Introduction

MiRoster

is a Windows 95/98 or Windows NT v4 or later based software tool to produce a conflict-free school schedule for both grades and teachers while allowing for the increasing complexity of today’s timetables.

Just define teachers & professions and grades & courses and the MiRoster will automatically build all school’s timetables avoiding any possible conflict and strictly minimizing the number of empty periods in grades’ schedules. Once teachers and grades are defined, construction or update of school’s timetables is just a matter of minutes.

The tool is built around a proprietary automatic scheduling engine which implements multilevel fuzzy logic algorithm to execute the timetable construction task.

The tool’s main features are:

1. Unlimited number of grades, disciplines and teachers

2. School and class customized “week” cycle

3. Part-time teachers

4. Dedicated teachers

5. Dedicated periods

6. Shared courses

7. Block scheduling

8. Multiage periods

9. Consistency check

10. Drag fields from one window and drop them in other to define courses, professions, shared disciplines, etc.

11. Click right button of the mouse to customize font or color of every field

12. and more...

1. School Framework

The school framework means a set of disciplines, teachers and grades and their internal links which present the school’s educational structure. Any number of school frameworks under different names can be created to present various structures of the same real existing school. The school framework will be called, for simplicity, school.

The school includes a “warehouse” of all disciplines which are learned and educated. Disciplines are distinguished primarily by their name (Math, English, Physics level 2, Physics level 3, etc.).

The pool of disciplines to be learned by a grade (grade’s courses) will be assembled from the disciplines included in the “warehouse”.

Teachers can be qualified to educate one or more disciplines (teacher’s professions).

Once discipline is included as a course of at least one grade, there must be at least one teacher qualified to educate that discipline.

2. Windows

Each kind of issues (disciplines, teachers and grades), included in the school, is presented, on the desktop in dedicated common window. Each single issue (single discipline, teacher or grade) is presented in dedicated private window. Common windows are identical in their structure, appearance and response. The teacher and grade private windows are very similar in both their appearance and behavior although there are some minor differences. Discipline private window is totally different in its look-and-feel because of the more general nature associated with.

2.1. Common Windows

There are three common windows distinguished by their names: “Disciplines”, “Teachers” and “Grades”.

The common window includes two parts: a list of issues belonging to the same kind (disciplines, teachers and grades) and push buttons that activate different options to manipulate the issues included in the list.

Four buttons are included in common window: “Open”, “New”, “Update” and “Delete”. The buttons “Open”, “Update” and “Delete” deal with individual selected issue. The button “New” deals with the set of issues by enabling to add new issues to the list.

All buttons are inactive (dimmed) when the window placed into background.

Generally a part of buttons are active when the window is on front of other windows (“New” always is active when the window is on front).

The only reason for “Open” button to be in inactive state is when no item is selected in the list. Selection of any item in the list causes the “Open” button to change its state into active.

The two reasons for “Update” button to be in inactive state are (1) when no item is selected in the list and (2) when the private window, associated with the selected item in the list, is open. Selection of any item in the list and closing its associated private window (if open) causes the “Update” button to change its state into active.

A part of the reasons for “Delete” button to be found in inactive state is the same to those of the “Update”. In addition, “Delete” button will be found in inactive state if the selected item is included in other issues definitions (discipline cannot be deleted while has been defined as a teacher’s profession or as a grade’s course; teacher cannot be deleted while has been defined as a dedicated teacher in some grade, etc.).

2.1.1 School Disciplines

In order to define new discipline or a list of new disciplines, update or delete existing one or open and display the desired discipline’s information, the “Disciplines” window must be open and located at the front of other windows.

If the “Disciplines” window is visible on the screen, the click on its drag bar will bring it to front. Sometimes the screen of the computer is clattered by a lot of different open windows and then to bring the “Disciplines” window to front, select “School Disciplines” item in “Window” menu.

Once “Disciplines” window is open and located at the front of other windows, all the action listed above can be done.

