TIMETABLE PLUS

SPRING
EZY MANUAL

STAGE 4

CONSTRAINTS SETTING

www.timetableplus.com
 SPRING version
Stage 4: Constraints Setting

The Stages of Timetable Creation using Timetabler Plus

Stage 1
Database

Stage 2
Creating Timetable Structure & Save Process
(Important Reminder: No changes can be made
in Timetable Structure after this stage)

Stage 3
Tree Structure and Data Entry
Entering New
Semester

Stage 4
Constraints Setting

Files Merging
Stage

Stage 5
Auto Generate & Manual Allocation

Analysis

Stage 6
Printing Process
 IMPORTANT UPDATES ON TIMETABLE PLUS SPRING version

ADDING Reset Database & Reset Everything at File Menu

All the Data at the Database

will be deleted. Course,
Lecturer and Room
Management will be emptied. Data emptied

Everything will be reset to original factory setting just

like new Timetable Plus Spring. Database Management,
Saved Files and Constraints will be deleted and emptied.

CHANGE Course Grouping Tab CHANGE NAME to Batch Grouping Tab

Change

Previous Version Updated Version

REMOVE & REPLACE Generate Quality window Previously at General Tab to Generate Timetable/ Icon

User can choose the option on Generate

Quality once Press the Generate Icon

User can choose the option on Generate

Quality at the File Menu + Generate
 SPRING version
Stage 4: Constraints Setting

S4.1. Constraints Setting

Before all sections are being slotted into the timetable Structure, it is important to set the constraints
according to the specified demands. User can set constraints according to the following:
A) Group Constraints : By Faculty, Program, Batch of Student, Course Code or Class (Section)
B) Lecturer Constraints: Each lecturer can define his/her own constraint
C) Generate Constraints: User can set how the entire institution timetable to be Generated or user can
also set individual Generate Demand for Each Faculty, Program, Batch of Student, Course Code and
even Class.

A. GROUP CONSTRAINTS : BY FACULTY, PROGRAM, BATCH

OF STUDENT, COURSE CODE OR CLASS (SECTION)
In the Group Constraint, there are 2 important type of Constraints; COMPULSORY and NON-
COMPULSORY Constraint.

COMPULSORY CONSTRAINT VS NON-COMPULSORY CONSTRAINT

Purpose: To Avoid Clashing Purpose: To meet the demand & request

Step 1A
COMPULSORY GROUP
CONSTRAINT
User need to set this constraint to avoid CLASHING
for the Same Batch of Student.
STEP 1: Getting to Course Grouping
Step 1A: Click Data Tab
Step 1B: Click Course Grouping Tab
Step 1B

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Stage 4: Constraints Setting

Step 2: Setting the Compulsory Constraint for

ALL Course Group Folders (RECOMMENDED).
Step 2A: Choose ANY Group Folder & Double Click
on it (e.g. 27A)

Step 2B: Once Set Group Constrains Box appears

Select Not at the Same Time Slot. Leave Override
Same Time Constraint in tree constraint uncheck. Step 2B

Step 2C: Select Apply to All Groups

Step 2D: Click on OK Button

Note: If users prefer to choose Override Same Time
Constraint in Tree Structure, any Same Time
request at the Tree Structure under the same Batch of
Student will be ignored. The Same Time request will Step 2A Step 2D
be explained further at the Non-Compulsory
Constraint. Step 2C

The Recommended Setting

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Stage 4: Constraints Setting

NON- COMPULSORY GROUP

CONSTRAINT
Non-Compulsory Constraint is sub-divided into:
Time Slot Constraint
Room Constraint
Step 1B:
Order Constraint Double Click

User need to set this constraint to meet the demand

of EACH or ENTIRE Faculty, Program, Batch of
Student, Course Code or Class (Section).
STEP 1: Getting to Set Constraint Box
Step 1A: Click Constraint Tree Tab
Step 1A
Step 1B: Double Click on an y Group Folder
(Yellow Folder)

Step 1C: Set Constraint

Box Appear

Room
Constraint
Time Slot
Constraint

Order Constraint

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Stage 4: Constraints Setting

