Compact timetable

[HappyIX]

Hello,

  I would like to ask what is a recommended approach when I need a compact timetable for classes and for teachers. The "compact timetable" may be rephrased as a timetable with "as low as possible number of gaps".

Thanks!

[Liviu Lalescu]

Fix a higher max number of gaps per week for all teachers and students, then lower the values until the timetable is the best still possible.

[HappyIX]

I was afraid it has to be done this way. Thank you!

[Liviu Lalescu]

There is a competing program, called aSc Timetables, and they have a file which was imported in FET by a user (see Brazil examples). In aSc, if you try to solve it minimizing the teachers' gaps, you get some with 4 gaps. But it turns out that it is possible to have all teachers with max 2 gaps, if you specify that exactly. I think that a timetabling program cannot go other way than in a decreasing approach with constraints with 100% weight.