You can specify your Teaching Group (TG) Names (TGN) in TimeTabler in any of 3 ways:
-- ask TimeTabler to create them for you automatically, according to a format you specify.
This is quickest if your TGs have consistent names.
-- enter Teaching Group Names (TGNs) yourself, manually.
This takes longer, but means you can have whatever names you want.
-- or a combination of the two (some automatic, some manual).
Here is is how to use each method:
1 Automatic method:
At Step 5 of the Export there is a screen that allows you to customize the Format of your Teaching Group Names (TGN).
You do this by setting up simple rules. TimeTabler then applies your chosen format/rules to each group, to create the TG names for you. See HelpMovie 62 and see the Export Documentation for how to get the best out of this comprehensive screen.
(Alternatively, you can change the format of your automatic names outside the export process, by going to "Activities -> Curriculum Diagram", click "TGN" (at bottom-left) then click "Set-up or Review TGNs"; see HelpMovie 62).
2 Manual method:
You can also choose (if you need to) to set some (or all) Teaching Group Names yourself, manually (so these are different from the usual rules for the other TGNs set up as above).
To do this, go to "Activities -> Curriculum Diagram", click "Customize" (at top-right) then tick "Show TGs" and "Apply" ... so you can see the Teaching Group Names on the diagram.
Then double-click the activity you wish to look at, and on the "Group names" page, double-click on a group name (if the group name currently says '{auto}' then this means the name is currently going to be automatically generated by TimeTabler during the export at Step 5, as above) and enter your own name instead.
If you do this, make sure you enter a unique name for each group or you may have problems later during your export.
A note about Blocks / Composite Classes / 'Band-letters' :
When it comes to composite classes, MIS (and your school) will not typically want your scheduling name (eg: 7ABCDEFG) to appear in the TGN, as it means little to real people. Instead, you would typically do one of the following:
--a) Use 'Band-letters': in this system, the ABCDEFG part is replaced by a Band-letter, eg. p. So then the TGN is exported to the MIS as 7p/EnB1 (rather than 7ABCDEFG/EnB1) and (for many exports) a separate note in the export file tells the MIS that p is really ABCDEFG. Or:
--b) You can give 7ABCDEFG a printing name, and use that. Eg: You could give 7ABCDEFG a printing name of 7Blue, and then your TGN might be 7Blue/EnB1.
If in doubt, ask us on the Support Centre.
Reviewing the Teaching Group (TG) names :
There are several ways to view the TGs that TimeTabler is sending to your MIS, but one way is:
at Step 5 of the export, click on "View Teaching Groups" (button on right-hand side). Each line is a separate Teaching Group (TG). The 2nd column shows the TG name ("Short name"). The column headed "Lesson - Period(Teacher)Room" shows each lesson exported to Arbor. You can export to Excel (for eg) if you wish to share or review in your own time.
Red Teaching Groups (TG) :
If the export (or Curriculum Diagram) reports any problems with your TGs (eg: they are in Red, or appear as "??"), then the advice in this PDF may help: Dealing with Red TG. It is kindly provided by our Training Partners, MIST Services.
See also HelpMovie 62, about TGNs.
And see the article on Different Teaching Group styles.
By the TimeTabler Team