2.1.2 School Teachers

In order to define new teacher or a list of new teachers, update or delete existing one or open and display the desired teacher’s information, the “Teachers” window must be open and located at the front of other windows.

If the “Teachers” window is visible on the screen, the click on its drag bar will bring it to front. Sometimes the screen of the computer is clattered by a lot of different open windows and then to bring the “Teachers” window to front, select “School Teachers” item in “Window” menu.

Once “Teachers” window is open and located at the front of other windows, all the action listed above can be done.

2.1.3 School Grades

In order to define new grade or a list of new grades, update or delete existing one or open and display the desired grade’s information, the “Grades” window must be open and located at the front of other windows.

If the “Grades” window is visible on the screen, the click on its drag bar will bring it to front. Sometimes the screen of the computer is clattered by a lot of different open windows and then to bring the “Grades” window to front, select “School Grades” item in “Window” menu.

Once “Grades” window is open and located at the front of other windows, all the action listed above can be done.

2. 2. Private Windows

The private window is named always as a desired issue (discipline “Geography”, teacher “J. Gross Jr.” or grade “A 10”) the window belongs to.

2.2.1. Discipline Private Window

The discipline’s window consists of two parts: upper and lower.

The upper one includes either a list of teachers qualified to educate this discipline, or a list of grades where the discipline should be learned. Two radio buttons “Teachers” and “Grades” are used to switch from one list to other. At the top of the window’s content region resides a bar which contains the summary information about this discipline. That information includes:

1. The summary of all teachers’ weekly units which available to be educated (available units)

2. The summary of all grades’ weekly units which required to be learned (required units)

3. The summary of all grades’ actually allocated periods for this discipline courses (allocated units)

The lower part includes the sharing list of disciplines allowed to be learned at the same period as the desired window’s discipline (shared disciplines).

Drag-and-drop the discipline (a shared one) from “Disciplines” window to shared discipline window, attaches the discipline to the desired sharing list.

The “Remove” button, to remove a selected discipline from the sharing list, is included in the low part of the window.

A mouse click on the upper or the lower list activates the list and the control buttons associated with.

The window is informative only and nothing can be updated or deleted using it (except open teacher or grade private window when double click on selected item in a list).

2.2.2. Teacher Private Windows

This private window generally includes the information about teacher professions. There are three sections in the window: a bar with the name of currently disprofession, the schedule section and the common controls section.

When no profession is defined for teacher, the window is empty.

To define a teacher’s profession, one shall only drag-and-drop a discipline from “Disciplines” window to teacher window.

The current displayed profession name will be displayed in the upper part of the teacher private window.

The central (schedule) section presents week days fragmented into separate periods. Likewise it contains information about the profession units and includes four controls: three radio buttons “Single”, “Sum” and “Rating” and push button “Units”.

The click on “Rating” (availability mode) button enables to define whole days or single periods available or prohibited for teaching. Low available option means that the day or period will be available for teaching only when no other allocation opportunities are found. The following explains how to sign periods for adequate teaching availability, when availability mode is selected:

1. Choose the proper availability option from three rectangles named “High”, “Low” and “Prohibit” and click the mouse on.

2. Move the mouse to the desired period and click the mouse on. The period will be signed according to the selected availability.

3. When complete day shall be signed, move the mouse to the day’s header and click on. All periods included in this day will be signed at the selected availability.

Later, once the schedule has been built, the “Single” button enables to display the single profession schedule where the grades’ names will be allocated in appropriate periods. “Sum” button facilitates the display of teacher’s weekly summary schedule including all profession the teacher educates. If the teacher educates more than one discipline, the particular discipline name will be displayed in each period frame. Either the grade’s names will be displayed there.

2.2.3. Grade Private Windows

This private window includes the information about courses to be educated in the grade. There are three sections in the window: a bar with the name of currently displayed course, the schedule section and the common controls section.

When no course is defined for grade, the window is empty.

To define a grade’s course, drag-and-drop a discipline from “Disciplines” window to grade window.

