Master Builder Option Set

Best practice is for the main person responsible for schedule to check out option set. This eliminates anyone else from processing schedule for option set. Other users may make changes to course requests and schedule sections within checked out option set..

• Click . User name is reflected in Currently Checked Out To.  Schedule Option Set may be edited. No one else can edit set except user listed.

• Click when finished.

• Edit Run Name and Run Description if desired.

• Click to spell check.

• Click for more space.

• Click to run the option set and see what student schedules would be created by this option set.

OR

If desired, complete any set up changes in the rules or options and then run Scheduler. Help with setup for these areas follow in the next section.

Running Scheduler does not make any changes to the student schedule screens The test schedule can only be screened from within the Option Set.

• Click if finished editing tab.

• Each simulation can have a different set of rules, but all simulations share the same Subject Categories.

• Click . A new line is added to grid.

• Enter a Sim Name.

• Click . Simulation options are outlined below.

CAUTION: Loading a simulation will overwrite any customizations or changes made within the Student Schedule and Schedule Section screens within the Option Set. The simulation must be re-loaded after each run to rescreen the sections and the student schedules in these screens.

• Click line number of simulation to setup. Line highlights.

• Click . Screen opens to Details tab.

• Enter a Description of this simulation, if desired.

• Click to spell check.

• Click for additional space.

• Check Suppress Warnings to print the errors and leave out the warning messages in the Error Report, only.

Each part of the Master Schedule Builder has its own section of rules that can be modified. See rule descriptions following.

• Click to access the different sections.

The Analyzer analyzes attributes, rules, and course requests. This process always runs and cannot be turned off. The rules can be turned on and off by checking the boxes.

• Use to check or uncheck all. The available rules are:

• Auto Assign Lunch Courses to Students

This will be used in future versions of the Master Schedule Builder but has not yet been implemented.

• Auto Assign Studyhall Courses To Students

This will be used in future versions of the Master Schedule Builder but has not yet been implemented.

• None

Do not use any analyzer rules.

The Builder builds the class schedule and creates the sections. The rules can be turned on and off by checking the boxes.

• Use to check or uncheck all. The available rules are:

• None

Do not use any builder rules

• Schedule Courses With No Student Requests

Include courses that currently do not have any requests. This ensures at least one section of each course is scheduled to cover anticipated student requests. This can be very helpful when running preliminary schedules before all course requests have been submitted, or to identify teacher or room shortages very early in the process.

• Do Not Use School Default Section Attrib

Do not use the Section Attributes set at the School Level in the Subject Categories if the attribute was not set at the Subject Category level. If a Course is not assigned to a Category, sections will not be built for that course if this option is selected.

• Ignore All Course Links

Individual courses can be linked, such as a chemistry class could have the lecture and lab courses linked (see the Customizing Individual Options section later in this chapter). Check this box to ignore these links.

• Ignore Max Sections Per Term

This will be used in future versions of the Master Schedule Builder but has not yet been implemented.

• Do Not Schedule Teachers

Do not assign teachers to sections in the schedule. This can be helpful to establish if there are enough rooms and sections to accommodate student requests.

• Do Not Use Teacher Types to Schedule Teachers

Teachers can be categorized as either full-time or part-time in the Teacher screen link on the Option Set, as outlined in the Customizing Individual Options section later in this chapter, by checking the Is Full Time box. In the Subject Categories, a category can be set to only use full-time teachers by checking the Is Full-Time box. To ignore these settings and assign part-time and full-time teachers to any category, check this rule.

• Do Not Use Categories to Schedule Teachers

If teachers are not assigned to a subject category, the Master Schedule Builder will use the department assigned to the teacher. If this box is checked, the departments will be used instead of the teacher’s subject category assignment.

• Do Not Use Departments to Schedule Teachers

If teachers are not assigned to a subject category, the Master Schedule Builder will use the department assigned to the teacher. If this box is checked, the departments will not be used. If a teacher is not assigned to a subject category, or if categories are not used (the previous checkbox), the teacher will not be included in the schedule.

• Do Not Reserve Teacher Lunch

This will be used in future versions of the Master Schedule Builder but has not yet been implemented.

