At my college, every teacher is required to have at least one 3-4 PM slot in the week. Is there a way to include this constraint? Basically I want something like an opposite of the "maximum" internal hours for teachers.
why is that required?
if all teachers must teach at that time, then you also need at least as many students/groups. In most school there are much more teachers then groups. So in most schools such an request is impossible.
i suggest to answer the first question, because then we can (maybe) find easy workarounds. (like adding dummy activities)
I think you can use constraint activities occupy max time slots from selection. See the constraint's help button. I also attach a very small example for what you need. I hope I am not mistaking.
Quote from: Volker Dirr on October 08, 2016, 12:04:27 PM
why is that required?
if all teachers must teach at that time, then you also need at least as many students/groups. In most school there are much more teachers then groups. So in most schools such an request is impossible.
i suggest to answer the first question, because then we can (maybe) find easy workarounds. (like adding dummy activities)
Thanks for the prompt reply.
That's just a rule to ensure that all teachers have a balanced timetable, and a small group of teachers doesn't "corner" the sought-after morning slots. I should explain this better though.
Let's say there are five teachers in the college. Everyone is required to have at least one 3-4 slot. It need not be the same slot though. One teacher can have a 3-4 on Monday, the other on Tuesday and Wednesday and so on.
I don't think a dummy activity can work. The teacher needs to be engaged at that time (3-4), not have a gap. More precisely, she needs to have a lecture at that time, not even a practical class.
Quote from: Wizard on October 09, 2015, 03:36:14 PM
Hi!
I know there is an option for setting an hourly interval maximum days per week. Can a similar thing be achieved with minimum days? I would like all teachers to teach at least once or twice every week in the last hour.
Quote from: Liviu Lalescu on October 08, 2016, 12:05:10 PM
I think you can use constraint activities occupy max time slots from selection. See the constraint's help button. I also attach a very small example for what you need. I hope I am not mistaking.
Like the previous post? Thanks for the example--will try out and get back to you.
I don't understand why that will balance the table. it is complicating it without a real benefit. But it is your timetable; if your teachers are satisfied with such an rule, it is ok. Livius solution should work.
i recommend to add other constraints to get a balanced timetable. (Like setting min and max hours, max work in an hourly intervall (first and last hours of an day), ...)