Tip: All disciplines defined in the school can be defined as courses of the grade at “one shot” by drag-and-drop some discipline from “Disciplines” window when <ctrl> key held pressed down.

Tip: All disciplines defined in one grade (“source” grade) can be “dragged” to another grade simply by drag-and-drop the “source” grade from “Grades” window to the private window of the second one. The courses defined in the first will be added to those already defined in the second.

The current displayed course will be named after the name of the discipline and displayed in the upper part in the grade private window.

To define a dedicated teacher to educate the desired course, drag-and-drop a teacher name from “Teachers” common window (or from discipline’s private one) to grade window. If the teacher is qualified to educate the course, the name of will appear in dedicated teacher field.

The central (schedule) section presents week days fragmented into separate periods. Likewise it contains information about the course learning units and specifications, includes the name of the teacher which is dedicated for this course (if defined) and a name of the course from another grade which is defined for a multiage learning. In this section six controls are included: three radio buttons “Single”, “Sum” and “Rating”, push button “Units” responding for course units, push button “Remove teacher” for removing a dedicated teacher and push button “Remove course” for removing a multiage course.

Click on “Rating” (availability mode) button enables to define whole days or single periods available or prohibited for teaching or single periods are dedicated for the course. Low available option means that the day or period will be available for teaching only when no other allocation opportunities are found. The following explains how to sign periods for adequate teaching availability, when availability mode is selected:

1. Choose the proper availability option from four rectangles named “Dedicated”, “High”, “Low” and “Prohibit” and click the mouse on.

2. Move the mouse to the desired period and click the mouse on. The period will be signed accordingly to the selected availability.

3. When complete day to be signed, move the mouse to the day’s name and click on. All periods included in this day will be signed at the selected availability (except dedicated option where only the sign of single periods is allowed).

Later, once the schedule has been built, the “Single” button enables to display the single course schedule where the name of the teacher allocated for the course is displayed in the particular period rectangle.

“

Sum” button facilitates the display of grade’s weekly summary schedule including all courses to be educated. The disciplines’ names are displayed in the particular period frame.

Remark: The colored period signs the following:

1. shared disciplines collocated at the same period (at period 2, Wednesday and period 1 Thursday are allocated both Math 3 and Math 5 courses);

2. multiage periods (period 6, Tuesday and period 5, Saturday);

3. locked periods (period 4, Monday, period 3, Friday, etc.).

4. dedicated periods.

If, for example, some period is both shared locked, the color shall be defined according to priorities a, b, c and d. All colors can be customized using “Format” menu. Click and hold the mouse on the shared or multiage period will expose the collocated course.

3. Menu

3.1. File

The “File” menu generally enables the work with a school framework as whole rather then with separate parts of it (like disciplines or grades).

3.1.1 New school

Opens new school with empty framework. The already open school should be closed.

3.1.2 Open school

To open existing school select “Open” item from “File” menu. Only legal school files will be presented in the dialog window. Once the school has been selected, all the data associated with will be loaded and the “Disciplines” window will appear on the screen. If “Open” item is selected when another school is under work, the school under work will be closed and the information of will be saved.

3.1.3 Close school

Closes the already open school.

3.1.4 Save school as...

Enables to save the current open school under a new name different from the previous one.

3.1.6 Preferences

Enables to define a number of global parameters for school. This global parameters will be used when a new school or new issues for an existing school will be defined.

3.1.7 Print setup

Enables to define the setup of the printer.

3.1.8 Print

The information to be printed depends on the front window content.

In the window under interest a different types of information can be presented or highlighted.

In common windows (“Disciplines”, “Teachers” and “Grades”) one of the items in the list can be (or no item should be) selected.

The discipline private window includes either the list of teachers qualified to educate the discipline or the list of grades, the discipline will be educated in. Moreover, if the discipline is shared one, the list of disciplines which can share the same period with the desired one, is included.

The teacher or grade private window can present different types of information: the schedule summary or particular profession/course schedule or availability.

3.1.9 Quit

Termination of the program.

