Stage 4: Constraint Setting

Site:	Timetable Plus
Course:	Timetable Plus Spring
Book:	Stage 4: Constraint Setting

Printed by:	Guest user
Date:	Thursday, 18 December 2025, 12:33 AM

1. Group Constraint
2. Generate Constraint
3. Lecture Constraint
4. Batch Constraint

1. Group Constraint

You can set constraints at the Data Entry. There are 2 types of constraints;

Group Constraints
Generate Constraints.

Group Constraints: You can set constraints from Parent folder to child folder in which settings set at Parent will automatically inherit by the child folder.

Step 1 : Getting to Set Constraints window

Step 1.a : Click Constraint Tree Tab to open up Tree Structure

Step 1.b : Double Click on any Group Folder (Yellow Folder)

Diagram 1.4 : Getting to Set Constraints window

Step 1.c : Set Constraint window appear

Diagram 1.5 : Set Constraints window

Step 2: Setting the Appropriate Constraint

1. Time Slot Constraint

Diagram 1.6 : Time Slot Constraint

A. Not Applicable	Default Setting. It is used also when no particular Time Slot Constraint apply
B. Not at The Same Time Slot	The Child under the Folder will not clash with each other, usually use this constraint for the Same Batch of Student to avoid clashing.
C. Not at the Same Day	User normally set these constraints for courses that prefer to have the classes in different days. Example, 1st Lecture and 2nd Lecture prefer to be in different days.
D. Same Day	Normally apply at the Course Code folder
E. Same Time Slot	User can set this constraint for 2 purposes: 1. Same Time Class This setting will be set at the designated folder (SAME TIME) which is Same Time Class Folder. This is to make sure that the Sections under the Parent folder will be slotted on the same time but at different venue/room. 2. Merging Class This setting is normally being set at the designated folder (MERGE) which is Merging Class Folder. This setting will ensure that the Sections under the Parent folder will be combined (merged) into the same time and same room slot. 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 room list

Diagram 1.7. Constraint for Same Time Class

Diagram 1.8 Constraint For Merging Class

F. Specific Time Slot

User can either “Include’ or ‘Exclude” the Specific Time Slot by choosing the Day and specific Time Slot before Clicking Add button.

User can add as many time slots or days according to the demand.

(Note : In order to add exclude slot, you must first include all the slots in the day)

Diagram 1.9 : Specific Time Slot

2. Room Constraint

Diagram 1.10 : Room constraint box

A. Not Applicable	Default Setting. It is used also when no particular Time Slot Constraint apply
B. Same Room	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.
D. Specific Room	User can select 1 or few specific rooms in the Room list. 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 selected rooms. Please 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

3. Order Constraint

Diagram 1.11 : Order Constraint Box

User can fix the way of ordering to make sure that Lecture 1 comes first in the week before Lecture 2 by using this constraint. User needs to move the Lecture 1 first and then the Lecture 2 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 1 & 2) to be slot adjacently- one after another in the same day.

2. Generate Constraint

You can pre-define the way you wants on how the Generate Process for the entire institutions or each Faculty/Program/Batch of Student/Course/Section.

Step 1 : Getting to Generate Constraints window

Step 1.a : Click Constraint Tree Tab to open up Tree Structure

Step 1.b : Double Click on any Group Folder (Yellow Folder)

Diagram 1.4 : Getting to Generate Constraints window

Step 1.c : Click on the Generate Constraint Tab (Next to Group Constraint) Tab

Diagram 1.5 : Generate Constraint Window

Step 2 : Set the Generate Constraint

1. Schedule Mode

Diagram 1.6 : Schedule Mode Box

You can set the way the schedule mode assign the section in the slot

Random : Sections will be assigned Randomly across the week.
Start of the Schedule : Sections will be assigned at the Start of the week/schedule (Usually start on Monday morning)
Middle of the Schedule : Sections will be assigned at Middle of the week/schedule ((Usually start on Wednesday)
End of the Schedule : Sections will be priority assigned at the end of the week/schedule (Usually Friday/Saturday)

2. Span Across Break

Diagram 1.7 : Span Across Break Box

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 Timetable Structure)

3.Priority Distribution

Diagram 1.8 : Priority Distribution Box

This function can only be used if the Schedule Mode is set to Random. You can set the range of distribution which reflect the Start Time and End Time setting at Timetable Structure. User will only use this constraint to set the slot assignment to randomly choose the day but can redefine it by:

Start of Day: The distribution of class will have the earliest morning class (Example : 8 am)

50%: The distribution of class will have class start in the mid-morning (Example : 10 am) if between Start of Day and Spread OR in the mid-afternoon (Example : 2pm) if between Spread and End of Day

End of Day: The distribution of class will be mostly in the evening (Example : 5 pm) and lesser in the morning

4. Inherit

Diagram 1.9 : 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.

3. Lecture Constraint

Each Lecturer in the Lecturer List can set his/her own constraint according to:

Timeslot Preference
Time Slot Spread (Avoid Teaching Consecutively)
Room Preference

STEP 1: Getting to Data Lecturer List

Step 1.a : Click Data Tab

Step 1.b : Click Lecturer List Tab to open up Data Lecturer List

Diagram 2.1 : Location of Lecturer List

Step 2 : Select any of lecturers (ADIB). Double Click on Selected Lecturer.

Diagram 2.2 : Double Click the Lecturer

Lecturer Constraints Window will appear.

Diagram 2.3 : Lecturer Constraint Window

1. Time Slot Preferences

Diagram 2.4 : Time Slot Preferences Box

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)

2. Room Preferences

Diagram 2.5 : Room Preference Box

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 lower level or access easily.

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

EXTRA

Time Slot Spread

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

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

Ignore : No Setting applied

Best Effort : The system 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 (Example : 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.

4. Batch Constraint

User need to set this constraint to avoid CLASHING for the Same Batch of Student.

STEP 1: Getting to Data Batch Grouping

Step 1.a : Click Data Tab

Step 1.b : Click Batch Grouping Tab to open up Data Batch Grouping

Diagram 1.1 : Location of Batch Grouping

Step 2: Setting the Compulsory Constraint for ALL Course Group Folders (RECOMMENDED)

Step 2.a : Select any Batch Group Folder & Double Click on it to open up Set Group Constraint window

Diagram 1.2 : Set Group Constraints window appear

Step 2.b : Once “Set Group Constrains Box” appears Select and tick at “Not at the Same Time Slot”. Leave “Override Same Time Constraint in tree constraint” uncheck.

Step 2.c : Tick at “Apply to All Groups”

Step 2.d : Once completed the step Click on OK Button

Diagram 1.3 : Confirmation window

Step 3 : Confirmation window will pop-up and click Yes to proceed. Press No to cancel.