FET Forum

Hallo,

i started coding a simple activity planning form the last days. it doesn't include automatic activity planning (and will not).
it is "only" an overview about all activities in a students-subjects matrix and a teacher total working hours table.
if you press a cell, you will get access to the activity or subactivity form.

some guys might help this overview. espicialy "normal/simple" schools.
to some of them the new form look "untidy", because they don't use shortcuts to (teacher) names.

please don't use this version for work. you don't need to hunt bugs, because it is only a preview version.
the reason why i release this version is, because we are not sure if we should add this feature, because it look like it is maybe not usefull to some complex datasets (like from universities).

i was lazy to code a new menue entrie and so i added this feature currently in the old advanced statistics export.
so please go to "fet ->statistics->export advanced statistics to disk" to check the new feature.

the current version is not 100% ready yet (need especialy a lot of source cleanup and testing after that), but it is already good enough understand the idea of the new feature.

i am currently thinking about adding a few more options:
1. "add": so you skipp the activty overview form and add directly an activity.
2. "clear": so all activites in that cell will be directly cleared.
3. "modify": so overview will be skipped and the clicked activity will directly modified.
4. maybe also a pushbutton with something like "clear whole sheet"
5. maybe code a "teacher target number of weekly hours". so in the teachers table the number of hours is calculated as countdown (current number of weekly hours)-(target number of weekly hours) and if this value is 0 the teacher might be hidden. that is also much work to code, because new forms is needed for that.

espicialy 2 and 3 are a bit tricky to code, because a cell might contain several and/or modified subactivities.
direct modifing (3.) will be of course max possible if there is just one activity in the cell.

don't ask me if it is possible to enter the number of hours directly into the cells. that is nearly impossible. it is possible (but tricky to code) for simple datasets, but impossible for complex ones. the problem are cells with several included activities (because several are added or modified subactivities)

so if there are enought guys that need/want this feature i will maybe finish coding during x-mas holiday. let me know your opinion.

get the preview version here:
DELETED, because it is old. Compare later entries to get newer version.

(don't forget: "fet ->statistics->export advanced statistics to disk")

Hi Volker
Due to hard work at school in the last days, I just downloaded it now for testing

Hapy Christmas and happy new year

Even there was only one positive feedback so far, i coded some more the last days.

In the current version i added the following features:

Quote
1. "add": so you skipp the activty overview form and add directly an activity.
2. "clear": so all activites in that cell will be directly cleared.
3. "modify": so overview will be skipped and the clicked activity will directly modified.
4. maybe also a pushbutton with something like "clear whole sheet"

So only the 5th feature is missing now. But that is again much work to do. i am also not 100% sure where to add it. is a new form needed for this; and where to put it? Or enter that number while entering the name?

please have a look at the new verision and tell me if you like it.
same as before:
-new feature is "hidden" at "fet ->statistics->export advanced statistics to disk"

please get it from here:
DELETED, because it is old. Compare later entries to get newer version.


There was also an other feature request:

Quote> I would also like to have a checkbox to show in the group column, for
> each cell, all the subgroup activities. So if A is a group with A1,A2
> subgroups I want the box of A to show "A1: blah, A2: blahblah".

i already answered this:

Quoteso i should code something like the "related" button in the activities
overview.
let me think about it. i must change serval things to add that feature.

but i am currenlty not sure if that is realy usefull.
maybe to small dataset if you display only the groups.

i see currently several problems (apart from coding it):
1. in my dataset it will take at least 10 times longer to calculate (ok,
maybe not so critical.)
2. in my dataset it will need at least 10 times more memory (more
critical, espiecialy if i thing about more complex datasets. they need
moch more then 10 times more memory.)
3. most critical: i fear it is very unclear.

reason: if i add your request it mean:
a) in the cells is more information, because i also need to print the
year, group or subgroup name (in many cases)
b) data will be displayed many times. (imagine you add an activity to a
group, that mean it will also displayed in all subgroups and in the years
cell. so one activity is displayed in MANY cells (in my simple dataset it
mean each activity is displayed in around 10 different cells.))
especialy the years cell will be pretty full.
c) it will be more dificult to use the planed shortcuts to add, modifiy or
delete activities, because that is only possible if there is only one
activity in a cell.

i checked the current version with some datafiles and there is a file that already use over 300 mb memory.
adding that feature will increase memory usage around 30 times to that file. that is to much.
also speed is slow with that sample (even i have a fast cpu).
so i will not add the request now. maybe later.

I took a llok at the fet-5.11.1.vd1.featurePreview
This is indeed a ver yusefull feature ! I hope to see it included in te official branche
It will speed up inputting precess tremendousely !! Now I have only to click on desired cell to have FET always adding subject and group !!! :)

I will do further testing, but I have a question: why it consumes more memory and slow down solving ? this feature is only related to inputtibg sata stage !!

