Prefered rooms

Volker Dirr · July 21, 2015, 11:15:10 AM

it's depending on your dataset.

so far it look like your school isn't too big. so i hope there are not many subject subjects per block. in that case you can do it similar to year 7.

if there are to many subjects per block and there are also to many blocks, then this variant will produce to many subgroups and that will slowdown the algorithm pretty much.
in that case it also depend on if there are gaps allowed for students or not.
variants are:
- adding there whole year into a single activity. the timetable won't look well, but will be correct. you sadly need to add pseudo activities with same starting time if you need to care about rooms.
- import the data from your school administration software. you might already have all needed data in that software. that might give the perfect dataset. sadly a converter is needed for that. i might have a view if that is possible or not if you tell me your school administration software.

Sue Moran · July 21, 2015, 06:31:24 PM

The school is small, in year 12 there are about 30 students. Our school uses Double First Engage mis, I don't know if you have heard of that.
These are the option blocks
A Biology/Phys
B Economics/Chemistry
C French/German/Chinese/Geo/PE
D Maths/Art
E Spanish
F DT/Biologia/Mates
G fisica/Quimica
The students can have free lessons. Rooms are an issue.
I am not sure what data set I need, do I have more reading to do?

Liviu Lalescu · July 21, 2015, 06:50:05 PM

Definitely you would not like to use the automatic division of year 12. I think you should add 30 subgroups as students, and add groups (12 Bio, 12 Phys, 12 Eco, 12 Chem, 12 French, etc.) containing the necessary subgroups.

Volker Dirr · July 21, 2015, 06:58:24 PM

but using the automatic split feature is also not critical in you example. it will create only 2*2*5*2*1*3*2=80 subgroups. i have got much more subgroups in my dataset. so i think it is ok to use it, because Livius suggestion mean more work. (ok, generating will be at bit faster with his variant, but i think it isn't critical with your dataset.)

Liviu Lalescu · July 21, 2015, 07:02:45 PM

Quote from: Volker Dirr on July 21, 2015, 06:58:24 PM
but using the automatic split feature is also not critical in you example. it will create only 2*2*5*2*1*3*2=80 subgroups. i have got much more subgroups in my dataset. so i think it is ok to use it, because Livius suggestion mean more work. (ok, generating will be at bit faster with his variant, but i think it isn't critical with your dataset.)

In fact 240

and I suppose Spanish has also other divisions, for advanced/beginner.

Yes, 240 is not much. I rushed my answer.

Volker Dirr · July 21, 2015, 07:09:44 PM

oh yes, i for the 3. so 240. but i bet Spanish will not be separated for beginners and advanced. it is a small school only. so other students will have free at that block.

Liviu Lalescu · July 21, 2015, 07:13:58 PM

Quote from: Volker Dirr on July 21, 2015, 07:09:44 PM
it is a small school only. so other students will have free at that block.

Also in this case Sue Moran needs to add options for two Spanish sections, because of students gaps.

Volker Dirr · July 21, 2015, 07:22:18 PM

I think she already done her curse planning and that is the final result. So i still bet she won't need more.

Sue Moran · July 22, 2015, 09:37:42 AM

Thanks to you both, I think I am ready to give it a go now. I appreciate the help and advice.

Sue Moran · July 27, 2015, 01:40:52 PM

My timetable is coming together now, lessons I thought had to be timetabled together are coming out as expected without adding time constraints. I have a new question about prefered rooms. If a teacher teaches two subjects what is the best way to deal with that. For example teacher V preferably teaches Maths in one room and Chemistry in another, what is the best way to deal with this?
thanks

Volker Dirr · July 27, 2015, 01:56:06 PM

At my school i deal it like this:
Chemistry: Space constraints -> subject -> subject has preferred room
(Because every chemistry teacher use the same room for chemistry)

Maths: Space constraint -> teacher -> a teacher has a home room
(Because Maths take place in "his" maths home room. Other maths teachers (maybe except one other if he need to share room) teach maths in other rooms.)
(The home room constraint will be only used if there is no other space constraints set to an activity. So don't enter the chemistry room in this home room constraint. only the maths room)

So in fact i use only "subject" and "teacher home room" constraints to care about rooms.
So "subject" constraint at my school are: chemistry, physics, biology, sport, art, technology
i care about all other activities by using the teacher home rooms constraints. (So there are no "subject" constraint for German, English, French, Maths, religion, geographies, history, ...)
We have got less rooms then teachers. So e few teacher need to share the same room. But that is no problem. I just need to use good pairs.

Sue Moran · July 28, 2015, 12:22:25 PM

Thanks, I will do the same as you.

Sue Moran · July 28, 2015, 06:25:33 PM

What if a teacher prefers one of three rooms? Teacher A in any lab1/2/3
Can rooms be allocated to an activity from the rooms not in use?

Volker Dirr · July 29, 2015, 11:30:36 AM

You only need to use a roomS constraint and select all 3 rooms. FET will only select one free room out of the roomS.

Sue Moran · July 30, 2015, 09:52:16 AM

So, usually the chinese teacher prefers room 2.5 but for year 7 he must go to their homeroom. Is it best to use the activity space constraint?

Year 7 have a home room but sometimes they must leave to go to art/sci etc. How should I deal with this?
Also, I need to minimise their movement. Suggestions?

I have a mistake in my year 12 structure

, again. Is there no way to change the student structure without having to retype all activites again? I suspect I already know the answer, I am just hoping...
thanks