1. Set up a 'dataset' to manage the lines information and parameters. Each dataset may be for a single year level, or may contain several year levels. (Lines > Datasets)
2. Enter subjects to be offered to students, including other subjects that will be blocked. (Lines > Elective data > Courses)
3. Enter rules to ensure students meet curriculum or school guidelines.
4. Students submit their subject preferences. This is best done via the online Edval Choice module.
5. Decide on the number of classes to run based on student selections and school resources.
6. Update the all-important Teachers > Subject Teachers and Rooms > Subject Rooms data.
7. Update the part time teacher information. (Teachers > Teacher data)
8. Generate lines. (Lines > Elective data > Courses > Action bar: Generate lines)
9. View and analyse the lines. (Lines > Lines results > View lines)
   Often the first few attempts at generating lines will highlight missing or incorrect data. Any incorrect data is fixed and lines generated again until a good set of elective lines are achieved.
10. Create classes from the lines. (Lines > Lines results > View lines > Action bar: Create classes)

General Tips

Datasets

1. Consider using a multi-year dataset where possible. This ensures lines will be created that can be timetabled across multiple year levels.

Course offerings

1. When the same courses are available to students from more than one year level, and for which a single class list is to be created, enter the course once in the Courses table then enter both year levels into the Years column, eg 11,10
2. Use the Rules, Corequisites, Prerequisite and Forbidden course features to ensure student selections meet school requirements.

Collecting student preferences

1. Use Edval Choice, an online subject selection module, to capture student subject preferences and data and download straight into the etz file, saving the double handling of data and possible data entry errors.
2. Collect student preferences in priority order to use the 'weighted preferences' algorithm to grant students their most desired subjects.
3. Collect 2 or 3 reserve preferences from students.
4. Refer to the interactive Course Popularity report to analyse student selections. Double click on a cell to display the list of students the number represents.

Line generation preparation - Resources

1. Ensure the school resources are properly entered prior to generating lines -  this is crucial for creating good lines!
   Teachers > Subject teachers and Rooms > Subject rooms
   Double click in Lines > Elective data > Courses  Teachers cell and  Rooms cell to expand the slide out options panel, then select Edit Set. 
2. Check teacher's unavailability times. the algorithm will try to group part timer needs to allow more timetabling flexibility when constructing the timetable. Teachers > Teacher data > Unavailable 

Line generation preparation - Courses

1. Use Lines > Elective data > Courses  Vlink and Hlink entries where subjects must appear on lines vertically or horizontally to other courses.
2. Consider using Lines > Elective data > Lines to periods feature if you have a set timetable structure.
3. View the Lines > Analysis > Course popularity report to assist with the decision making on which classes will run. 
4. Allow the algorithm to calculate the number of classes required for each subject. Lines > Elective data > Courses > Action bar: Calculate number of Classes #C.
5. Double click on the S/C cell for any subject to see the list of students who chose the subject and the preference order.
6. Check the Rules and Constraints  Lines > Elective data > Courses table > Rules and Constraints
   Rules: If using a multi-year dataset, rules apply per year level, so different rules may apply for different year levels
   Constraints: Lines > Elective data > Courses table > Rules and Constraints > Constraints
   Use constraints to enter relationships between subjects, or classes, prior to generating lines. There are many options for constraints, and only necessary constraints should be entered.
7. Do not delete courses that will not run; simply enter 0 (zero) into the #C cell.
8. When cancelling courses, reshuffle student preferences to move reserves into the Main section. This is important to see how the reserves contribute to the running class numbers. Courses > View menu - tick 'Hide requests for cancelled courses'. Untick to make them visible again.

Generate Lines: Lines > Elective data > Generate lines

1. Select 'Reset Defaults' from the Construction parameters to use the advised parameters.
2. If not using a multi-year dataset, select other years to 'timetable around'. It is important to create cohesive lines that can be placed onto the timetable without clashes. Timetable around reads the line numbers in the selected Class data screen, so make sure that is correct first.

Analyse lines: Lines > Line results & Analysis

1. View the Score table for the overview of results.
2. View the Missed Courses & Preferences tables (from the Action bar) for the missed courses information.
3. View student results. Double click on a student name to visually analyse a student's courses. Lines > Lines results > Student results

1. Model and save as many versions of the file as you like. Experiment with different combinations of subjects, number of classes etc.
2. Print the Lines > Analysis > Student Counselling report to assist in student counselling if required.

Create classes