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Implementation of a time table generator using visual Basic.Net

Article · May 2012

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 VOL. 7, NO. 5, MAY 2012 ISSN 1819-6608
ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
©2006-2012 Asian Research Publishing Network (ARPN). All rights reserved.

www.arpnjournals.com

IMPLEMENTATION OF A TIME TABLE GENERATOR

USING VISUAL BASIC.NET
Joseph M. Mom and Jonathan A. Enokela
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria
E-Mail: [email protected]

ABSTRACT
A lecture and examination Timetable Generator (TTGen) for the Department of Electrical and Electronics
Engineering, University of Agriculture, Makurdi-Nigeria was designed and implemented using Microsoft’s Visual
Basic.Net and MySQL database server as a backend. The application has the ability to manage Students, Lecturers,
Venues, Periods, and Courses of the Department. It also features an image handling module for the lecturer, student and
venue objects. The data from the application is saved in a MySQL database using a configurable database module and a
randomizer module to generate the best combination of courses and periods for an efficient time table. Using the TTGen,
lecture and examination timetables with no infringements for the first semester of the 2009/2010 academic session were
generated after only eight iteration steps. The timetable generator is capable of arranging timetable schedules for many
departments and faculties of universities and similar institutions where course units are offered.

Keywords: timetable generator, visual basic.net, MySQL server, randomizer, database.

INTRODUCTION Though offering portability with continuous

A timetable is an organized list usually set out in presence on the web, they are quite rigid and lack
a tabular form, providing information about a series of documentation or manuals for their use [6].
arranged events and the time at which it is planned for The focus of this paper is to design and
these events to take place. The essence of timetables is the implement a cheap and affordable timetable generator
management of mostly time resources which are scarce in suitable for use in an academic institution. This becomes
relation to the aims they are to fulfill. Several versions of very advantageous since at the beginning of every
timetables have been designed and implemented at various semester there is need for a framework that would guide
times. The Time Table Mate developed by KTS InfoTech, the learning process for the students and staff members
is a program for creating timetables [1]. It can be really throughout its duration. In creating the timetable, several
helpful for people who are responsible for this part of factors such as minimum number of hours per week,
educational process in schools and colleges. It can swiftly availability of course lecturer, dropped or carry over
create small database of subjects, rooms, tutors and courses, availability of lecture halls or venues, and study
classes. hours approved by the institution were put into
TTMaker, which is the Root Software's advanced consideration. These factors are many and they form the
scheduling software, provides several functions needed to limitations or problems inherent in manually creating an
create a perfect timetable [2]. Its 1.8 version is free but effective and time economizing timetable. The timetable
caters to groups which are to be scheduled and facilitates generator software was developed with the aid of the
when groups can be scheduled, how often they can be Microsoft Visual Basic.Net and MySQL database server.
scheduled, when participants can be scheduled and the The use of the computer based solution is better suited for
number of consecutive timeslots to allocate when a group this purpose due to the number of iterations needed to
is scheduled and travel time between timeslots for adequately satisfy the various variables. The TTGen will
participants. This makes this solution not to fit exactly in be able to generate timetables for several levels of study,
the educational sector. and a visual representation of the timetable can be viewed
ASTICE Time Table, made by Astice Srl, is a and simplified by filtering some properties such as level,
smart diary and personal organizer designed as a universal days of the week or hours. The timetable representation
tool for resource management, appointment booking, time can be exported as Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)
managing and scheduling [3]. It can manage physical and Microsoft Excel as desired.
resources like equipment, machines, rooms or premises. It
caters to mainly human resource management such as the MATERIALS AND METHODS
setting up of a duty roster for the employees or managing
appointments for a veterinary surgeon. iMagic Timetable Classes
Master, developed by iMagic, is a scheduling application The major driving force behind object-oriented
for Windows [4]. programming is the use of Classes that allows for writing
Other solutions include web applications like My of code that can be reused in multiple projects [7]. Classes
Class Schedule! ™ created by Chris Huang [5] and are defined which include Period, Venue, Course, lecturer,
Rectangles by Nik Youdale (Frontend) and Matthew M J Student, Tag, and Timetable. Each of these classes has a
Conolly (Backend) of the University of New South Wales.

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©2006-2012 Asian Research Publishing Network (ARPN). All rights reserved.

www.arpnjournals.com

unique string identifier ID and defined properties based on

specific characteristics of the class.

Modules
The modules which represent separate units of
functionality are helper classes which handle the utilities
of the application. The TTGen includes the following
modules:
a) Database: The database module handles all Input and
Output (IO) operations to the MySQL database
backend such as read, write and delete.
b) Image: The image module manages all picture data
based on the ID of the parent in a repository.
c) Input and Output (IO): The IO module handles files
with the HTML and Microsoft Excel formats and
provides methods for reading and writing to these
files.
d) Randomizer: The randomizer module handles the
generation of a random integer when given the
minimum and maximum bounds. This module is used
in the iteration functions of the time table.