3.2 Shell

3.2.1 Clear schedule

Clear the school’s schedule already built and update the disk file with the one cleared.

3.2.2 Build schedule

Build the school’s schedule based on the defined issues in the framework. Before the build action takes off, the schedule will be automatically cleared and consistency check should be performed. If some inconsistencies in framework definitions are found, the appropriate message will be sent. There two options are open: the first one is to continue the build schedule process despite inconsistencies found, and the second one is to cancel build request, activate the Consistency check to see what happen and to take some actions to correct the framework issues or their links.

3.2.3 Consistency check

Check the consistency of issues which comprise the school’s framework and their links. Inconsistencies found are displayed in dedicated non editing window.

Consistency check includes (only a part list is presented here):

1. For each specific discipline - sum of units required (courses learned by grades) must be less or equal to sum of units available (professions educated by teachers).

Correct action:

1. Change units required for the course(s) either by using discipline private window’s “Update” option (change units for all courses by one click) or by using each grade private window’s “Update course” option to change selected courses only.

2. Change units allowed to each teacher using teacher private window’s “Update” option.

3. Add teacher

4. Remove appropriate course from selected grades using “Remove” button in grade private window.

1. For each teacher’s profession - sum of all periods available for teach (no prohibited) must be great or equal to units of that profession.

Correct action:

1. Change the profession’s units (be careful - inconsistency with required courses should appeared).

2. Change the profession’s availability using the schedule table in teacher private window (if prohibited periods are there).

1. For each teacher - sum of all teacher’s professions units available must be less or equal to weekly units allowed for this teacher (the teacher position).

Correct action:

1. Change units available for each of teacher’s professions (be careful - inconsistency with required courses should appeared).

2. Change weekly units allowed for the teacher (change the position)

3.3 Format

This menu deals with the customization of fonts and colors in different parts of windows.

The font in any individual field in the window can be changed either by right button click on the field (for example period field in schedule table, day name, dedicated teacher, etc.) or by selecting the appropriate item from the “Format” menu. Changing the font or color will influence all field of the same kind - buttons, summaries, days, etc.

1. “
Text Font” defines the fonts in “Consistency check results” window and in the list’s printing

2. “
Page Numbers Font” defines the font of page numbers during the printing session

3. “
Title Font” defines the font of the titles during the printing session

4. “
Button Font” defines the font of buttons in all windows

5. “
List Font” defines the font of lists’ items in all windows

6. “
Current Font” defines the font of availability levels (Grades and teachers) when one of the levels is selected

7. “
Global Font” defines one plain font for all items in all windows

8. “
Availability Color” defines the color of the selected availability level

9. “
Locked Period Color” defines the color to sign the locked period

10. “
Shared Period Color” defines the color to sign the period shared by two or more courses in the same grade

11. “
Multiage Period Color” defines the color to sign the multiage period

3.4 Windows

This menu deals with open and close of all the windows of the program.

3.4.1 Close window

Close the front window presented.

3.4.2 Close all windows

Close all the windows presented.

3.4.2 Close all background windows

Close all the windows presented except the front one.

3.4.3. School Disciplines

Open or bring to front the “Disciplines” window.

3.4.4 Close all disciplines

Close all disciplines’ private windows presented.

3.4.5 Disciplines (1, 2, etc.)

Bring to front the desired discipline’s private window.

3.4.6. School Teachers

Open or bring to front the “Teachers” window.

3.4.7 Close all teachers

Close all teachers’ private windows presented.

3.4.8 Teachers (1, 2, etc.)

Bring to front the desired teacher’s private window.

3.4.9. School Grades

Open or bring to front the “Grades” window.

3.4.10 Close all grades

Close all grades’ private windows presented.

3.4.11 Grades (1, 2, etc.)

Bring to front the desired grade’s private window.

4. How to do it...

4.1 Create new school

Intention: create a file (the file name is the name of the school) which contains all the information which characterize the school. A number of versions of the same school can be created simply by copying the existing file, changing the name (or signing a version number) and changing the characteristics of the school.

