Automatic Timetabling

Traditional data based applications

Most of us are familiar with software which essentially stores and retreves data. Such "database" systems usually permit users to view the data in different ways and to obtain reports.

The Neeps program alone is such a system. You put information in and can get information out. Naturally the quality, accuracy and level of detail of the data is entirely down to the user - Neeps does not do anything smart.

Tatties

Tatties is likely to be unlike any software you have used. Tatties actually places the data for you. It performs calculation on a scale which quite remarkable. Typically Tatties will evaulate a thousand timetables per minute. What is does is to place all the event in rooms and timeslots at random^*, when it has completed this it evaluates the timetable - it counts the number of clashes, the number of missed lunches, the number of late days... It keeps track of the best timetables; and, if required, passes that information back to Neeps.

The data that you get back is "better" in some sense than the data you put in.

Imposing restrictions

Tatties will place anything anywhere and any time it can. To use Neeps & Tatties successfully you must carefully restrict the placements. If you don't stop it Tatties will place chemistry lessons in music rooms and sociology lectures on in the mornings.

It should be possible to enter whatever restrictions are required - but finding out the best way to do this is the main problem for the Tatties assisted timetabler.