Messages

I voted "Yes" I do do use votes but don't allow misfits making doubles.... however, if I did need to use that I would be happy to have the classes spanning a break.

HI,

Now you can have the finished product if you wish.

I have changed procedures now, submitting 10 "perfect" schedules to admin so they can choose the one which they like...

You can see them in fet format at: http://janus.shc.edu.bz/in/les/schedule/demo

and the final product:

http://janus.shc.edu.bz/in/les/schedule/2013

thanks Liviu and Volker!

Yes, If you wish to use the files, you are welcome to...

The file would be under Belize/Sacred Heart College

My previous version was 5.18.0 so it was a while ago ... likely you have improved slightly.
I do remember getting zeros last time, but that was before all the rules were input.

regards,
donjon

Absolutely amazing! Thanks Volker!

I knew I could do that... but I wouldn't have dared.

regards,
donjon

Hi Liviu,

As the subject says ...
I have been scheduling since 1996, and using fet since 2006
And I swear the program is getting very smart...

Now when I make a 100 schedule run it is not uncommon for me to have a gen which has 0! software conflicts... the last run actually had two "perfect" schedules

One is attached

Keep up the good work

Concerning, Lecture followed by Lab...

In a limited Lab environment, it is not possible... Labs will crowd into the end of the week and there will not be enough space to satisfy all...

Thinking circularly though, the beginning of a week is the end of the previous week, then the problem disappears.

However, it would be good if it was possible to change the activity tag for each activity in a group to something different...(under the fet interface if you change one in an activity group then all are changed)

In the submission for SHC, which is contributed elsewhere (in contribute your config file) I had to run through the XML file and change the activity tag for Labs for the science classes.... the lectures are in the homerooms, and the lab is in the science lab.... which cannot be done from the fet interface, but which the engine actually allows.

Basically, in creating the config. I do not use the interface at all... I generate the XML in a spreadsheet and then cut and paste the result into a text file. (I cannot bear the time of linking 700+ activities with their instructor and their classes) (but I am rambling)

Yeah, gotcha... very strange... anyway, I've deleted all previous zips, renamed the new zip, and here it is
(hopefully)

Homeroom wrong? Perhaps 4F in woodwork.... thats is not incorrect.... we are having expansion problems... it has been decided the classroom which is in woodwork will be used as a homeroom when the woodwork shop is not being used for a woodwork class.

You've come a long way FET!

Here is an implementation of Sacred Heart College for 2008...
Note, inclusion of real rooms and buildings... (also some strange rules for science classes, 1 class in lab, and the rest in the homeroom)

The above error looks familiar....
are you certain you have the right version of QT?

You could mention, Les (donjon), that you successfully solved your timetabling problem this way with FET, so that the user ah will know that he might be able to use FET with success. In fact, there are a few samples from Sacred Heart College into FET distribution, these are Les's files, which are solved correctly and fast enough.

Yes, I suppose I could

Before using FET, I was just using Mimosa and spent roughly three months working on the next school schedule (not full time, I'm a teacher too) With FET I now, spend about a week working on the def file, then add restrictions one at a time (to be sure that they do not cause insoluble problems) and then finally when all restrictions which can be placed are. I run 20 gens... choose the best rated, push it into Mimosa, then try and solve the little violations which are present.

Basically it takes me about two weeks to do what I used to spend 12 weeks working on

FET is an excellent tool for arriving at a fair schedule for all concerned.

regards,
Les

This is very similar to the grouping problem which I attack before I actually start scheduling...
If you examine the shc file you will note there are core courses in each form...
and then there are variations in third and fourth form.

In order to do this we do a pre-registration survey of students in second to see what they would
like in third and then schedule based on the prereg... then when registration comes along there
are restrictions implemented... ie. only one class is allowed for History (35 max students)...

This does not force a student to sign up for what they signed up for in the prereg,
but the limitations are adopted from the prereg. So, if someone decides to sign up for Art even though
in the prereg they signed for Geography ... they need to sign up early or they are likely not to be
able to sign (first come first served)

regards,
les