Interface
The Graphical User Interface (GUI) is closely
tied to the TTGen classes and is divided into three levels:
a) Form: the form is the base of the GUI. There is a
home or parent form under which all other forms fall
(child forms) which handles the classes. A child form
contains a control, lists and menus.
b) Control: Every child form has a control which
displays the class which the form handles.
c) List: Every child form has a list which displays all
instances of a particular class as icons with an Figure-1. Flow chart for the TTGen.
identifying text. The child form also contains another
list showing the dependant items of objects in the
main list.

Implementation flow chart

The TTGen was compiled and implemented
using the flow chart and block diagram shown in Figures 1
and 2, respectively.

Figure-2. Block diagram of the TTGen.

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©2006-2012 Asian Research Publishing Network (ARPN). All rights reserved.

www.arpnjournals.com

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS The user: password

After successful debugging and compilation of the The ‘user: password’ pair is the identification and
program, the TTGen software was installed on a computer. authentication token. The database requires a user identity and a
Figure-3 shows the opening screen of a successful TTGen password for all Input/output operations performed on the
installation. The array of objects that the TTGen manages has database.
different properties which are collectively used to implement the
program. A click on each of sub menu classes will fire a The image repository
subroutine which will give options to add, edit, delete, save, This a full path to a folder, located either locally or
cancel, refresh, search, export or import. With these options all remotely on a network or computer, where all images such as
the various classes can be modified as necessary. In the Settings lecturer, student or venues pictures are stored. A typical value
tab, (Figure-3), are 5 important variables that may affect the could be ‘C: \users\Public\Pictures.
performance of generation of a timetable and determine the
efficiency and accuracy of the program. The iteration maximum
This is an integer value which sets the maximum
The server: port number of possible iterations needed for efficient generation of a
This is a value pair of which ‘server’ represents timetable with minimal infringements or clashes. This value is an
computer name or Internet Protocol (IP) address and ‘port’ is the important factor in the duration of timetable iterations.
port number MySQL server listens for requests. The values of these settings can be viewed and set by
right-clicking on their icons, which displays a menu consisting of
The Database Edit and Refresh. An efficient TTgen using this application can
This contains all the tables used by the TTGen for the be created by following 3 basic steps; independent object
storage and retrieval of courses, lecturers, venues and other definition, dependency definition, and proper iteration. The
necessary data. results of using the various variables such as lecturer, student’s
details and courses offered to generate lecture and examination
timetables are shown in Figures 6 to 9.

Figure-3. Menu tabs of the TTGen.

Figure-4. Links between timetable objects.

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ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
©2006-2012 Asian Research Publishing Network (ARPN). All rights reserved.

www.arpnjournals.com

Figure-5. Selecting lecturer.

Figure-6. Selecting student.

Figure-7. Student course registration.

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ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
©2006-2012 Asian Research Publishing Network (ARPN). All rights reserved.

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Figure-8. Lecture timetable.

Figure-9. Examination timetable.

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ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
©2006-2012 Asian Research Publishing Network (ARPN). All rights reserved.

www.arpnjournals.com

CONCLUSIONS
The TTGen as an application for generating
lecture and examination timetables has been effectively
and successfully deployed. The efficiency of this easy to
use software is shown to generate a zero clash timetable in
only eight iterations. The data used in generating the
timetable such as student’s and lecturer’s data can also be
used for other purposes such as managing students in their
respective course registration processes. The TTGen is
equipped with explicit and easily interpreted output files
(HTML and Excel). The Excel files aid in bulk import of
data thus making this application user friendly.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We acknowledge the contributions of Stephen O.
Igwue, Gabriel Ugalahi, Acheme C. Acheme, of the
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering,
University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria, to this work.

REFERENCES

[1] 2010. Timetable Mate, http://www.timetablemate.info

[2] 2010. TT Maker,

http://www.rootsoftware.com/features.php4

[3] 2010. ASTICE Timetable, www.astice-srl.com

[4] 2010. iMagic Timetable Master

http://www.imagictimetablesoftware.com

[5] Chris H. 2010. My Class Schedule! ™,

http://www.sealandserpent.org/schedgen/
schedulegenerator.php

[6] Nik Y. (Frontend) and Matthew M. J. C. (Backend).

2010. Rectangles,
http://mahler.cse.unsw.edu.au/rectanges

[7] Evangelos P. 2002. Mastering Visual Basic®.NET.

SYBEX Inc. Alabama, CA.

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