Here is a screenchoot for other poeples to have an overview:

QuoteI have a question: why it consumes more memory and slow down solving ? this feature is only related to inputtibg sata stage !!

it use more memory, because i need to store data in each cell.
that is normaly not critical, but it will be critical if i also add the suggested "display related activities" feature. that is why i didn't implement that yet.

it will not slow down generating, it slow down only this new form. (it is slow while updating that form, because an activity is changed or if i change optional view settings) with that large sample even current version already need a bit over 1 second on my fast computer to change/update this form.

QuoteIt will speed up inputting precess tremendousely !! Now I have only to click on desired cell to have FET always adding subject and group !!! :)

Have a look at the new version, because it speed up one more time again, because now "adding" save one more mouse click :-)

Quote
Have a look at the new version, because it speed up one more time again, because now "adding" save one more mouse click :-)

Yes I tested it
Bu How FET knows that a teachers reaches  full contract (Hide full teacher ) ?

QuoteBu How FET knows that a teachers reaches  full contract (Hide full teacher ) ?

that is not implemented in that preview version yet. i am still coding on that feature. i think i can release tomorrow the hopefully last previewview version with all included features.

here is the promised new preview version:
DELETED, because it is old. Compare later entries to get newer version.

please check. the "hide full teacher" feature is now implemented (but it can't save that values in the fet-data-file.)

there are also several other new features added. you will see as soon as you test it. i think new features are self-explanatory if you see the new buttons/checkboxes. don't forget you can only toggle behaviour by choosing the radiobuttions in the "action"-box. also behaviour is different
a) if you press a cell or a table head
b) if a cell contain no, one or more activities
so you have much to check.

This is defintivelly a very usefull feature, because FET was always lacking a feature to speed up and check data inputting
As long as I play with this release, I came across some suggetions:
1- If you click under teacher's name, a new box appears asking:"Please enter the number of target hours"
It will be more precise to call it:"Please enter the number of Contract hours"

2- suppose we define "21" hours as the number of Contract hours
a teacher having 18 hours will have -3; that is OK
But a teacher having 26 hours will have 5
I suggest it to make it +5 , so I will not be confused with actualy entred hours
3- Even if I check "hide full teachers", teachers exceding their contract hours are still showing
I suggest to hide them as well or to add anew cjeck bow with "Teachers exceding contract hours" I mean doing supllemental work

Quotethe "hide full teacher" feature is now implemented (but it can't save that values in the fet-data-file.)

Do you mean "check box status" isnot saved or "the number of target hours" ?

Once again, this is so far a good feature, and I  ask Liviu if is it possible to include it in the official release

Quote1- If you click under teacher's name, a new box appears asking:"Please enter the number of target hours"
It will be more precise to call it:"Please enter the number of Contract hours"

I am not an native english speaker.
Maybe also "debit number of hours", "quota" or "set number of hours". Your suggestion also sound ok to me. Maybe native speaker can tell the best sentence?

Quote2- suppose we define "21" hours as the number of Contract hours
a teacher having 18 hours will have -3; that is OK
But a teacher having 26 hours will have 5
I suggest it to make it +5 , so I will not be confused with actualy entred hours

Nice idea. Will be easy to do that. i will do that now.

Quote3- Even if I check "hide full teachers", teachers exceding their contract hours are still showing
I suggest to hide them as well or to add anew cjeck bow with "Teachers exceding contract hours" I mean doing supllemental work

You mean because you want to have same more space for the activity table?
Currently the "hide teachers" mean it hide only teacher that have exacly reach the target number of hours.
I think using a splitter is better, but i doesn't work like i thought. i will retry one more time to use a splitter, so you can set the size of the tables yourself.

Quote

Quotethe "hide full teacher" feature is now implemented (but it can't save that values in the fet-data-file.)

Do you mean "check box status" isnot saved or "the number of target hours" ?

Both is not saved. the checkbox statis is not critical in my opinion. the target number of hours is critical. Liviu and me already talked about that. we don't like to add a value into the fet file which is not directly needed to do timetabling. we are not sure were we should save that values.

Quote

Quote1- If you click under teacher's name, a new box appears asking:"Please enter the number of target hours"
It will be more precise to call it:"Please enter the number of Contract hours"

I am not an native english speaker.
Maybe also "debit number of hours", "quota" or "set number of hours". Your suggestion also sound ok to me. Maybe native speaker can tell the best sentence?

I thought some more.
Using the noun "contract" is maybe not the best, because some guys maybe also add pseudo activities. So maybe they add also "luch"-activities. So it is maybe better to count also that activities, so it is different from the "contract".
But i will do as native speaker prefer. Other suggestions?