1. Choose the menu “File”

2. Choose “New” in the “File” menu

3. A file selection dialog window appears on the screen

4. Choose a folder (directory) to store the school file

5. In the field “File Name” type the name for the school

6. Click on “Save” button

7. Whether a file with a similar name already exists, an alert dialog window will appear and a confirmation for file replace is required

8. A new school is created, the application window changes its name to the name of just created school and an empty “Disciplines” window appears on the screen

4.2 School definitions

Intention: define a general framework for the school which will be used as a default for detailed definitions of disciplines, teachers, professions, grades and courses.

1. Choose menu “File”

2. Choose “Preferences” from menu “File”

3. A dialog window for school definitions appears on the screen (the default definitions displayed in the preference dialog window are the last defined and saved previously for another school)

4. Choose the field “Course weekly hours” for disciplines

5. Type a default number of units to be learned at any course in the school

6. Choose the field “Students in learning group”

7. Type a default number of students in a learning group

8. Choose the field “Weekly position” for teachers

9. Type a default number of weekly units to be educated by a teacher

10. Choose the field “Maximum daily units” for teachers

11. Type a default number of maximum daily units to be educated by a teacher

12. Choose the field “Maximum consequent units” for teachers

13. Type a default number of maximum consequent units to be educated by a teacher

14. Choose the school days changing the on/off check buttons in the fields of weekly days

15. Choose “from” field in each one of the learning days

16. Type the default first period (STARTING FROM ZERO) to be allocated in the desired day

17. Choose “to” field in each one of the learning days

18. Type the default last period (UP TO 23) to be allocated in the desired day

19. Approve the school definition by clicking on “Save” button

4.3 Disciplines definitions

- Choose window “Discipline” (click on “Disciplines” window’s title bar or select “School disciplines” item from “Windows” menu)

- Click on the button “New”

- A dialog window for discipline definition and/or update appears on the screen

- Choose the field “Name”

- Type the name of the discipline (if a discipline carrying EXECTLY the same name has been already defined, the button “Save” is deemed and the discipline definition cannot be saved)

- Choose the field “Students in group”

- Type the maximum number of students in a single learning group (if the number is different from the default one presented in the field)

- While the learning the discipline allows (or requires) merging groups of students from different grades:

1. Choose the field “Combined grades”

2. Type the number of different grades to be merged together to learn the desired discipline

1. Choose the field “Weekly units”

2. Type the default number of weekly units for the courses based on the desired discipline (the number can be changed lately for each grade)

3. Choose the field “Daily units”

4. Type the default number of daily units for the courses based on the desired discipline (the number can be changed lately for each grade)

5. Approve the discipline definition by clicking on “Save” button

6. In the window “Disciplines” the list of defined disciplines is updated

7. When all disciplines are defined, click on the “Close” button

8. The discipline definition window is closed

9. While a number of different disciplines allowed to be educated simultaneously for different groups of students in the same grade (shared disciplines - for example different levels of math):

1. Choose the window “Disciplines”

2. Choose from the list (by mouse click) one of the shared disciplines (first discipline)

3. Click on the “Open” button

4. The window for the desired (first) disciplineappears on the screen

5. Choose the window “Disciplines” again

6. Choose from the list (by mouse click) the discipline which can be shared with the first one

7. Drag-and-drop the selected discipline into the first’s discipline window

8. In the list of shared disciplines appears the name of the discipline just dropped

4.4 Teachers definitions

- Choose window “Teachers” (click on “Teachers” window’s title bar or select “School teachers” item from “Windows” menu)

- Click on the button “New”

- A dialog window for teacher definition and/or update appears on the screen

- Choose the field “Name”

- Type the name of the teacher (if a teacher carrying EXECTLY the same name has been already defined, the button “Save” is deemed and the teacher definition cannot be saved)

- Choose the field “Weekly position”

- Type the total number of weekly units (as a summary of all professions the desired teacher is allowed to educate)

