Two consecutive sessions with break(s) in between, Starting the classes from 1st

[vanita_ahuja]

1. Our schedule has 3 working sessions before lunch and 2 sessions after lunch.
2. In the forenoon 6 sessions are time tabled. But half of students are available in 3 (1,3,5) and other half are available in other alternate 3 sessions (2,4,6). 7th session is Lunch Break and in the afternoon 2 sessions are without break and common for all students.
3. Lectures are conducted in the forenoon. Workshops are conducted preferably in the forenoon. but may also start from 2nd session of
availability.
4. Main requirement is that Workshops should be at the end of the working time in a day.
5. Each workshop is of two sessions in a week with these two sessions to be conducted consecutively. There may be a break between two sessions like lunch break or the break of a forenoon session when students are not available.
6. In a day Students cannot have a break in their sessions of availability and have to start each day from 1st session of availability. They may finish early.
7. For workshops first I tried to give a duration of 2 sessions with consecutive option. But then even the session when they are not available is planned for.
8. Next I tried two independent activities of workshop with 1 session each and applied the Time Constraint 'two activities are consecutive'. But in this case workshop sessions are scheduled in the afternoon only as forenoon sessions have a break and it also doesn't schedule 1 session just before lunch and 1 just after lunch. So, though constraint states that it would be consecutive even with breaks. But, that doesn't happen.
9. I got similar result with the Time Constraint 'Activities are ordered'.
10. Also, I have applied the Time constraint for students 'Max. gaps per week is 0'.
11. When I apply the time constraint on students 'A student set begins early with zero starting from second session' the processing doesn't happen.

I look at forum members for help to resolve these queries.

[Liviu Lalescu]

2. Please note that in FET a break means teachers and students not available. A constraint students set not available is not a break. A constraint break is unique, and you can select any slots with X.

Two activities consecutive will not be permitted to span over a students set not available constraint. Only span over a FET break constraint.

4. Maybe you could use the constraint activity(ies) and students day.

5. See (2.)

6. Constraint students early max 0 beginnings at second hour, and max 0 gaps per week.

8. I think see (2.)

9. Two activities are ordered orders them over the week, not consecutive or grouped.

10. See (6.)

11. See (6.). Maybe your file is too difficult or incomplete. Only add max gaps 0 and early max beginnings 0 to students which  have all their activities inputted in FET.

If your file is not private, you may want to attach it here (archived).

[vanita_ahuja]

Thanks Liviu for your response. I will try to incorporate your suggestions.