• Ignore Max Teaching Periods Per Term

Allow teachers to be scheduled for more than the maximum number of periods in a term.

• Ignore Max Sequential Teaching Periods Per Day

Allow teachers to be scheduled for more than the maximum number of sequential periods in a day.

• Ignore Teacher Property Constraints

If teacher property constraints have been assigned to a subject category, do not use them when scheduling.

• Do Not Use Course Types To Schedule Rooms

This will be used in future versions of the Master Schedule Builder but has not yet been implemented.

• Do Not Use Room Lists To Schedule Rooms

This rule is no longer in use and will be removed from future versions of the Master Schedule Builder.

• Do Not Use Grade Levels To Schedule Rooms

In the Subject Categories, a group of rooms can be allocated to specific grade levels. If this box is checked, these restrictions will be ignored when assigning sections to rooms.

• Do Not Use Room Groups To Schedule Rooms

This rule is no longer in use and will be removed from future versions of the Master Schedule Builder.

• Ignore Room Maximum Capacity

Disregard the maximum size set for each category for rooms

• Do Not Schedule Sections

This rule is designed to schedule teachers and/or rooms for a previously built list of sections. It leaves the current sections in place, and only assigns teachers and/or rooms.

• Do Not Schedule Lunch Type Courses

This will be used in future versions of the Master Schedule Builder but has not yet been implemented.

• Ignore Sections Time Constraints

Time constraints for periods, terms, meeting days can be set for individual courses (see the Customizing Individual Options section later in this chapter). For example, a gym class could be limited to the last period of the day. Check this box to ignore these constraints.

• Ignore Frozen Sections

This will be used in future versions of the Master Schedule Builder but has not yet been implemented.

• Ignore Grade Level Priority

If a priority is set to schedule students in grade level order, this rule turns off the grade level order.

• Do Not Use Course Types To Schedule Teachers

This will be used in future versions of the Master Schedule Builder but has not yet been implemented.

• Do Not Use Specific Teachers To Schedule Teachers

This rule is no longer in use and will be removed from future versions of the Master Schedule Builder.

• Do Not Use Grade Levels To Schedule Teachers

In the Subject Categories, a group of teachers can be allocated to specific grade levels. If this box is checked, these restrictions will be ignored when assigning teachers to sections.

• Do Not Use Teacher Groups To Schedule Teachers

This rule is no longer in use and will be removed from future versions of the Master Schedule Builder.

• Ignore Max Teaching Periods Per Day

Allow teachers to be scheduled for more than this number of periods in a day

• Ignore Max Teaching Periods Per Year

Allow teachers to be scheduled for more than this number of periods in a year

• Ignore Teachers Time Constraints

Individual teachers can have time constraints set where the teacher is limited to specific periods or terms or meeting days. Check this box to ignore these constraints.

• Do Not Schedule Rooms

Do not assign sections to rooms

• Do Not Use Room Types To Schedule Rooms

If a room type is assigned to a category, the Master Schedule Builder will only schedule rooms for these courses that have the same room type assigned to the room. If this box is checked, the room type will not be used.

• Do Not Use Categories To Schedule Rooms

If rooms are not assigned to a subject category, the Master Schedule Builder will use the department assigned to the room. If this box is checked, the departments will be used instead of the room’s subject category assignment.

• Do Not Use Departments To Schedule Rooms

If rooms are not assigned to a subject category, the Master Schedule Builder will use the department assigned to the room. If this box is checked, the departments will not be used.

• Ignore Rooms Time Constraints

Individual rooms can have time constraints set where the room is limited to specific periods or terms or meeting days. Check this box to ignore these constraints.

• Ignore Rooms Property Constraints

If room property constraints have been assigned to a subject category, do not use them when scheduling.

The Loader schedules students into sections. Students are scheduled one at a time by the order of the difficulty of their schedule. Those students with more singleton or doubleton requests are scheduled first. The rules can be turned on and off by checking the boxes.

• Use to check or uncheck all. The available rules are:

• None

Do not use any loader rules

• Do Not Schedule Optionals

This will be used in future versions of the Master Schedule Builder but has not yet been implemented.

• Ignore Maximum Section Size

Allow more students to be scheduled for a section than the maximum set in the Subject Category.

