timetabling software for scheduling school timetables

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
about TimeTabler

1.  Is it a well-known timetabling program ?  Is it reliable ?
2.  What machines will it run on ?
3.  Can TimeTabler export to SIMS .net and other MIS ?
4.  Can it deal with big schools ?

5.  Aren’t all timetabling programs the same ?
6.  Where is TimeTabler used at present ?
7.  Does it link to other software ?
8.  Does it run in Windows ?

9.  How can I learn how to use TimeTabler ?  Do I need a course ?
10. What does the Tutorial consist of ?
11. How do I get the HelpLine support ?
12. How do I get hold of the free Tutorial ?

13. Do I get a manual with the program ?
14. Who are we ?
15. How much does TimeTabler cost ?  And how can I order it ?
16. What do the screens look like ?
 

 
 
Is it a well-known timetabling program ?  Is it reliable ?

Yes !  It is used by hundreds of schools and colleges, in all parts of the UK and across the world in over 60 countries.
 
It has been continuously developed by Keith Johnson, Chris Johnson and the TimeTabler Team over a period of thirty years.
Keith is a very experienced timetabler, and has run many courses on timetabling.
He wrote the standard book on UK school timetabling, ‘Timetabling - A Timetabler's CookBook’.
 
Please do not confuse Keith Johnson's TimeTabler software with other programs with similar names.
TimeTabler is the original and still the best.
 
To see what other people think about it, click here.
 
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What machines will it run on? 
A PC with Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7, etc.  It does not need any special cards or additions.
Apple-Mac users can run it (and quickly) under Parallels or VMWare; Linux users under VMWare.
The licence allows you to install it on as many machines as you wish, at home & at school, as long as they are only for the purposes of your school or college.
 
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Can it export to SIMS .net and other MIS? 
Yes, you can transfer the completed timetable from TimeTabler to SIMS .net (electronically).
It uses exactly the same import wizard that Nova T6 uses. We are an official Capita-SIMS Partner.
You can also export-import to many other programs and MIS (Management Information Systems), such as Serco-Facility (CMIS), Phoenix, WCBS/PASS, RM Integris, iSAMS, SchoolBase, School2000, etc, etc.
We supply full documentation for each export-import.  
 
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Can it deal with big schools ? 

TimeTabler will cope easily with the largest school.
For example, it allows up to 400 staff, and up to 250 rooms !
And up to 250 periods in the timetable week !
And it is intuitive & friendly for the largest or the smallest school.
 
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Aren’t all timetabling programs the same ? 

No, they aren’t!  TimeTabler contains features that are not found in other programs.
For example, some other programs only store your decisions, they don’t actually do any scheduling for you, or they may do only a limited amount.  And most timetabling programs are written by programmers who may never have done a real timetable themselves!

TimeTabler has very special features, so that:

• it helps you to prioritise, to see which lessons should be fitted first,
• it lets you work interactively with the computer, to ‘drive’ through the timetable,
• if you hit a problem, it finds ‘musical-chairs’ solutions for you to use, quickly,
• it will do a timetable automatically if you wish, so that you can quickly do ‘What if’ trial runs.

Note : Do not confuse this program (Keith Johnson's TimeTabler) with other programs with similar names.

Some other programs look more complicated (and less friendly) than TimeTabler -- but the real question is whether they do the job well, and find good solutions to your timetable problems.
Read here what Users say about TimeTabler !  Outstanding comments !

If you are currently timetabling manually, click here to see the advantages of using TimeTabler.
 
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Where is TimeTabler used at present ?  It is used in over 70 countries round the world. It is used in Secondary Schools of all sizes, Preparatory schools, ‘Sixth form’ and FE Colleges, High Schools, Middle schools, Primary schools, and Special schools. (It has also been used for special purposes by Government departments & Trade delegations, Army Camps & Police Training Schools, Dance Academies & Drama Schools, University departments, etc, etc.)         Click here to see why TimeTabler is better than other programs.
		‘I didn't have time to do it this year - so I've bought this one from St. Mary's’

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Does it link to other software ?

Yes, in 3 ways:

1.	Export to your Admin System (MIS) You can transfer your complete final timetable data electronically into SIMS .net, Serco-Facility (CMIS), Phoenix, WCBS/PASS, RM Integris, iSAMS, SchoolBase, School2000, I.E.S and other school Admin Systems, or spreadsheets, using the Export part of the program.  More details here .
2.	To the Options-Electives program TimeTabler also exports to the Options program.  This analyses your students’ choices and organises them quickly & efficiently into a cost-effective Options Pattern. It also prints out individual timetables for your students, and detailed Group Lists for your colleagues.  More details here.
3.	To the StaffCover program TimeTabler also exports to a program called StaffCover.  This uses the data from TimeTabler to help you to quickly organise the daily cover for absent staff.  More details here.

You can download free Tutorials for both Options and StaffCover, as well as TimeTabler.

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Does it run in Windows ? 

Yes, all our software runs under Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7, etc.

The Teachers Screen
(you can see more examples of the Windows screens by clicking here).

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How can I learn how to use TimeTabler ?  Do I need to take a course ?