Quote
Once again, this is so far a good feature, and I  ask Liviu if is it possible to include it in the official release

I don't like to add the number of contract hours to the .fet file, because it does not belong here and may confuse some users. Also, this new feature of Volker needs testing.

Quote

Quote3- Even if I check "hide full teachers", teachers exceding their contract hours are still showing
I suggest to hide them as well or to add anew cjeck bow with "Teachers exceding contract hours" I mean doing supllemental work

You mean because you want to have same more space for the activity table?
Currently the "hide teachers" mean it hide only teacher that have exacly reach the target number of hours.
I think using a splitter is better, but i doesn't work like i thought. i will retry one more time to use a splitter, so you can set the size of the tables yourself.

I mean simply that if  teachers have 21 hours on their  contract, I want every teacher to be hided once he has 21 or PLUS
Maybe it is better to add a new check box for : "Show/Hide teachers exceeding contract"

Quote

Quote
Once again, this is so far a good feature, and I  ask Liviu if is it possible to include it in the official release

I don't like to add the number of contract hours to the .fet file, because it does not belong here and may confuse some users. Also, this new feature of Volker needs testing.

I think number of contract hours could be addded to the Teacher Statistics window as well
Actualy we have:
-Teacher --- No. of activities --- Duration
Why not make it like this:
-Teacher --- No. of activities --- Duration --- Contract --- status
By status, I mean 0 or +n or -n depending on deiffrences between Contract and actual duration

This info could be usefull for schools where timetable makers needs to know teachers with less "load" to receive more activities
It can be inputted while adding new teacher
Data --> teachers ---> add
we will add both name and contract hours
much like adding Rooms with building and capacity info  :)
Contract Hours is the teacher's "capacity" ;)

QuoteI mean simply that if  teachers have 21 hours on their  contract, I want every teacher to be hided once he has 21 or PLUS
Maybe it is better to add a new check box for : "Show/Hide teachers exceeding contract"

ah... ok. i fear guys maybe add sadly to many hours/activities to a teacher and they will not noctive it a long time. Having to many hours (is also a "bug". So isn't hiding only the teacher that reach exactly the number of hours better?! In my opinion "exceeing" is as problemetic as "under".

Quote
ah... ok. i fear guys maybe add sadly to many hours/activities to a teacher and they will not noctive it a long time. Having to many hours (is also a "bug". So isn't hiding only the teacher that reach exactly the number of hours better?! In my opinion "exceeing" is as problemetic as "under".

Yes
I agree with you
We should keep a close eye on teachers exceeding contract.. otherwise we may continue giving them more and more activities !!
So how it is possible to add a check box for "show/hide teachers exceeding contract" ?

Quote

QuoteSo how it is possible to add a check box for "show/hide teachers exceeding contract" ?

i will think about a checkbox for that.
an other possibility is a splitter (so you can press mouse button between the to tables and move yourself the size of the tables like you want).
but i am bad in coding forms, i tried both variants and both have currently some problems with both variants. i will try to fix that bug.

I finaly updated several features in my simple activity planning form.

I added a "+" and a "-" before the number of teacher hours if a targed number of teacher hours is added.("-" was already included)
You can see the subjects and student of each single teacher.
Splitter used between activities and teachers table.

So only saving the number of target hours is missing. I still don't know where to save it best.

I think the current source is stable enough to test.
There must be done a lot of tests:
like you can see there are 5 "actions":
- Activity
- Subactivity
- Add
- Modify
- Delete
This actions differ and must be tested with:
- clicking activities x-axis (table head)
- clicking activities y-axis (table head)
- clicking teachers x-axis (table head)
- clicking in a teachers cell (row 1)
- clicking in a teachers cell (row 2)
- clicking in a teachers cell (row 3)
- clicking in an empty activity cell
- clicking in an activity cell with a single activity
- clicking in an activity cell with a single activity with modified subactivity
- clicking in an activity cell with two (or more) activities (unmodified)
- clicking in an activity cell with two (or more) activities (modified)
- clicking in an activity cell with two (or more) activities (some modified and some unmodified)

So there are 5*12= 60 test to do with active activities.

Because activities might be active or inactive this test must be done 3 times:
- all activities active
- all activities inactive
- some active and some inactive

So there are total 3*60=180 tests to do.

Also tested must be the visial options (9) in different combinations.

Also tested must be this dialog/form with slow computers and computers with small memory size.

So you can see, there are a lot of test to do!

So please test or if you don't have time to test, donate to FET, so we can also take time to test (again) with other samplefiles ourself.

Get the new version and tell me bugs, missing features, ... .
same as before:
-new feature is "hidden" at "fet ->statistics->export advanced statistics to disk"

Please get it from here:
www.timetabling.de/unofficial/fet-5.11.1.vd4.featurePreview.exe

Thanks Volker for new release
I downloaded it today, and will test it

Thank you.

