Two questions

[crow]

Hi Folks

I am totally new to the Forum. By means of videos I managed to
enter simple/easy activities.  However, I am now at a point where, e.g
Class 10A split into Physics and Business Studies.

1. I do not know what to do here.

Secondly, I wish to combine classes 10B and 10C, for  a single subject
and there is a case where the two classes combine for Two subjects.

Please help or point me in the right direction.

Thank you.

crow

[Liviu Lalescu]

I think you need to automatically divide students years by categories. Please read the help regarding this (there is a Help button there and also there is help about that in the FET -> Help -> FAQ).

You might want to post your input file.

[crow]

Hi Liviu Lalescu

Thank you for pointing me in the right direction.
I am going to figure it out myself first as I wish to learn ths program.
The more I struggle, the more I learn!

If I cant go any further, I will come back.

Thanks

crow

[Liviu Lalescu]

Hello, crow,

OK, you can come back anytime. I forgot to tell you that the division of the year by categories is done by pressing the corresponding button in the students Years dialog.

You are welcome! 

[Volker Dirr]

For your second question:

If it is the same subject/teacher at the same time: Just add both classes into the same activity.

If there are different teachers at the same time: Use constraint same starting time.

As a beginner it might also help to read this:
https://www.timetabling.de/manual/FET-manual.en.html

Best Regards

[crow]

Hi Folks

Thanks for the previous replies.  I really appreciate it.

I read up on/studied most of the sample timetables that came with FET.
I could not manage find something that is similar to my situation that would help.

I did come up with a temporary solution.
Remember that the class 10A had to split into subjects Physics & Business Stud?
I entered another subject called Physics/Business Stud.
This solves my problem, BUT now the rooms does not appear on the printouts.

I do not know, though I tried, how to use categories to my advantage.
I just need to know how create and use categories for the above subject combination.

I have 3 MORE different subjects splits (Geography/Cat; Life Science/History, Maths/Maths Lit)
Just knowing  how to make categories for Physics/Business Stud will really pave the way for me.

Thank you
crow

[crow]

Hi Folks

I include the file.

Thank you

crow

[Liviu Lalescu]

There are two possible solutions. The (much?) faster one is probably to have less subgroups (the solution with virtual rooms).

I attach the files. When dividing the year, make sure you rename the groups as I did in the screenshot and make the "Separator character(s)" a single space. Then in the activities you can use the groups of students.

I added a virtual room and some constraints in the file with virtual rooms (for L. Mahote I chose room "Room 2").

If you divide the years by categories, you might need to add constraints activities same starting time.

Ask me anything you don't understand.

[Volker Dirr]

The default way should be using the split year feature.
Maybe also read chapter "years, groups, subgroups" https://www.timetabling.de/manual/FET-manual.en.html#id_12

Same starting time constraints are (maybe) not needed (Even if many timetable-makers think so in the first moment).

The virtual room trick automatically include in indirect same starting time constraint, but the printed timetable maybe doesn't look as nice as it will look if you use the split year feature.

[Volker Dirr]

Maybe also have a look at this:
https://youtu.be/qEuujWuu0oI?t=145

[crow]

Hi Liviu Lalescu & Volker Dirr

Thank you for your support and prompt responses.
I managed to add another virtual room for Cat/Geo and it is working just fine.
In the Cat/Geo subject there are two teachers, namely J. Brown & X. Ndlovu (8 periods), 10A
However, X. Ndlovu also teachers 4 periods LO to 10A.

The program now struggles to place the 8 periods in the virtual room (Cat/Geo) AND the
4 periods of LO.

Any Ideas?

Thanks

Ps. I Have watched the video suggested by Volker Dirr.
     For now I like the virtual rooms as it is much easier!

Funny thing, the very first time when I entered the virtual room for Cat/Geo,
I actually got a timetable!

[Liviu Lalescu]

Hello, crow,

You can call me simply Liviu 

1) Please show us your new file.

2) Did you take care that for L. Mahote I chose room "Room 2"? You might need another room there.

[crow]

Hi Liviu

Ok, Will do!

Yes I changed L. Mahote to Room 14.

I include the new file.
Thank you.

crow

[Liviu Lalescu]

Room 20 is overused. I decreased from 100% to 99% your space constraint for Cat/Geo, it solved, with 4 activities outside this room, but Room 20 has only 1 slot remaining. See attached screenshot and files.

[crow]

Hi Liviu

You said that you lowered the weight for Cat/Geo to 99%
Question what is the implication(s) of that?

I have created virtual rooms for the other subject combinations LS/His
and Maths/Maths Lit.

I have now found that some in some periods (For Cat/Geo) the room numbers
appear and in other periods the room numbers does not appear.

Please advise.

I include the file.

crow

Ps. When I started out learning FET, the idea was just to get a timetable first
and later on start experimenting with constraints! Clearly that was not to be!