Starting rime

[Imad]

I mean the most commonly used constraints, such as:
1) A set of activities has a set of preferred starting time
2) A set of activities occupies max different rooms
Instead of adding them to each set individually, the user will have the option to add them to all sets at once.
You can do it the same as you did the starting hour constraint, as I mentioned before it will be a great improvement for FET.
 

[Liviu Lalescu]

1) This is not for more activities, it is only for a filter.

2) This might be needed differently, for example for a single students set.

If you solve your school's timetable with your custom version, please share it with us/me, so I can see how the new feature is useful.

[Imad]

With the new button that you added as a custom version, it became more dynamic, if we leave the filter empty and press (Add all) we can add the constraint to all student sets so each one will start at the same time every day. Before we had to add every student set separately, which takes a long time especially if we have a large number of sets. But still, we are able to add a single class or some sets, so as I mentioned above it's now more dynamic and faster.
For example:
Math student set X will start at 9:00 every day
English student set Y will start at 11:00 every day
Chemistry student set Z will start at z12:00 every day
and so on...

Again, if you can do the same with the two constraints that I mentioned it will be perfect, you said it is a filter issue, but I think it is the same.
You can add a button (Add all), and this will do the job, no need to add a constraint each time.
We can just press Add all and we set the preferred times, the same thing with space we can set all sets to be in the same classroom, now we can do it one by one, it is 100% similar to the starting hour.

For example, the same sets above X, Y, and Z.
1)To select the preferred times, we have to make it for each one separately, by selecting: teacher, student
  set, and subject then pressing add, and we have to repeat it three times for X, Y, and Z.   

2)To allocate one room for each set, we have to go to space - activities - A set of activities occupies max
  different rooms, by selecting: teacher, student
  set, and subject then pressing add, and we have to repeat it three times for X, Y, and Z.

[Liviu Lalescu]

I am sorry, but I do not understand your words.

1) Constraint of type "A set of activities has a set of preferred starting times": in this FET official constraint the user only selects the teacher, students set, subject, and activity tag. Not a list of activities.

2) Constraint of type "A set of activities occupies max different rooms": in this FET official constraint indeed the user selects a list of activities, but I think it should be done only once for each students set, which is not difficult to add. I mean it is not done once for each pair "students set, subject".

Also, as I said, "If you solve your school's timetable with your custom version, please share it with us/me, so I can see how the new feature is useful." - I was referring if you solved your school timetable with the new feature of same starting hour adding multiple. I would like to see it working.

[Imad]

Yes, it is working. I can add the same starting hour constraints to all student sets one time, and no need to add it to each student set separately which makes it very fast, I already shared this with you.

Regarding my previous message, I will try to make a video and send it to you maybe it will be more clear.   

[Liviu Lalescu]

Yes, it is working. I can add the same starting hour constraints to all student sets one time, and no need to add it to each student set separately which makes it very fast, I already shared this with you.

I meant, if your data file (the timetable) for your school generates in a reasonable fine and produces a good timetable. I am afraid that too many constraints of type activities same starting hour might be too difficult to satisfy.

[Imad]

Fortunately, I tried with more than 75 sets, and it generates a good timetable.
Once we have enough lecturers and lecture rooms, I think there is no problem.

[Liviu Lalescu]

Do you mean 75 students sets?

I would like to see your input file (now or the final one), to see how it behaves. I'll keep it private, if necessary.

It seems very unusual for me, because in Romania we never heard of these same hour constraints. Also, from Italy, Germany, Greece, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Finland, there were no such requests. And almost nobody until now requested this, in 20 years since FET was started. Only I think for an institution in the USA.

[Imad]

Yes, you are right, the credit hour system is an American system, it is used not only in America but in many other countries worldwide. The countries you listed most of them are European countries or countries that use the European Annual system.
Please send me your email to share with you the requested files.

[Liviu Lalescu]

I just sent you a personal message on the forum with my email address.

[Imad]

Sent

[Volker Dirr]

hmm...
I must admit that i don't understand why you want/need that constraint. A credit system even works without that constraint.

Maybe can you please explain why it is needed?

[Imad]

If we generate the table without constraints, time days, and room. Any subject will start at different times and in different rooms also on random days. It looks like you are not familiar with a credit hours system. Maybe we need to talk using Zoom or Microsoft teams to explain why constraints are important. And I can share with you the process life, how we do it.

[Volker Dirr]

That is why i asked you to explain it more detailed.

I know only the german credit systems at high school and university. But both of them don't need that constraints, since they do students planning first. So activities are always in the some room. Different courses start in the same line/block are of course always at the same time. But there is no need to force them for example always 1st hour evey day. It is only needed to have them at the same hour, but the exact hour doesn't matter. So i wonder why that is needed. Maybe you can explain me why you need that?

[Imad]

I sent you the image and the explanation to your email