- Choose the field “Daily maximum - total”

- Type the maximum number of daily units the teacher is allowed to educate

- Choose the field “ Daily maximum - consequent “

- Type the maximum number of daily consequent units the teacher is allowed to educate (for example, after 4 consequent units there will be at least one empty unit in teachers daily schedule)

- Approve the teacher definition by clicking on “Save” button

- In the window “Teachers” the list of defined teachers is updated

- When all teachers are defined, click on the “Close” button

- The teacher definition window is closed

4.5 Teacher professions definitions

- Choose window “Teachers” (click on “Teachers” window’s title bar or select “School teachers” item from “Windows” menu)

- Choose a teacher for whom the profession(s) will be defined

- Click on the button “Open” (or double click on the selected item)

- The teacher’s window appears on the screen (if no professions for the desired teacher has been defined, the window will be empty)

- Choose the window “Disciplines”

- Choose from the list (by mouse click) the discipline which will be defined as teacher’s profession

- Drag-and-drop the selected discipline into the teacher’s window

- In the teacher’s window appears the empty table of week schedule

- There can be defined an unlimited number of professions for each teacher

- Choose the teacher’s window

- Click the button “Rating”

- The table of teacher’s availability for the first profession appears

- Choose the desirable level of availability by click on appropriate item - “High”, “Low” or “Prohibited”

- Click on the day title to expand the availability level over a complete day

- Click on the period to change an availability level for an individual period

- Click the button “Update” to change the number of teacher’s profession units

- The dialog window for profession update appears

- Choose the field “Profession’s weekly units”

- Type the number of units the teacher is allowed to educate during the learning week (the number shall be less or equal to the number of free units remained after the definition of other professions)

- Click the button “Save” to approve the update

- The dialog window closed

- Click on “>>“ or “<<“ button to surf between professions of the desired teacher

4.6 Grades definitions

- Choose window “Grades” (click on “Grades” window’s title bar or select “School grades” item from “Windows” menu)

- Click on the button “New”

- A dialog window for grade definition and/or update appears on the screen

- Choose the field “Name”

- Type the name of the grade (if a grade carrying EXECTLY the same name has been already defined, the button “Save” is deemed and the grade definition cannot be saved)

- Choose the field “Students in grade”

- Type the number of students in grade

- Approve the grade definition by clicking on “Save” button

- In the window “Grades” the list of defined grades is updated

- When all grades are defined, click on the “Close” button

- The grade definition window is closed

4.7 Grade’s courses definitions

- Choose window “Grades” (click on “Grades” window’s title bar or select “School grades” item from “Windows” menu)

- Choose a grade for whom the courses will be defined

- Click on the button “Open” (or double click on the selected item)

- The grade’s window appears on the screen (if no courses for the desired grade has been defined, the window will be empty)

- Choose the window “Disciplines”

- Choose from the list (by mouse click) the discipline which will be defined as grade’s course

- Drag-and-drop the selected discipline into the grade’s window

1. If ALL of the existing disciplines should be defined as courses in the desired grade, press on “Ctrl” key during drag-and-drop action

2. If a grade with the same list of courses has already been defined - drag-and-drop this grade’s name from “Grades” window into the current grade’s window

1. In the grade’s window appears the empty schedule of the grade

2. There can be defined an unlimited number of courses for each grade

3. Choose the grade’s window

4. Click the button “Rating”

5. The table of grade’s availability for the first course appears

6. Choose the desirable level of availability by click on appropriate item - “Dedicated”, “High”, “Low” or “Prohibited” (the “Dedicated” enables the fixing of the course learning at a predefined period )

7. Click on the day title to expand the availability level over a complete day (except “Dedicated”)

8. Click on the period to change an availability level for an individual period

9. Click the button “Update” to change the parameters of the course

10. The dialog window for course update appears

11. Choose the field “Weekly units”

12. Type the number of weekly units for the course (the default number is the same one defined for the root discipline)

13. Choose the field “Daily units”

14. Type the number of daily units for the course (more then one daily units shall be defined for BLOCK SCHEDULING)

15. Choose the field “Students in group”

16. Type the number of students learning the desired course in the grade

1. REMEMBER: when a number of student groups from different grades can be merged together to learn the root discipline (see the definition of the disciplines), the total number of students cannot exceed the number of students defined for the root discipline