• Ignore Student Property Constraints

If student property constraints have been set for a given subject category, do not use them if this is selected.

• Ignore Teacher Maximum Student Load Per Day

Allow teachers to be assigned more than the maximum number of students per period for the day set in the Subject Category.

• Ignore Teacher Maximum Student Load Per Year

Allow teachers to be assigned more than the maximum number of students per period for the year set in the Subject Category.

• Do Not Inherit Property Constraints

If property constraints have been set at a higher subject category level, do not use these constraints at lower levels if this is selected.

• Do Not Schedule Electives

Do not schedule courses designated as electives.

• Do Not Schedule Alternates

Do not schedule courses selected as alternate course requests.

• Ignore All Course Links

Individual courses can be linked, such as a chemistry class could have the lecture and lab courses linked (see the Customizing Individual Options section later in this chapter). Check this box to ignore these links.

• Ignore Teacher Maximum Student Load Per Period

Allow teachers to be assigned more than the maximum number of students per period set in the Subject Category.

• Ignore Teacher Maximum Student Load Per Term

Allow teachers to be assigned more than the maximum number of students per period for the term set in the Subject Category.

• Ignore Room Maximum Capacity

Disregard the maximum size set for each category for rooms

• Observe Max Loader

This rule is usually applied during the final simulation runs. During initial runs, the loader may ignore the maximum class size in order to find a schedule for all students. When this rule is checked, the maximum size is observed.

• Observe Opt Loader  

This rule is usually applied during the final simulation runs. During initial runs, the loader may ignore the optimal class size in order to find a schedule for all students. When this rule is checked, the optimal size is observed.

• Set Exhaustive Loader

This rule is usually applied during the final simulation runs. Normally the loader finds the first conflict-free schedule for each student, or tries until it runs out of time. This may not be the best schedule to balance the needs for all students. If this rule is checked, the loader will evaluate more than one schedule to find the best option while still observing the individual student time limit. This rule may increasing the running time for the simulation.

• Stu Time Limit Loader

The total number in milliseconds the loader should spend loading an individual student’s schedule

• Tot Time Limit Loader

The total number in minutes the loader should take

The Resolver attempts to resolve conflicts in student schedules. The rules can be turned on and off by checking the boxes.

• Use to check or uncheck all. The available rules are:

• None

Do not use any loader rules

• Do Not Schedule Optionals

This will be used in future versions of the Master Schedule Builder but has not yet been implemented.

• Ignore Maximum Section Size

Allow more students to be scheduled for a section than the maximum set in the Subject Category.

• Ignore Student Property Constraints

If student property constraints have been assigned to a subject category, do not use them when scheduling.

• Ignore Teacher Maximum Student Load Per Day

Allow teachers to be assigned more than the maximum number of students per period for the day set in the Subject Category.

• Ignore Teacher Maximum Student Load Per Year

Allow teachers to be assigned more than the maximum number of students per period for the year set in the Subject Category.

• Ignore Room Maximum Capacity

Disregard the maximum size set for each category for rooms

• Do Not Schedule Electives

Do not schedule courses designated as electives.

• Do Not Schedule Alternates

Do not schedule courses selected as alternate course requests.

• Ignore All Course Links

Individual courses can be linked, such as a chemistry class could have the lecture and lab courses linked (see the Customizing Individual Options section later in this chapter). Check this box to ignore these links.

• Ignore Teacher Maximum Student Load Per Period

Allow teachers to be assigned more than the maximum number of students per period set in the Subject Category.

• Ignore Teacher Maximum Student Load Per Term

Allow teachers to be assigned more than the maximum number of students per period for the term set in the Subject Category.

• Do Not Inherit Property Constraints

If property constraints have been set at a higher subject category level, do not use these constraints at lower levels if this is selected.

• Observe Maximums

This rule is usually applied during the final simulation runs. During initial runs, the resolver may ignore the maximum class size in order to find a schedule for all students. When this rule is checked, the maximum size is observed.

• Observe Optimums

This rule is usually applied during the final simulation runs. During initial runs, the resolver may ignore the optimal class size in order to find a schedule for all students. When this rule is checked, the optimal size is observed.