Step 2: Setting the Appropriate Constraint A

Explanation: B
C
1. Time Slot Constraint D
E
A. Not Applicable
Default Setting. It is used also when no particular
Time Slot Constraint apply
Time Slot
B. Not at The Same Time Slot (Not in Use Constraint at Group
Constraint Box
in v2.8)
The Child under the Folder will not clash with each
other, however, currently it is not being used as user
can set collectively at Course Group (Refer to the
Compulsory Constraint Setting). Previous version
(v1.2 till v2.5) usually use this constraint for the
Same Batch of Student to avoid clashing.
C. Not at the Same Day Where the Constraint to
be set at Tree Structure
Normally apply at the Course Code folder (e.g.
DFF 1013). User can also set the Number of Days
for the occurrence to happen at the Number of Not at the Same Da y Course Code
days (Recommended is to set 0) Folder
& Same Da y
D. Same Day
Normally apply at the Course Code folder (e.g.
DFF 1013) if requested that the Lecture (K1) and Same Time Slot
Tutorial (K2) class occur on the same day. Same Room Merging
Class
E. Same Time Slot

Same Time Slot Same Time

Class
User can set this constraint for 2 purposes:
Time Slot Constraint at
i. Same Time Request
i. Same Time Request Group Constraint Box

This setting will be set at the designated folder (e.g.

ST 1) which is grouped under the Same Time
Group Folder (e.g. Same Time or ST). This is to
make sure that the Sections under the Parent folder
will be slotted on the same time but at different
venue/room.
ii. Merging
ii. Merging
This setting is normally being set at the designated
folder (e.g G1/M1) which is grouped under the
GABUNG/MERGING Group Folder
(GABUNG/MERGING OR G/M). This setting will
ensure that the Sections under the Parent folder will
be combined (merged) into the same time and same
room slot.

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Stage 4: Constraints Setting

Please Note:
User need to select Same Time Slot and Same
Room which is found at the Room Constraint.
User need to click on the Ignore Capacity
Constraint if the total number of merging class
exceed any of the rooms capacity in roomlist Please click Ignore Capacity
Constraint

F. Specific Time Slot

User can either Include or Exclude the Specific
Time Slot b y choosing the Day and specific Time
Slot before Clicking Add button.
Note: User can add as man y time slots or days
according to the demand.
F

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Stage 4: Constraints Setting

2. Room Constraint
Explanation: A
A. Not Applicable B

Default setting and when user has no request for

Room Constraint
B. Same Room C
D
This constraint setting will set all the Sections under
the Parent folder to be allocated at the same room.
Also it is used in the Merging class.

C. Ignore Capacity Constraint

User will use this constraint to bypass the Room

Capacity in order to suit with the Class Size. If
Ignore, the class size can fit in the classroom that
has a smaller capacity.
Note: Merging Class (Same Time + Same Room)
will usually use this function
D. Specific Room

User can select 1 or few specific rooms in the

Roomlist. If few rooms are selected, the Sections
under the Parent folder will be assigned according to
the Room Type and Room Capacity from the list of Recommended Constraint Setting in Merging Class
selected rooms.

3. Order Constraint
Explanation:

User can fix the way of ordering to make sure that

Lecture (K1) comes first in the week before Tutorial
(K2) by using this constraint. User needs to move
the Lecture (K1) first and then the Tutorial (K2) will
be moved consecutively after that to the Box on the
right side. Adjacent box can be checked if the user
wants the 2 classes (Lecture & Tutorial) to be slot
adjacently- one after another in the same day.

Please Note:

: Move selected Section to the Right

: Move all Sections to the Right
: Move selected Section to the
Left : Move all Sections to the Left
Please Tick Adjacent Slot Box
if the classes need to be slot
adjacently

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Stage 4: Constraints Setting

B. LECTURER CONSTRAINTS
Each Lecturer in the Lecturer List can set his/her own constraint according to:

1. Timeslot Preference

2. Time Slot Spread (Avoid Teaching Consecutively)

3. Room Preference

Step 1: Getting to the Lecturer Constraint Box

Step1A
Step1A: Go to Lecturer List Tab.

Step1B: Select an y of lecturers (Abdul Halim).

Double Click on Selected Lecturer.

Exclude Time Slot Preferences

Step1B
Double Click

Time Slot Spread Exclude Room Preferences

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Stage 4: Constraints Setting

Step 2: Setting the Lecturer Constraint

Explanation
Day & Time Slot
1. Time Slot Preferences
Priority
Lecturers can define the time slot or day to
Exclude by Adding to the Slot to Exclude Box.
Priority can also be set across from Low to High
(Those that is set to Low will lose out to those set
to High) Added Exclude
Slot

Note: User can only Exclude the Day and Time

slots for Lecturer Constraint

Delete All Add Exclude Slot

Added Exclude Delete Added
Exclude Slot

2. Time Slot Spread

User can use this function to make sure that the
lecturers do not teach consecutively. User can use
these options:

Ignore- No Setting applied Step 2 Step 3 Step 4

Step 1
Best Effort- The s ystem will try its best to Avoid
Teaching Consecutively and No Guarantee assured

Mandatory- The system will Guaranteed that the

lecturer will have at least 1 slot (e.g. User can
define 1 slot as 1 hour at the General Tab) free
before the next class. The number of desired slot to
be free can be set according at the Time Gap Box.

