FET User Guide by fetviewer.com (AI Assisted Generation)

[fetviewer]

Hello everyone,

While working extensively with FET over the past few years, I realized that many users—especially beginners—often struggle to find practical explanations for the large number of constraints and configuration options available in the software.

To help the community, I've started creating a comprehensive FET User Guide on fetviewer.com.

This guide was AI-assisted during its creation, but every section has been reviewed, corrected, and refined based on real FET usage and experience. The goal is not to replace the official documentation, but to provide an additional learning resource with simpler explanations, examples, and practical guidance.

The guide currently covers topics such as:

• Getting started with FET
• Basic data setup
• Teachers, students, subjects, and activities
• Constraints and scheduling concepts
• Common mistakes and troubleshooting
• Tips for building better timetables
• Frequently asked questions

As the guide grows, I plan to continue improving it and adding more examples based on community feedback.

You can find it here:

FET User Guide for Beginners

I'd really appreciate any feedback, suggestions, or corrections from experienced FET users. If you notice anything inaccurate or think a topic deserves more explanation, please let me know.

Many thanks to Liviu Lalescu, Volker Dirr, and everyone who has contributed to making FET such an outstanding free timetabling system. The official manual and forum remain invaluable resources, and this guide is intended to complement—not replace—them.

I hope this helps both new and experienced FET users.

Best

[Liviu Lalescu]

Hello, fetviewer, and thank you for the kind words and interest!

Appreciate your initiative! Let me ask @Volker Dirr if we should add a link to your user guide on the FET Documentation page!

[fetviewer]

Please feel free to download & modify and upload wherever you want.
Best

[Liviu Lalescu]

Oh, I would prefer to put a link to your site's download (https://fetviewer.com/sites/default/files/fetsoftware/FET_Beginner_User_Guide_by_fetviewer_com_v2.pdf). But if it is variable, we would need a stable link. And, remember I would like also Volker's opinion.

[fetviewer]

Sure.
It will be permanent from now on. No changes will be in the link. You can use it.
Best

[Liviu Lalescu]

Thank you!

Correction: if you want to import activities from CSV, you need to import firstly the students sets; page 4 point 4. is wrong.

I'll report here the other problems I might find, as I read your document.

Another mistake: teachers max gaps constraint can only be 100% (page 13 near the top).

Another mistake, page 15: from FET you can view timetables: teachers, students, rooms, days horizontal, days vertical, and time horizontal. Also, you can print from FET.

[fetviewer]

Excellent. I will fix them and update the pdf. Thank you Dear Liviu.

[Liviu Lalescu]

You are welcome, Dear fetviewer! 

[fetviewer]

Thank you!

Correction: if you want to import activities from CSV, you need to import firstly the students sets; page 4 point 4. is wrong.

I'll report here the other problems I might find, as I read your document.

Another mistake: teachers max gaps constraint can only be 100% (page 13 near the top).

Another mistake, page 15: from FET you can view timetables: teachers, students, rooms, days horizontal, days vertical, and time horizontal. Also, you can print from FET.

If i understood correctly, the mentioned issues has been updated accordingly. The pdf file has been updated. Thanks agaian Dear Liviu for your time.

[Liviu Lalescu]

Thank you, fetviewer! You are welcome!

We just added your link on the Documentation page of FET.