I forgot to ask also where to put this new feature?

Maybe in:
FET -> advanced -> activity planning
or
FET -> data -> activity planning (behind FET -> data -> subactivities)
or
Maybe even in the satistics, because it it also a statistic at the same time.
or
...

Maybe also a shortcut is needed? But there is no space left. Also it might confuse some guys. I still think most "normal" schools will like this new feature, i fear some (special) school might/will be confused if they try to enter their data/activities with this dialog. That is why i think it is (maybe) not good to use a shortcut.

I still hope more guys will test and say their opinion. (i saw on my statistics that only a few guys downloaded the file.)

QuoteThank you.
I forgot to ask also where to put this new feature?

I sugget to add it ot ADvanced menu, because it is really an advanced feature

I assure you: a lot of peoples will love those new feature, because:
- It tremondosely decrease the inputting data time manipulation ( add, remove, modify)
- It gives also a visual guide  to quickly find what activities you are looking for to work on
- it allows multiple or mass  deleting (al student's activitties, all teacher's activities) !! Official FET only allows multiple activiting/deactiviting

QuoteThank you.
I still hope more guys will test and say their opinion. (i saw on my statistics that only a few guys downloaded the file.)

Maybe a screenshot like this will help peoples have a preveiw of this new feature
I attached a screenshot, if you would like to add it to your new first post

Finally, a bug report:
If you select "delete activity" in the action tab
and click on the  subject name, FET exit suudenly !!
See first attached sceenshot

QuoteFinally, a bug report:
If you select "delete activity" in the action tab
and click on the  subject name, FET exit suudenly !!

Thank you for report. sadly i can't reproduce that bug. At my computer with my sample sets it doesn't crash.
can you please check if you can reproduce that bug? if you can reproduce, please sent me your datafile. i think there must be something special with that file.
if you can't reproduce i guess you done something special before. but what? please try to reproduce it and tell me what you done before.

is it possible that it doesn't crash with subject "eng", but maybe with sub "isl"? Or more precise with a subject that have not only a single number of total numbers (like your in english with "60") but 2 total numbers (like in your dataset with isl "34 (35)")?
i saw i have a small bug with that datasets. but i just didn't delete all. so i still don't know why it should crash.
i will fix that. hopfully it will also fix your crash at the same time too.

please try to reproduce the bug with current (old) version and tell me how you crashed fet. (maybe) please still sent me your dataset. i will keep it private.

i will tell you more as soon as i fixed the bug i found.

it will be very helpfull if you can reproduce the bug, because i still fear the bug i saw has nothing to do with your crash.

It doesnot matter, what subject I click, FEt crashes
I sent my file via PM
I can reporoduce it all the the time
Just  open the file, select delete then click on any subject

Only, one time, I did some other actions (dont remember) then it deosnot crash

hmmm... bad and good.

good: you can always reproduce.

bad: i can't reproduce :-( i got your file and it work at my computer.

i already fixed deleting all activities, even if they share with several guys.

i will upload tomorrow evening and hope it will fix your problem. i just want to check with valgrind (a memory checking tool) before i release a new version. maybe i can detect your (or other) bugs by that.

Sorry for delay. i didn't publish new version yet, because valgrind sadly found a bug.
i will publish as soon as valgrind doesn't show that bug anymore. i think i understand the bug now, but i will fix tomorrow. (it is not difficult to fix, but i need to check the whole source if i done that misstake somewhere else.)

I updated the source. I hope now the bug is away (i can't reproduce it, but now valgrind doesn't complain anymore, so i hope it is solved now.)
Please get it from here and check it:
DELETED, because it is old

@alfaromeo and of course also all other guys that can reproduce the reported bug

I want to go on coding and I want to release a new feature soon, but sadly I can't do that if the reported bug is not fixed. I think it is fixed, but I can't reproduce it, so i need your help!
Please check if you can reproduce the bug (reported by alfaromeo). If you can reproduce it with the old version, please check if it is solved with the new version.

I apologize for the delay
but I bring good news  :)
I tested with fet-5.11.1.vd5.featurePreview.exe
so I can assure you , no bug !! I was able to delete all activities elated to a subject
So go ahead !! it is a good work !!! it will tremondousely decrese time needed to manipulate data
( I was and I am still using Windows Xp Sp2)

i deleted the old links in this topic, because the current version changed much.

i added new features:
1. show pseudo activities.
2. less memory usage (i deleted the "---" in emtpy cells, that saved in some samples very much memory.)

Liviu already included this activity planning into a new snapshot and i hope he can release soon. we just fix and check a few last things.

Liviu was able to reduced the memory usage one more time and he was also able to do a nice automatic resize of the cells.

so it is useless to test my old versions. that is why i deleted the links.

so please wait a bit, liviu will hopefully release soon.