• Run Exhaustive

This rule is usually applied during the final simulation runs. Normally the resolver finds the first conflict-free schedule for each student, or tries until it runs out of time. This may not be the best schedule to balance the needs for all students. If this rule is checked, the resolver will evaluate more than one schedule to find the best option while still observing the individual student time limit. This rule may increasing the running time for the simulation.

• Total Student Time Limit (ms)

The total number in milliseconds the resolver should spend resolving an individual student’s schedule

• Total Time Limit (min)

The total number in minutes the resolver should take

The Balancer looks at the sections that are over the optimum or maximum number of students, and tries to reschedule the students in those sections to create a better balance for those sections without creating more conflicts in the students’ schedules. The rules can be turned on and off by checking the boxes.

• Use to check or uncheck all. The available rules are:

• Do Not Inherit Property Constraints

If property constraints have been set at a higher subject category level, do not use these constraints at lower levels if this is selected.

• Do Not Schedule Electives

Do not schedule courses designated as electives.

• Ignore All Course Links

Individual courses can be linked, such as a chemistry class could have the lecture and lab courses linked (see the Customizing Individual Options section later in this chapter). Check this box to ignore these links.

• Ignore Room Maximum Capacity

Disregard the maximum size set for each category for rooms

• Ignore Teacher Maximum Student Load Per Day

Allow teachers to be assigned more than the maximum number of students per period for the day set in the Subject Category.

• Ignore Teacher Maximum Student Load Per Term

Allow teachers to be assigned more than the maximum number of students per period for the term set in the Subject Category.

• None

Do not use any balancer rules

• Do Not Schedule Alternates

Do not schedule courses selected as alternate course requests.

• Do Not Schedule Optionals

This will be used in future versions of the Master Schedule Builder but has not yet been implemented.

• Ignore Maximum Section Size

Allow more students to be scheduled for a section than the maximum set in the Subject Category.

• Ignore Student Property Constraints

If student property constraints have been assigned to a subject category, do not use them when scheduling.

• Ignore Teacher Maximum Student Load Per Period

Allow teachers to be assigned more than the maximum number of students per period set in the Subject Category.

• Ignore Teacher Maximum Student Load Per Year

Allow teachers to be assigned more than the maximum number of students per period for the year set in the Subject Category.

• Observe Max Balancer

This rule is usually applied during the final simulation runs. During initial runs, the balancer may ignore the maximum class size in order to find a schedule for all students. When this rule is checked, the maximum size is observed.

• Observe Opt Balancer

This rule is usually applied during the final simulation runs. During initial runs, the balancer may ignore the optimal class size in order to find a schedule for all students. When this rule is checked, the optimal size is observed.

• Set Exhaustive Balancer

This rule is usually applied during the final simulation runs. Normally the balancer finds the first conflict-free schedule for each student, or tries until it runs out of time. This may not be the best schedule to balance the needs for all students. If this rule is checked, the balancer will evaluate more than one schedule to find the best option while still observing the individual student time limit. This rule may increasing the running time for the simulation.

• Select Sect Over Opt Bal

If selected, the balancer will try to reduce the number of students assigned to sections that are over the section’s optimal size and will ignore the time limits set for the balancer. This may increase the total running time of the simulation.

• Stu Time Limit Balancer

The total number in milliseconds the balancer should spend balancing an individual student’s schedule

• Tot Time Limit Balancer

The total number in minutes the balancer should take

• Balancer Passes

The number of times the balancer goes through the entire schedule to try to balance the sections

The Reporter produces 20+ reports. This process always runs and cannot be turned off. The rules can be turned on and off by checking the boxes.

• Use to check or uncheck all. The available rules are:

• None

Turn off all reports

• Suppress All Reports Except Summaries

Turns off every report except the Category Summary Report and the Master Schedule Summary Report

• Suppress each specific report

Check the box for each report not to generate.

NOTE: must be processed for Simulation Reports to display.

• Click Simulation Reports tab.

• Click on line of desired report. Report displays or a screen with prompt to save or open. .

• Use any Quick Link to open that screen.

• Check Allow unchecked out users to edit sections, if desired. If this is left unchecked, only the person who checked out the option set may edit sections.

• Click if finished editing tab.