How to restrict Groups overlapping

[bharatstank]

Hi,

I am a new user of FET Windows version tool and have started creating Time Table for my School

My School runs 3 program with number of students mentioned within ():
MBACPM (60)
MBAREUI (60)
BBAREUI (60)

Each program has multiple subjects with (Lecture, Tutorial & Practical) modules with specified hours.
so the Data -> Student ->Year/Group structure looks like:

Also as per the guidelines, Lecture session can be conducted for 60 students in 1 room/per session, but Tutorial & Practical to be conducted in a batch of max 30 students. So the Year / Group created by me:

Year                           Group
MBACPM                    MBA CPM G1 (30)
                                MBA CPM G2 (30)
                                MBA CPM L (60)

MBAREUI                  MBA REUI G1 (30)
                               MBA REUI G2 (30)
                               MBA REUI L (60)

BBAREUI                  BBA REUI G1 (30)
                               BBA REUI G2 (30)
                               BBA REUI L (60)

I have created multiple activities comprising of:- Teacher, Subject, Students etc
multiple constraints like:-
1. Teacher availability in a week
2. Home room for Students
3. Students available time
4. Preferred room for activity
5. Couple of more

I am facing challenge - wherein FET places Lecture and Tutorial/Practical in same slot. which is not possible.
If the students are attending Lecture, then Tutorial/Practical are not possible at the same time because it the same batch with either attend lecture or they attend Tutorial and Practical (at the same time)

1. How to get this issue resolved.
2. I have also attached the FET file for your reference. Can you please confirm if my approach for Time table creation is right.

waiting for your reply

Thanks
Bharat Tank

[Liviu Lalescu]

I would create

year MBACPM
  with group MBA CPM L
    with subgroups MBA CPM S1 and MBA CPM S2.
   
Please read how to split correctly students, in the FET FAQ or in the manual. Your present division allows your groups to have overlapping students, which is not what you intend.

[bharatstank]

Hi Liviu,

Thanks for your reply, otherwise the Time Table Structure created based on my environment (shared below) seems fine or you would like to suggest some changes as Best Practice.

As I am expecting more programs with multiple constraints from new session so just wanted to ensure that I am moving in the right direction.

Thanks for your support in advance

Regards
Bharat Tank

[Liviu Lalescu]

Looks fine, the only thing: subjects can be simplified to not contain (P), (L), or (T) - which could be added as activity tags.

[bharatstank]

Hi Liviu,

Thanks for your support.

Every time I generate the time table, the activity slot changes.
1. What is the best way of locking the activity with a particular time slot, so that the time slot does not changes with regeneration of time table.

2. For an activity preferred time slot 9:15-10:15, 10:15-11:15, 11:15-12:15, 12:15-1:15, an (2 Hour) activity occupies (11:15-12:15, 12:15-1:15) where as the 1st 2 hours (9:15-10:15, 10:15-11:15) slots is free - What is the reason for this, how I can set required time slot for an activity

waiting for your reply

Thanks
Bharat

[Volker Dirr]

about 1:
If you are talking about a (few) activities:
time constraints -> activities -> an activity has a prefferd starting time

about 2:
because you didn't limit that.
you can limit it by:
time constraints -> students -> a students set must begin early

[bharatstank]

Hi Volker, Thanks for your reply.

solution for Point 2 - is working, Activity (Lecture) take the 1st 2 hour slot if the slot is free.
but still some of the time slots shows Activity (Tutorial - 1 Hour) + Activity (Practical - 1 hour) in the 1st 2 hour slot (9:15-10:15, 10:15-11:15) and Activity (Lecture - 2 hour) in (11:15-12:15, 12:15-1:15) slot. whereas a day has to always start with Activity (Lecture) occupying 1st 2 hour slot (9:15-10:15, 10:15-11:15) of every day and if still more Activities (lecture) are left then it should occupy the (11:15-12:15, 12:15-1:15) slot.  - No sure how to achieve this.

for Point 1 - Sure will do the same, as advised.

Need your comments (if this is a best practice) - Prefer applying constraints at Student/Group/Sub Group/Teacher/Room etc. instead of applying constraints at activity level (unless no other options are left)

waiting for your reply

Thanks
Bharat Tank

[Liviu Lalescu]

To have a continuous timetable for students please add a constraints students max 0 gaps per week. (If I understood correctly your request.)

[bharatstank]

Hi Liviu, seems like I was not able to clarify my requirement:

1. 1st 2 hour daily slot (9:15-10:15, 10:15-11:15) is only reserved for Lecture (2 hour)session. but there are few instances where either G1 (Tutorial) or G2 (Practical) or G1 (Tutorial) + G2 (Practical) - occupies the 1st 2 hour slot and Lecture (2 hour) session is pushed to slot (11:15-12:15, 12:15-01:15) - however the interchange seems visually possible.

if I try to set Student Constraints - A Students set not available time - Then Timetable does not run as all the activities can not be placed. Need your support. Fet file also attached for your reference

Regards
Bharat Tank

[Liviu Lalescu]

I tried to add 3 constraints (see the last three in all time constraints in the attached file), but the timetable is no longer possible. I think this is what you need, but it is too strong. This will ensure that the activities of each students set will be so that the first slots are covered by lectures.

[bharatstank]

Thanks for sharing the fet file, Yes lecture is required in the first slot (mandatory requirement).

1. what is the other way round to achieve this.
2. Do you think locking the activity will help
3. Is their a method to drag & drop any activity to another slot.
4. If all the required criteria is defined, is it possible to manually change the slot and print the final version

waiting for your reply

Regards
Bharat Tank

[Liviu Lalescu]

Maybe Volker can answer better, but I think that my previous file contains the best arrangement and that you need to adjust the other constraints or activities. The last three constraints (activities occupy max time slots from selection) in my file do exactly what you require. Please read the help on this type of constraint.

[bharatstank]

Hi Liviu - Thanks a lot for your support.
With your inputs, things seems under control.

will let you know if I face any problem.

Regards
Bharat Tank

[Liviu Lalescu]

The answers to 3 and 4 (I see that nobody else answered):

3) No, you cannot do that in FET.

4) To manually change the slot, modify constraints activity preferred starting time.

[bharatstank]

Hi Liviu,

I am trying to set the time table printing layout.

In my case there are 2 - 3 activity (shown vertically) in a slot (for example 11:15 - 12:15). if the activity is of 2 hours in that case same 2 - 3 activity (is shown vertically) in next time slot (12:15 - 1:15).

I would like to show these 2-3 activities (horizontally) in time slot. This will help in displaying the same activities (horizontally) in continuation between 2 time slots. which will be easier for everyone to understand

I have explored all the print/layout options but could not locate. Need your support.

Thanks
Bharat Tank