How to Upload Timetable and Subject Data from Timetabling Solutions

Scope of Subjects Defined

Subjects are defined in TASS.web Student Admin > Students Records > Setup Information > Student Records Setup on the 'Subjects' tab. If a Subject is referenced in Timetabling Solutions, then it must be defined in TASS.web.

Year Groups

The Year Groups used in TASS.web must also be referenced with the same year group numbers in Timetabling Solutions. The field 'Roll Class' in Timetabling Solutions must be set up with the same year groups as in TASS.web.

Subject Codes and Class Codes

The subject code in Timetabling Solutions must identify both the subject and the class group, e.g. the code 'ENGA' May be used for English class group A. However, in TASS.web these are stored in different fields, e.g. The Subject Code '0001' may be used to identify English with the code 'A' to identify the Class Group within this subject.

TASS.web requires you to define a translation table (TASS.web Student Admin > Timetable > External Data Interface > Define Subject/Class Translations) which defines the TASS.web Subject Code and Class Code for each of the Subject Codes used in Timetabling Solutions.

Teacher Code

The same Teacher Codes must be used in TASS.web and Timetabling Solutions. Teacher Codes in TASS.web may be up to 3 alphanumeric characters in length and must be unique (TASS.web Student Admin > Teacher Records > Teacher Information > Teachers).

Room Code

The same Room Codes must be used in TASS.web and Timetabling Solutions. Room Codes in TASS.web may be up to 20 alphanumeric characters in length and must be unique (TASS.web Student Admin > Timetable > Setup Information > Timetable Setup in the 'Rooms' tab).

Days

The days defined and referenced in Timetabling Solutions must be defined within TASS.web Student Admin > Timetable > Setup Information > Timetable Setup in the 'Days' tab.

Periods

The Periods defined and referenced in Timetabling Solutions must be defined within TASS.web Student Admin > Timetable > Setup Information > Timetable Setup in the 'Periods' tab.

Student Code

Where you wish to import student subject selections and subject class allocations into TASS.web from Timetabling Solutions, then the TASS.web Student Codes must also be used in Timetabling Solutions to identify each student.

In essence, there must be a high degree of consistency between TASS.web and Timetabling Solutions before the timetable data can be imported into TASS.web. The import process uses the externally generated timetable data to formulate the 'Master Timetable' within TASS.web. Each row or record in the TASS.web Master Timetable comprises:

1. Day Code.

2. Period Code.

3. Subject Code.

4. Class Code.

5. Year Group (Year Group is not used if the Timetable is unitised).

6. Room Code.

7. Teacher Code.

These seven fields make up what we term a 'cell' within the TASS.web Master Timetable. Each cell within the Master Timetable must conform to this framework and MUST have a valid entry for each field. If for example, you wish to timetable 'Form Class' as a lesson, the 'Form Class' must be first set up as a subject then linked to each student it is to effect. Additionally, teachers must be defined who take each Form Class.

There are a number of complex issues in linking externally generated timetable data into TASS.web. These areas should be fully explored with your TASS Support Staff Member if you are unsure of their ramifications.

Create Export Files from the Timetabling Solutions

Timetabling Solutions allows for the export of timetable and student subject data to text files which can be uploaded into TASS.web. Refer to the user documentation supplied with Timetabling Solutions if you require any more information on creating these files.

Exporting the Master Timetable

The text file TTABLE.TXT can be exported from Timetabling Solutions. This file contains the Master Timetable. Each row in this file comprises at least 6 fields and up to 12 fields depending upon a school's configuration set within Timetabling Solutions, the first six fields are always:

1. Day.

2. Period.

3. Roll Class.

4. Subject/Class.

5. Room.

6. Teacher.

In Timetabling Solutions Version 3 and Version 4, The TTABLE.TXT file is generated by selecting the 'save' button on the home page. You need to respond with 'Yes' when asked if you want the export file.

The TTABLE.TXT file will be saved in Timetabling Solutions area on your system, and you will then need to note where the file has been saved to locate the file when you are ready to upload.

In Timetabling Solutions Version 5, to make this process easier for you, the TTABLE.TXT file is generated by selecting the Database Menu on the Timetable Development home page, then the item, Save (Include Export Files). You will then be given a message saying that your files have been saved, click OK, then you will be prompted to choose a folder to save the export files into. Select the folder then click OK. If your school is on the optional Software Maintenance Agreement with Timetabling Australia, this folder is automatically remembered, and you are prompted to it the next time you want to export files to TASS.web.

