other field separators and also use text separators.
i just checked it with one openOffice version.

but i want to be more sure that other software do it similar.

so can everybody please tell be the used field and text separator of his calculator?
(ok course i will code it common, but i want to have good default settings.)

if you don't know your field and text separator, then just open a spread sheet and enter a 2 rows and to columns. just add 2 words and 2 numbers, save that file as csv and sent it to me.
please also tell the software you are using.

[kdsayang]

I'm using M$ Office 2007. It works. U have to change the 1000 Separator from , to |. U can change that in Regional and Language Option in Control Panel (Windows XP)

Then in Regional Options TAB, click customize. Change , in List separator drop down menu to |. Then open the *csv file and walla... every activities on their own column.. hehe.. TQ

Below is the ouput

[Volker Dirr]

ok. i don't have M$ Office 2007.

i just checked openOffice, KSpread and i read an aritikle about csv.
It looks like most use field separator , (comma) and text separator ".

by your answer i know, that MS also use field separator , by default.
but i don't know if they also use text separator " by default.

can you please check that?

just reset your office settings and do this:
write into field A1:  Hallo
write into field A2:  Mr. "genius" Brown
write into field B1:  4
write into field B2:  4.5

save that as cvs and post it here please.
(i want to know what office do if a name (string) is used (A1), if a text separator is used (B2), if a number (int) is used (B1) and what happen if a number (double) is used.

i hope it is similar to other software, so i hope it is also:
"Hallo","Mr. ""genius""Brown"
4,4.5

if MS save it different, please post that here and please also try if you can open previous 2 lines without changing anything in your office settings.

please let me know, i will change default fet output csv.

Maybe other can also check other spreadsheet software?