Class timetable generator calculator
Use the form below to generate a balanced weekly timetable for a higher education section, then export the result for planning or reporting.
Example data table
| Course Code | Course Title | Instructor | Sessions / Week | Duration Blocks | Enrollment | Preferred Room Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS101 | Programming Fundamentals | Dr. Ayesha Khan | 3 | 2 | 48 | Lecture |
| CS103 | Data Structures Lab | Engr. Sara Noor | 1 | 3 | 30 | Lab |
| CS106 | Research Methods | Dr. Bilal Raza | 1 | 2 | 35 | Seminar |
| Room Name | Capacity | Room Type |
|---|---|---|
| A101 | 60 | Lecture |
| B201 | 35 | Lab |
| C110 | 40 | Seminar |
Formula used
1. Required Teaching Blocks
Required Teaching Blocks = Σ (Sessions Per Week × Duration Blocks)
2. Weekly Room Capacity
Weekly Room Capacity = Usable Daily Blocks × Active Days × Total Rooms
3. Weekly Utilization
Weekly Utilization = (Scheduled Blocks ÷ Weekly Room Capacity) × 100
4. Completion Rate
Completion Rate = (Scheduled Sessions ÷ Requested Sessions) × 100
5. Room Match Rate
Room Match Rate = (Preferred Room Matches ÷ Scheduled Sessions) × 100
6. Balance Score
Balance Score uses daily block spread. Lower variation across days gives a higher score.
7. Gap Score
Gap Score reduces as idle blocks between scheduled sessions increase.
8. Quality Score
Quality Score = 0.35 × Completion Rate + 0.25 × Balance Score + 0.20 × Room Match Rate + 0.20 × Gap Score
How to use this calculator
- Enter the page title, term, department, section, and campus details.
- Choose active teaching days, the daily teaching window, block length, and breaks.
- Set your scheduling priority, plus the maximum daily and consecutive session limits.
- Paste course rows using the provided format for sessions, duration, enrollment, and room type.
- Paste room rows with room names, capacities, and room types.
- Click Generate timetable to build the timetable above the form.
- Review the weekly grid, detailed schedule, summary metrics, and daily load chart.
- Use the CSV or PDF buttons to export the generated schedule.
FAQs
1. What does this timetable generator calculate?
It builds a weekly class schedule using course demand, room capacity, room type preference, daily time windows, lunch rules, and conflict limits. It also estimates completion rate, utilization, gaps, and timetable quality.
2. Can it detect instructor conflicts?
Yes. The generator prevents overlapping sessions for the same instructor on the same day. It also blocks section clashes and keeps transition breaks between scheduled sessions when required.
3. How are rooms assigned?
Rooms are chosen by availability, capacity fit, and room type preference. The logic tries to place each class in the smallest suitable room first, then falls back to another free room if necessary.
4. Why might some sessions remain unscheduled?
Sessions may stay unscheduled when the daily window is too short, room supply is limited, lunch blocks remove valid starts, or course duration and conflict rules make placement impossible.
5. What is the quality score?
The quality score combines completion rate, balance across days, room matching, and idle gap control. A higher score usually means the timetable is easier to run and more resource efficient.
6. Can I use different scheduling strategies?
Yes. Balanced mode spreads teaching blocks across the week, compact mode reduces gaps, and earliest mode pushes sessions toward earlier hours when several valid slots exist.
7. Does the chart help with planning?
Yes. The Plotly chart shows daily teaching load, making it easier to spot overloaded days, underused days, and possible redistribution opportunities before finalizing the timetable.
8. Can I export the final timetable?
Yes. The page includes CSV and PDF export buttons after a timetable is generated. The CSV is useful for spreadsheet work, while the PDF is useful for printing and sharing.