No, we find that even people who are doing their first ever timetable don’t need to take a course.  
Because...
• There is a free Tutorial pack, with a step-by-step Tutorial Booklet,
• Every screen in TimeTabler has an interactive HelpScreen,
• And there is a full printed Manual with lots of Worked Examples,
• The Manual includes a QuickStart Guide,
• The HelpMovie Library includes over 50 HelpMovies (video tutorials),
• There are free downloads on timetabling principles,
• And the program is very carefully designed to be friendly and intuitive,
• There is a monthly eNewsLetter to remind you what to do each month,
• Above all, there is full HelpLine Support Centre, with a large KnowledgeBase, and support by experienced timetablers.
More details here.

However if you decide you need a course, see here.
And if you want a Book on Timetabling Principles, see 'The Timetabler's CookBook'.

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What does the Tutorial consist of ? 

The free Tutorial (from the Downloads page) includes:

•  the TimeTabler program  (it’s a fully-working version except that you can’t change the teachers’ names),
•  with demonstration data already loaded, to save you time, and
•  a 24-page A4 booklet, which takes you step-by-step through the main features of the program.
•  if you are new to timetabling, the booklet also gives you an introduction to timetabling principles.

It takes about 1¼ - 1½ hours to work through the Tutorial, during which time you’ll schedule at least one timetable.  Try it!

There are separate free Tutorials for Options and for StaffCover.  Visit the Downloads page.

If you are New to Timetabling, then you will find help here.

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How do I get the HelpLine support ? 

Contact us.  There are normally two of us on the HelpLine, Keith Johnson and Paul Murphy, both experienced timetablers, with other experienced timetablers acting as Associates.
One of us is usually available on 0161-865-7584, during UK day-time working hours only please.
Or you can use e-mail at any time.  email is usually best, because you can read and re-read the detailed reply. Or you can visit the 24/7 HelpLine Support Centre.

This HelpLine Support is available to give you detailed help on using the program and applying it to your particular school or college (for more details see the Order Form).
You can use the HelpLine freely before you buy TimeTabler, to discuss how apply it to your school or college, in as much detail as you wish.
e-mail Keith or Paul to discuss your curriculum plan & timetabling problems.  They have over 60 years of timetabling experience between them.
 
To see what Users think of the Support we provide, click here.

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How do I get hold of the free Tutorial ? 

Just download it by requesting it from the download page.  You need the software and the PDF to print out the step-by-step Booklet.
Or (more slowly) we can send it to you on CD by mail.

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Do I get a printed manual with the program ?  Yes, there is a comprehensive fully-illustrated Manual (190pp, A4) provided with the full program. As well as covering all aspects of the program in detail, it also includes: a big section detailing many timetabling ‘tricks’, tips, and hints, a big section of Worked Examples, showing different curricular patterns and how to tackle them, a QuickStart Guide, flow-charts to guide you quickly through standard tasks, data-grids to help you to collect your timetabling data, examples of the formats you can print out to publish your final result. In addition, all our programs include detailed context-sensitive HelpScreens, with friendly inter-active images to explain each part of the program.   And on the CD and in the Support Centre there are over 20 HelpMovies (video tutorials). To see some Samples of the HelpMovies, click here. If you are new to timetabling, there are also Inservice Training Materials on general timetabling principles, here, and on the INSET page of this web-site, and in the CookBook.

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Who are we ?

The name of our company is October ReSolutions Ltd.
We have been supplying timetabling software since 1978 (!) when Keith Johnson first wrote some simple timetabling programs. In the thirty years since then, the program has been continuously developed and improved by Keith and Chris Johnson and the TimeTabler Team.  No other timetabling software in the world has such a long pedigree.
 
Keith is the author of the standard 'bible' on 'Timetabling - A Timetabler's CookBook'.
 
TimeTabler has been bought by over a thousand schools in the UK and in 70 countries across the world.
The fact that we are Teachers & Timetablers as well as Programmers means that we provide software that schools want and need.
Our active and daily involvement in timetabling means that TimeTabler remains a state-of-the-art solution to any timetabling problem you may face.

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How much does the complete TimeTabler program and Manual cost ?
And how can I order it ?    How do I order an Upgrade ?

The price depends on whether it a completely new purchase or whether you are upgrading from a previous version of TimeTabler, or upgrading from another program, but a new purchase is roughly equivalent to just three days’ pay for a senior teacher.  More details are given on the Order Form.
email us if you want the Order Form in a different currency.

This price includes the Program, the fully-illustrated 190-page Manual, HelpLine Support, site-wide licence fee, regular Upgrades, and incorporates extra utility programs so you can transfer timetables (and so work at home and/or at school), and with the Export section to export your data to an Admin system.

To order an Upgrade, click here.
     

Orders should be sent to: Chris Johnson October ReSolutions Ltd 3 Crown Green, Lymm, Cheshire, WA13   9JG, United Kingdom FAX:  (+44) (0) 1925-75-2030 Telephone:  (+44) (0) 161-865-7584 during UK day-time working hours only please. e-mail:  keith@timetabler.com
		‘Yes, I know Science is missing - but can't we do that next year?’

Queries about the use of the programs can be made by email (to Keith Johnson, Paul Murphy or an Associate).
We can discuss any queries in as much detail as you wish, ...for as long as you wish, ...until you are sure the software will do what you want.

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If you have any queries, please e-mail them to: support@timetabler.com 
We will answer any questions you may have about using the software with your particular curriculum.

 
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