Users of earlier versions of the Timetabling Solutions software should contact Timetabling Solutions.

Exporting Student Subjects

The text file SCOURSE.TXT can be exported from Timetabling Solutions. This file contains the subject information for each Student.

For Timetabling Solutions versions prior to Version 4, each row in this file comprises four fields:

1. 'Student Code'.

2. 'Student Name'.

3. 'Roll Class'.

4. 'Class/Subject'.

For Timetabling Solutions Version 4 and Version 5, each row in this file comprises by default eight fields:

1. 'Student Code'.

2. 'Student Name'.

3. 'Roll Class'.

4. 'Class/Subject'.

5. 'Gender'.

6. 'House'.

7. 'Home Group'.

8. 'Year Level'.

There will be one row in this file for each subject for each student.

Your school may have had Timetabling Solutions configured to have extra fields added; the first eight fields are always as that shown above.

In Timetabling Solutions Version 3 and Version 4, the SCOURSE.TXT file is generated when the 'File | Student Classes' item is chosen and then any 'save' button is selected (before leaving the 'File | Student Classes' item).

The SCOURSE.TXT file will be saved in the Timetabling Solutions area on your system, and you will then need to note where the file has been saved to locate the file when you are ready to upload.

In Timetabling Solutions Version 5, to make this process easier for you, the TTABLE.TXT file is generated by selecting the Database Menu on the Timetable Development home page, then the item, Save (Include Export Files). You will then be given a message saying that your files have been saved, click 'OK', then you will be prompted to choose a folder to save the export files into. Select the folder then click 'OK'. If your school is on the optional Software Maintenance Agreement with Timetabling Australia, this folder is automatically remembered, and you are prompted to it the next time you want to export files to TASS.

Users of earlier versions of the Timetabling Solutions software should contact Timetabling Solutions.

Importing the Master Timetable into TASS.web

Follow the steps in this section to import the master timetable file into TASS.web. 

This step-by-step guide describes the correct completion of steps within TASS.web. 

Refer to the 'Exporting the Master Timetable' section of this document (above) for a brief guide to creating the master timetable export file from Timetabling Solutions.

Define Import Format

TASS.web Student Admin > Timetable > External Data Interface > Define Import Format.

The master timetable file (TTABLE.TXT) generated by Timetabling Solutions usually contains 9 or 10 fields of data for each row in the file.

An example of a valid row within this file is: '1','3','12','ENGA','P42','AJ','??','??','??' etc.

General Tab

The following fields will need to contain the following data in the 'General' tab:

Field	Details
Total Number of Fields in Import Record	Usually, 9 or 10 depending upon the configuration set in the Timetabling Solutions. To check this, you may need to look at the file TTABLE.TXT with Notepad or Wordpad.
Imported data fields are delimited with	,
Imported data strings are quoted	Y/N Flag field. To check this, you may need to look at the file TTABLE.TXT with Notepad or Wordpad. Example: Quoted — '1','3','12','ENGA','P42','AJ' Not Quoted — 1, 3, 12, ENGA, P42, AJ
Imported data records are delimited with	1.
Use subject/class translations	Y.

Fields Tab

The following fields will need to contain the following data in the 'Fields' tab:

Select 'Save' to commit your entry and/or changes to the TASS.web database.

Define Subject/Class Translations

TASS.web Student Admin > Timetable > External Data Interface > Define Subject/Class Translations.

This program provides for the setup of a table of translations for each subject code used in Timetabling Solutions into the TASS.web Subject Code and the Class Group identifier.

Import Data

TASS.web Student Admin > Timetable > External Data Interface > Import Data.

This program allows you to upload the file TTABLE.TXT that you exported from Timetabling Solutions.

General Tab

The following fields will need to contain the following data in the 'General' tab:

Import from Field Number	Into Column
Timetable	The timetable defined in TASS.web Student Admin > Timetable > Setup Information > Timetable Setup on the 'Timetable Definitions' tab to which you wish to import this data. ❗ Important! Only applicable in Multi-Timetable mode.
Year	The year defined against the timetable selected in the previous step.
Semester / Term	The term/semester defined against the aforementioned year as defined in TASS.web Student Admin > Timetable > Setup Information > Timetable Setup.
Year Group	The nominated year group for which to filter the records being uploaded. If used, then only the records in the file that contain the year group will be loaded into the system.
File Name	Select the 'Browse' button and navigate to locate the correct file. Select the file and click 'Open' to select the file.

