Printing timetables from SIMs

[casper]

We have this problem - we've just moved to a new 19 period timetable and apparently NOVA-T 6 does like this so it has to be ported to SIMS.net to print. The problem is that the print is so small that you'd need a magnifying glass to read it. Anyone have similiar problems and more importantly have a solution?

[Byterunner]

Casper,

I know there is a bit in Nova-T that you can change the default contents of the timetable cell and I think the font size. But if NOVA-T isn't liking this then the quickest thing to do might be to blow up the TT from A4 to A3 on copier. (If your copier is wired in to C2K then you can print direct.)



But for a TT by form I "print" each form to a CSV file and then assemble them together on a spreadsheet - Monday 1, Monday 2, Monday 3  .... Friday 8, Friday 9 across the top; U6, L6, 5,4 .... 1 down the side. I then print this out on 6 A3 sheets. There is a lot of adjusting row sizes, borders, etc. but you only ever have to do that once - the following year clear all the data on the old spreadsheet, leaving the formatting behind and pour the 7 csv files in. Bingo!



(By adjusting the page breaks, you can get a timetable for each form to fit front and back on an A4 sheet. Magnifying glass not supplied)



There is (or was) a bug in the Nova-T CSV print which inserts an extra blank cell at the start of row1.



Tell us more bout your 19 period timetable - ours is a regular 9 period per day, 5 days a week affair.



-'runner

[blondnotstupid]

Casper, when you call up a timetable go to proof print,  when timetable shows click on the page option and set up margins etc.  



If you use the quick print button it minimises the t'table.

[casper]

Byterunner

Any idea where you can make these changes?



blondnotstupid

Don't see that option anywhere

[blondnotstupid]

The two printing icons at the top of the page when you call up a t'table.   Left printer is proof print, right one is quick print.

[casper]

Hi Blond,

still not seeing that.

We get to the timetables like so:



Focus > Student Details

Select 'Timetable' from the links menu.



Is there another way of getting to it? Maybe we're not on the same page

[Byterunner]

Casper,

in Nova-T when you go to "print" the screen comes up with a print preview.... the lastmost button on the second row of icons says "cell text" and you can change the cell info, font size etc from there.



-'runner

[casper]

Thanks Byte,

I'll check that in the morning - near home time

[blondnotstupid]

Sorry Casper - thought you were working through NOVA-T.  Printing off straight from sims.net is not useful, I know.



You only need to be a default user in NOVA to print timetables.  They are sooooooooooooo much easier to read.

[casper]

It seems that NOVA-T has a problem with printing timetables that have 19 periods in a day

[blondnotstupid]

19 periods in a day :?:  :?:  :?:  :?:

[casper]

Yea we now run a 19 period day - 1 of which is breaktime. Each period is 20 minutes long with a minimum of 2 periods (40 mins) per class.

[Byterunner]

Casper,

Without actually looking at your timetable, 19 periods a day seems excessive. Why can't you manage with irregular length periods?

If the minimum class length is two periods, then what happens if there is a single odd (free) period? Surely then you would have to take another 20 minute free period to get yourself back in sync with the rest of the school, thus negating the point of having 20 minute periods?



I would have thought that it would be a nightmare to construct too. Ah'm thinkin' also ..... if Nova-T doesn't print properly, maybe it ain't been tested properly with that number of periods. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariane_5_Flight_501 comes to mind.



Please post some of this timetable so we can marvel at it.



-'runner

[Byterunner]

Casper,





I got it just now ------ QUASIMODO is your new headmaster, isn't he!!!









Betcha next year the periods will be reduced to 15 minutes and he will then feel completely at  home.





-'runner