Scheduling a course with a fixed duration

[matoats]

Hello to UniTime Team!

In our institution we provide short courses that do not span over weeks or repeat during the year.
For example, a recurrent training for a group of professionals lasts 8 hours and consists of several modules (2 hrs equipment, 1 hr door trainer, 2 hrs procedures etc). This training is given to a specific group of students as a single course which only takes one day and doesn't repeat for this group anymore during the year.

During the day we may provide such training for 3 to 8 groups, it all depends on organization request and we cannot predict any stable frequency.

I assume each recurrent training course is an instructional offering. For testing purposes I created 5 instructional offerings with 8 hrs duration each and divided them into subparts according to training locations. The solver creates the timetable nicely arranging the courses within the week, but it repeats this layout every week in the month.

Our depth of planning is 1 - 2 month maximum. If we expect 3 groups of students during the month (just for example, in fact we have many more), we need that each of three courses takes place only once a month and doesn't repeat each week. May we somehow limit the maximum course duration, e.g. 63 units (45*8/5) for UniTime doesn't exceed this limit and doesn't repeat classes next week if the maximum duration has already been arranged? Or probably there could be some Minutes-per-Academic Session time pattern instead of Minutes-per-Week...
I tried to set a single-day Date Pattern for each course, picking a certain day in the calendar, it worked but had very little difference from manual planning.

Thank you!

[tomas-muller]

It is possible to use UniTime to timetable individual meetings that are not repeating. The usual way is setup a date pattern for each week (e.g., Week 1, Week 2, ...) and another date pattern (e.g., named 1x) of the Alternative Pattern Set type that contains all the single-week date patterns. Now, when the 1x date pattern is used for the class, the solver can choose a week during which the class will take place. In this setup, it is also possible to put a preference for each week, or event require/prohibit certain weeks of the 1x date pattern.

For an example, please see the Splitting a Class question from our FAQs. The second part of the answer shows an example where a class meets irregularly, three times a semester.

[matoats]

Another problem occured. I've created an Alternative pattern which includes 4 separate weeks in a month and set it to the course. Now the solver arranges only one course a month (which was my primary goal). But randomly puts all 8 classes, of which the couse consists, randomly in 4 weeks. The single course is now spread over the month.
Previously I set the Distribution preference to "Same Days".

When a Month Date Pattern was selected with Same Days distribution, all classes were arranged in one day, but the course repeated each week.
With Alternative date pattern and Same Days distribution STILL selected, there is only one course, but classes are distributed among 4 weeks.

[tomas-muller]

I am not sure what the issue is. Do you need the single-week classes (of a course) to be in the same week? You can use the preferred/required Same Weeks distribution for that. Or do you need them to be in different weeks? You can sue the discouraged/prohibited Same Seeks distribution for that.

[matoats]

Okay, I'll try to be accurate.

I teach a course, it lasts 8 hrs, consists of 6 adjacent classes (with different locations and instructors) combined together in one single day. The course is taught only once and doesn't repeat.
I created 1 test course, set Same Day distribution. The solver built the course just the way I wanted - 6 classes in one day, but it repeated the course each week (see attached image).

Then I applied your previous solution to create an Alternative Date pattern (combined of 4 separate weeks), set the Same Days distribution again. The solver now builds just one course a month like I wanted, but splits it into classes randomly over the monts. Same Days distribution setting is on! Also I tried Same Weeks distribution - no effect. Attached is a screenshot of what it looks like. I need the classes to stick together like in the previous variant.

So, I need a course to be taught just one day a month, all 6 classes in one day.

Thank you.

[tomas-muller]

The Same Days distribution only ensure that the classes are taught on the same day (or days) of the week. If you need them to be in the same week, also add Required Same Weeks distribution (it ensures that the classes have the same date pattern).

[matoats]

OMG, that worked beautifully.

I wish I could be of any help in return...