1. When the group of students in the current grade can be merged with other groups, click on button “Integrate with other grade(s)” (if the button is not in proper position)

2. Click the button “Save” to approve the update

3. The dialog window closed

4. Click on “>>“ or “<<“ button to surf between courses of the desired grade

When a dedicated teacher will be assigned for a course:

1. Choose the grade window

2. Click on “Course” or “Rating” button

3. Surf between grade’s courses until the desired course is displayed

4. Choose the window “Teachers”

5. Choose the teacher to be allocated for the course

6. Drag-and-drop the teacher’s name into grade window

7. The field of dedicated teacher is updated by the teacher’s name

When a multiage learning will be assigned for a course:

1. Choose the first grade window

2. Click on “Course” or “Rating” button

3. Surf between grade’s courses until the first desired course is displayed

4. Choose the second grade window

5. Click on “Course” or “Rating” button

6. Surf between grade’s courses until the second desired course is displayed

7. Drag-and-drop the upper bar with the second course name into the first grade window

8. The field of multiage learning is updated by the second course name

4.8 Consistency check

- Choose “Consistency check” item from “Shell” menu

- If any inconsistencies in the school definitions are found, the “Consistency check results” window will appear on the screen

4.9 Schedule construction

- Choose “Build schedule” item from “Shell” menu

- The consistency check is operated

- If any inconsistencies in the school definitions are found, the appropriate message will appear on the screen and two options - cancel the scheduling process or continue it - are displayed

- When the scheduling process starts, a progress bar window appears

- At the end of scheduling construction it is reasonable to activate consistency check

- Open grade’s and/or teacher’s windows in order to display the results of the schedule construction

4.10 Print

The print option is sensitive to the active window displayed on the screen. For grade and teacher windows a number of print options are available through a dialog wiwhich is displayed before the regular “Print” dialog window appears.

When “Grades” or “Teachers” window is active one, the print options should be changed when an item from the displayed list is selected or not.

4.11 Schedule lock

This option is useful when there is necessary to add courses, teachers or to do minor changes in the school scheduling when saving the existing scheduling in most of school grades. It is available to lock the scheduling of the complete school, all of the courses of a grade or any individual course.

Glossary

Course | Discipline learned by grade
Daily min. & max. Units | Minimum and maximum continuous units allowed to learn daily (minimum is obviously must be one and maximum cannot exceed weekly units)
Drag-and-drop | Drag-and-drop procedure enables to link two issues in simple and easy way. - Choose the item (if it is a list item - simply click on its name) - While the item is selected, point the mouse inside the item’s rectangle - Press the mouse’s left button and don’t release it - Drag the mouse while the left button is still down (the rectangle will follow the mouse) to the destination window - release mouse’s push-button mouse The actions, which has been done, can be summarized as: point the mouse on the issue, drag the issue to the desired window and then drop the issue into the desired window (or in shortly drag-and-drop)
Period | The school day is separated into periods of time (45 minutes or one hour or any time period used by the school)
Profession | Discipline educated by teacher
Sharing list | A set of disciplines which can share the same period with the desired one. Each of the disciplines in the sharing list must be itself a shared discipline
Unit | Single period in the school (for example period of 45 minutes for single lecture is defined as one unit). The difference between period and unit lies in the use of them: period is used to assign the time slice in school day where the course (for grade) or the profession (for teacher) will be allocated in; unit is used in quantitative context to assign the time volume dedicated to course or to profession (weekly or daily)
Weekly Units | The weekly sum of course units to be learned by grade or profession units to be educated by teacher (for example 4 weekly units are convenient for math to be learned and 36 weekly units are convenient for single profession teacher)