First Class Newsletter

The latest version of First Class is Version 791. First Class Web is currently in release as Version 790.

There is also a new release of MSDE for users of A+ and/or FCWeb. Users who downloaded MSDE before 20/3/2006 should download and install this latest version.

Some schools will begin development of the 2007 timetable this term! This can be a complicated process and it pays to consider workflow now so that you can design an approach to the many tasks that need to be completed before final timetable development takes place. For schools that are ready to start the process, the hints below may be useful:

You can "roll-over" students, blocking grids, timetables and staff easily with First Class?

The "End of year rollover" feature allows you to place students in their new forms for the following year; re-use existing blocking grids if desired; exit final year students from the system; add and remove forms; and delete timetables, blocking grids, subject choices and extras as required. You should always perform this rollover on a copy of your master timetable database. Once the rollover is complete this copy can be saved as a master database for the new year. This database is then ready to have new students, subject choices and blocking grids entered.

You can use First Class to collect student subject choices and then automatically produce "best fit" elective grids?

Student choices can be entered manually using several input screens or scanned from barcoded entry sheets. These sheets can be developed in First Class and will produce unique codes for subjects and students. Once elective subject choices are entered, the "Block generation" module can be used to automatically develop "best fit" grids that minimise student selection clashes. These grids can then be manipulated further to take human and physical resource constraints into consideration. Alternatively, a range of classes can be "fixed" in advance (for instance, specialist craft classes), and the grid generator will develop best fit grids taking account of the fixed classes. When grids have been developed, multiple classes of the same subject can be assigned unique suffices and the grids used to allocate student choices manually or automatically.

If you are a First Class Premier user you can duplicate databases for distribution to Year Level Coordinators and then import the results of blocking into a master development database?

Once grids have been developed the database can be "cloned" into multiple copies for use by, say, Year Level Coordinators to work with student enrolments and subject choice revisions. Premier users can work safe in the knowledge that databases can be run at home or at school, and final subject allocations can be re-imported into a master database. The automatic or manual allocation algorithms can be run to allocate students to electives and the enrol students screen can be used to add a new student and ID code, choose a form and gender, and enrol the student in electives. IMPORTANT NOTE: while cloned databases are being used it is essential that new students receive unique student ID codes, and preferably codes that will be used in the final timetable. When cloned databases are imported into the master database, duplicate ID codes may lead to unpredictable behaviour. In addition, A+ users need consistent ID codes so that attendance data is related to the intended student.

When the work on all cloned databases is complete, Premier users can run the "Import blocking" feature to aggregate all student enrolments into the master development database. Any incorrect student details can be edited, and grids can be transferred to blocks for timetabling.

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Support
We have highly qualified support analysts able to assist you in your SQL Server setup and database management.

For instance, if you have any problems setting up your database for A+ and/or First Class Web, you can call our support line on 1300 301 931 and ask for Max.

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