E10 - Construct: Add classes method

E10 advises that lines should be generated cohesively wherever possible. This can be discussed with a Tes Timetable Specialist if required, as generating good cohesive lines goes a long way in achieving a successful timetable.  

This document will outline the general process of building a timetable in the Master Grid using the 'Add classes' method. The Magic squares method is outlined here: E10 -  Construct: Magic squares method

Add classes method

These are the general steps required to construct a timetable on the Master Grid using the Add classes method. Generally, we add classes year level by year level, from Year 12 down to the lowest year, including non-year level classes, such as support and Meetings years.

Step/Action	Notes
CTRL+Q	Ensure you have achieved the champagne bottle before starting (Grid > Check everything or CTRL+Q) Also check: Teacher part timer requirements have been updated Class data does not contain any old information in TeacherPref or RoomPref fields Class data contains the required spreads for all classes Subject rooms correctly reflects the rooming options and preferences for each subject.
Master Grid	Go to Grid > Master Grid F11 (You may like to ‘Favourite’ this screen, as you will be viewing this screen a lot!) Ensure ‘Best timetable’ is highlighted in blue.
Add classes	Click the Construct button on the action bar. In the Classes tab, select the blue plus symbol. Tick Classes in year. Enter ‘12’ into the Selection box (or whichever is the highest year level at your school). Select Add.
Assign periods	Depending on your set up, sometimes when classes are added to the grid they are not yet assigned to a day and period, hash symbols appear along the top of the grid. (There is a complicated and advanced reasoning behind this.) If this occurs, simply go to Construct > Periods > Assign to remove the hash symbols and see the grid codes.
Improve	Go to Improve > Improve tab > Start. Let it run for a few minutes, or until there is no more improvement in the score being shown. *Refer to the link at the bottom of the document on solving clashes if clashes remain. Click on the small arrow in the pop up box to see the changes E10 is attempting.
Add classes	Add Year 11
Improve	Improve again
Add classes	Add Year 10.  If Yr 10 has a mixture of lined classes and floating classes, consider adding only the blocked classes at this stage (as these are the tricky bits). Block sizes >= this many classes: How many classes are in the block? Enter a number equal to or greater than a number that will pick up all the classes. eg, entering a 4 will add any blocks that have 4 (or more) classes connected.
Improve	Improve again
Add classes	Add Year 9, as per Year 10
Improve	Improve again
Add classes	Add Year 8, as per Year 10
Improve	Improve again
Add classes	Add Year 7, as per Year 10
Improve	Improve again
Add classes	If you added lines/blocks only in any year level, now add the floating classes. Change ‘Block sizes >= this many classes’ back to 1, and add each year following the same process: Add, then Improve.
Other tools	There are some further options on how classes can be added to the grid, apart from by year level. As the timetable develops, and if problems are occurring, it may be best to switch tactics in the order of adding classes. If you have classes of a particular faculty that are often hard to timetable, consider adding these classes at an early stage by selecting ‘Classes of faculty’ and entering the exact Faculty name into the Selection field. Class codes: Particular classes can be added, eg 7SCIA. Asterisks serve as wildcards. Eg add all 7SCI classes by entering 7SCI*, or *SCI* to add any year level with a course code of SCI. Year-long classes: Sometimes adding the year-long classes first can be helpful. Only classes with Double periods: May be used if school wants to first add the classes requiring doubles to identify if there are any issues with classes getting their double requests.

Working in the Master grid is an iterative process. It is normal practice to begin building a timetable, analysing as you go, making changes and starting over. Start over as many times as you need to, either the whole grid, or by removing certain year levels or classes, and then proceeding, perhaps taking a different route to see where you end up.

For example, a user might find that building a timetable from Years 12 down to 7 is not working well for them. Perhaps they are having particular problems with clashes in the technology classes. They might remove all classes in Years 7, 8 and 9, and Improve the remaining grid. If it looks fine at this point, instead of adding Year 9 on, as they would likely have done previously, perhaps they might first add just the blocked classes in Year 9, then Improve. Then they might add the Technology faculty classes, and Improve. This may highlight any impossibilities in this department, such as there are simply not enough periods logistically to place all of the Technology classes on the grid and get the rooms they require. This is valuable information in understanding why problems may be occurring. This kind of process can be repeated in any area where problems are discovered. 

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Setting flexible part timer days off

At some point as the timetable develops, we need to set the part timer days off. When exactly to do this is a tricky point, as each file and part timer requirements are different. Keep in mind – once a teacher’s part time days off are set, E10 timetables their classes around the day/s off. E10 does not attempt to move the day off if it would better suit the timetable as the timetable continues to shuffle around the grid. Therefore, we do not want to set part timer days off too early.

1. ‘Only where forced’: This will assign only teachers where there are no options as to which day they have off. When using this option, repeat this as new year levels are added. Improve to solve any resulting clashes.
2. ‘Only where there are few choices’ or ‘Only where the teacher is partially on the grid’: This will assign only teachers where their timetable is developing. When using this option, repeat this as new year levels are added. Improve to solve any resulting clashes.
3. ‘All part-timer days off’: If all classes are on the grid, then this can be used. Improve to solve any resulting clashes.

It is possible to set the part timer days off, but, as the timetable build proceeds, later clear the set days off, then set them again as the grid further develops. 

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Health Check

Check the Health Check summary screen regularly throughout the construction process.

The Summary page provides a very helpful at-a-glance listing of issues, and each issue may be clicked on to further examine the details.

1. Clashes > Teachers
2. Teachers > Busy days
3. Classes > Spreads (There is a balance between getting a clash free timetable and having the classes receive the spread they wanted.)

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Other helpful documents

Master grid

E10 - Tips for solving clashes and spread issues

E10 - Health Check

When classes are moved around in the Master grid, their previously assigned rooms will be lost (unless a room is hardcoded to a class or there is only one room option for a class).