Please Note:
User can set Time Slot Spread constraint APPLY
TO ALL LECTURERS by follow these steps:
Step 1: Click on Timetable menu
Step 2: Click on All lecturer Preference
Step 3: Select Timeslot Spread
Step 4: If Mandatory is selected, Enter the number
of gaps (slots) needed to be free before the next
class

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Stage 4: Constraints Setting

3. Exclude Room Preferences

Lecturer can be specific to choose the room from
Priority
the Room list that he/she wants to Exclude b y
moving those to be Excluded to the right box:
Preferred Room. Lecturer can choose few rooms to
be excluded. Normally this function is used for
disable lecturer that preferred room to be in the
Available Excluded
lower level or access easily. Room Room

Once completed, click OK button.

Note:

: Move selected Room to the Right

: Move all Rooms to the Right

: Move selected Room to the

Left : Move all Rooms to the Left

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Stage 4: Constraints Setting

C. GENERATE CONSTRAINTS
User can pre-define the way he/she wants on how the Generate Process for the entire institutions or each
Faculty/Program/Batch of Student/Course/Section. The following request can be determine in the
Generate Constraint:
A. Schedule Mode
User can set where the schedule (during generate process) will be slotted in the Timetable
Structure (Timetable Output)
B. Priority Distribution
During generate user can set the schedule to be set in the morning, afternoon or in the evening
C. Optimize Room Capacity
User can optimize the room that best fit for the class size
D. Span Across the Break
User can span the class duration across the break
E. Inherit Button
User can set the setting of Generate Constraint of Parent folder to be inherited to all of child
Folder under it.

A D

Figure S4.1.1 Generate Constraints

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Stage 4: Constraints Setting

Step 1: Getting to the Generate Constraint

Step 1A: Double-Click on the any Group

Folder at the Tree Structure (Constraint Tree)

Step 1B: Click on the Generate Constraint Tab

Step 1A:
(Next to Group Constraint) Tab
Double Click
Constraint Tree Tab

Step 1B:
. Generate Constraint

Priority
Distribution

Optimize
Room
Capacity

Step 2: Set the Generate Constraint

Explanation

A. Schedule Mode

User can set the way the schedule mode assign

the section in the slot

Random: Sections will be assigned Randomly in

the empty slots. Additional feature is the Priority
Distribution (Please refer to B. Priority
Distribution)

Start of Schedule: Sections will be assigned to

empty slots at the beginning of the timetable
Structure (Usually start on Monday morning or

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Stage 4: Constraints Setting

Slot No. 1 and will continue to the consecutive

Slot No. if occupied)

Middle of Schedule: Sections will be assigned

into the empty slots at the middle of the timetable
Structure (Usually start on Wednesday and in the
afternoon and will move to consecutive slots if
occupied).

End of Schedule: Sections will be assigned in the

empty slots at the end of Timetable Structure
(Usually Frida y/Saturday and in the evening thus
will move to consequitive slots if occupied)

B. Priority Distribution

This function can only be used if the Schedule

Mode is set to Random. User will only use this
constraint to set the slot assignment to randomly
choose the day but can redefine it by: Move the Scroll
Bar To Anywhere
Start of Day: The distribution of class will have
the earliest morning class (e.g. 8a.m)

50%: The distribution of class will have class

start in the mid-morning (e.g. 10am) if between
Start of Day and Spread OR in the mid-afternoon
(e.g. 2pm) if between Spread and End of Day.

End of Day: The distribution of class will be

mostly in the evening (e.g. 5pm) and lesser in the
morning

Note: User can also move the cursor to anywhere

that is deemed best.

C. Optimize Room Capacity

User will use this function and click Yes if the

section/class need to be choosing the nearest
classroom capacity in accordance to the class size.

D. Span Across the Break

User can allow section/class that is 2 hours or

more in duration to be spanned across the General
Break (General Break is set at the General Tab).

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Stage 4: Constraints Setting

E. Inherit Button

Unlike Group Constraint, Generate Constraint do

not enforce Parent and Child concept. However
user has the option to enforce Parent and Child
Concept b y checking the Inherit Box.

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