New Starter not Understanding

[crayner]

Hi,
  I am new to using FET, and I am a little confused as to why the program is generating timetables for a student year, but is allocating the same period to different subjects.  e.g.
https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1frfdeIvGX1Yt2oMB8LsUhuzu-MxPHj-Egy1XKNLQNlI/edit?usp=sharing   

In this case Foreign Language and Mathematics for the same students at the same time?   

I have attached the settings file for this to the post.

Thanks,

Craig

[Liviu Lalescu]

It is normal. You need to consider adding Foreign Language and Mathematics to the same set of students. Or divide the year according to categories and add the activities to groups.

[crayner]

Thanks Liviu, 
    I will end up adding a constraint that stops activities for a year sharing a time slot.  I have the students in groups already, which is why I am confused that the Science Group and Math Group, both groups of Seniors (the same group of students) was allocating the same group of students to two subjects at the same time.  I still don;t understand how that is normal.  But the constraint fixes the issue.  Thanks.

Craig

[Liviu Lalescu]

It is ugly to add not overlapping constraints.

The good way is to divide the year Seniors by 4 categories. Category 1: Language (6 divisions), category 2: Mathematics (3 divisions), category 3: Science (4 divisions), category 4: Electives (4 divisions).

It is normal the behavior you are experiencing, because for instance subgroup 12 Russian 1 and subgroup 12 Business Math are different, so they may have different activities at the same time.

[crayner]

Ah,  I still don't understand, as I have only one group of year 12 students, who all have to to Mathematics and all have to Russian.  They are on different lines and the same group of students divides differently for each line (Maths and Russian).  I do not have a 12A and 12B, just a 12.  Language splits into 7-8 lines, Mathematics into 3 groups, Science into 4 groups.  I have been using the groups to do this now.  So when they do mathematics, everyone does mathematics, when they do Russian, everyone does Russian.  The Rule works, so not a problem.  I just do not understand your thinking in setting up the timetable.   So my fault, not yours.  Small school, without need of rotating line management.

Thanks

Craig

[Liviu Lalescu]

From the FAQ:

Q: How can one work with overlapping structures of students?

A: If you have overlapping groups, then you must define the smallest independent subgroup, which does not overlap with any other subgroup. Example: you have 1 group, subject sport (which must be taught to boys and girls separately) and subject physics, which is an optional subject and only some students would like to have this course (yes, FET can manage optional subjects). Then, you must define the subgroups: boys who want physics, boys who do not want physics, girls who want physics, girls who do not want physics. Now, it is very easy. Just define
group girls=subgroup girls who want physics + girls who do not want physics,
group boys=subgroup boys who want physics + boys who do not physics
group physics=boys who want physics + girls who want physics.

Then, you can add as many activities as you want to the corresponding groups:
Activity1: teacher A, group girls, subject sport;
Activity2: teacher B, group boys, subject sport;
Activity3: teacher C, group physics, subject optional physics.

NEW: the thing is automatic now. Just select year->divide in the years dialog. Please see above entries in the FAQ.