Select the 'GO' button to proceed with uploading the file.

This program will check that there is data in all 6 fields in every row of this file — this includes the teacher and room codes. It also checks that all Timetabling Solutions subject codes have translations defined in the 'Define Subject Class/Translations' screen. Any rows that fail this initial validation will NOT be imported. The system will provide a report that lists the exceptions.

You can either fix the data back in the external timetable package and start the whole upload process again, or you can proceed with the upload 'as is'.

Validate Imported Data

This program goes through the imported data and checks each row and field to ensure that data is valid.

If validation errors are found, these rows will be displayed on the screen highlighted in yellow. You can fix these validation issues on the screen by using the 'Edit' or 'Delete' Action links.  Alternatively, you can correct the data back in Timetabling Solutions and re-import the file again.

The 'Print' tab enables the user to print an 'Exception Report' containing the records that are not valid. 

If the validation is successful, a message will be displayed, and you will be taken automatically to the 'Generate Master Timetable' program.

Generate Master Timetable

Run this program to take the validated data and generate the actual timetable cells in the TASS.web Master Timetable Table (ttmast).

The following fields will need to contain the following data in the 'General' tab:

Select the 'GO' button to proceed with generating the Master Timetable.

If there is existing data in the selected Year/Semester, a warning will be displayed. 

Press 'OK' to proceed with the import which will replace the existing timetable data for the Year/Semester OR click 'Cancel' to abort the import.

The master timetable has now been imported into TASS.web.

Importing Student Subjects

Follow the steps in this section to import the student subjects' file into TASS.web. 

This step-by-step guide describes the correct completion of steps within TASS. Refer to the 'Exporting Student Subjects' section of this document above for a brief guide to creating the student subjects export file from Timetabling Solutions.

Import Student Subject Data

The file SCOURSE.TXT will have one row per student/subject with Field #1 being the student code and field #4 being the subject and class code (e.g. 'ENGA').

Example:

• For Timetabling Solutions Versions prior to Version 4: '18992','Bell Andrew','12','ENGA'

• For Timetabling Solutions Version 4 and Version 5: '18992','Bell Andrew','12','ENGA','M','BA','5','12' 

This program takes the SCOURSE.TXT file that you exported from Timetabling Solutions and loads it into the TASS.web student subject table. The file can reside anywhere on your network provided you can navigate to it.

General Tab

The following fields will need to contain the following data in the 'General' tab:

Field	Details
Year of Study	The required timetable year into which to import the student subject data.
Current Semester	The required term/semester within the timetabled year into which to import the student subject data.
Total Number of Fields in Import Record	4 or 8. Refer above to The Timetabling Solutions Version Number, or the number of fields can be checked by using Notepad or WordPad.
Imported data fields are delimited with	,
Imported data strings are quoted	Y is default or N if the user has changed it.
Imported data records are delimited with	1
Use subject/class translations	Y
Import File	Select the 'Browse' button and navigate to the correct file to be uploaded.
File Format	Select the 'The Timetabling Solutions Format' option to indicate The Timetabling Solutions file type.
Import Options	Select from the following options: Preserve Existing Data: This option will preserve existing student subject data in TASS.web and therefore will only add new subject records that do not currently exist for each student. Overwrite existing with new data: This option will overwrite the existing data with new data. For example, if a student's TASS.web record shows English Class A and the upload file has English Class B, then the TASS.web record will be updated to English Class B. It will also add new subject records that do not currently exist for each student. Remove ALL existing and create new: This option will initially delete all TASS.web subject records for the chosen year and semester for each student in the upload file. It will then upload the new subject records. ❗ Take great care when using this option. It should NOT be used for a year and semester where student results and comments have already been entered. Remove all existing EXCLUDING non-timetabled: This option will remove all existing subject records, excluding those that are non-timetabled.

Note that the difference between Option 2 and 3 is that with Option 2 existing subject records in TASS that are not referenced in the upload file will be left unchanged in TASS.

Select the 'GO' button to proceed with importing student subject data.