Bromcom eTimetable software

[noelmm]

Hi All,

 

This year our SLT have opted to use the Bromcom eTimetable software as we pay for it as part of our package. I have lost count the number of times our staff member doing the timetable has reported they have lost work due to the system crashing or them not being able to open saved files correctly (I have seen them not being able to open files and Bromcom have had to fix this which they did very quickly).

 

I was just wondering if anyone else uses this software and if you do are you seeing the same problems we do?

 

Thanks

 

Noel

[Bromcom_Support]

Hi Noel

 

Sorry to hear your staff have lost work. We do recommend that users make sure the software is installed on a local machine and the data files are also saved locally and not a network location. Please feel free to call me to discuss.

 

Regards

 

Ross Hunt

[kennysarmy]

Hi All,

 

This year our SLT have opted to use the Bromcom eTimetable software as we pay for it as part of our package. I have lost count the number of times our staff member doing the timetable has reported they have lost work due to the system crashing or them not being able to open saved files correctly (I have seen them not being able to open files and Bromcom have had to fix this which they did very quickly).

 

I was just wondering if anyone else uses this software and if you do are you seeing the same problems we do?

 

Thanks

 

Noel

 

I'm struggling to even get the software installed.

 

Procedure is :

 

Log on to the Data Managers PC with admin rights and signed in to Bromcom.

Instal the e-timetabler software and copy the created shortcuts to her home drive.

 

But when she then logs in to use the software it's failing with an error.

 

Looking at the log file, it would appear that this is local user permission issue to the location "\\fp4\DESKTOPS\10Staff64Edu\StartMenu\Programs\Programs\Bromcom Computers Plc\e-Timetable".

 

Our desktops and start menus are locked down so standard users cannot write to them - so how do I get the software to run?

[kennysarmy]

It appears the second time she runs it it gets further - now our AppLocker policies are blocking it from running!!!

[kennysarmy]

Don't you love software that runs from the APPDATA folder!

[DanSears]

Hi Kennysarmy, I've used e-timetable in various different school. As mentioned by Bromcom Support if it is installed locally using a local drive for data it works really well. I think you will need to make an exception on the lockdown desktop configuration that you use to allow the software to install. I have always used it on an un-restricted PC so not seen the issues that you are reporting.

[noelmm]

We've been using e-Timetable for a few years now and found that we either need to use a standalone device or if we are using a school device we give the user a higher level of access, similar to a local admin account, doing it this way we can install the software locally but have the files saved to the user area so they are backed up automatically.

[kennysarmy]

Hi Kennysarmy, I've used e-timetable in various different school. As mentioned by Bromcom Support if it is installed locally using a local drive for data it works really well. I think you will need to make an exception on the lockdown desktop configuration that you use to allow the software to install. I have always used it on an un-restricted PC so not seen the issues that you are reporting.

 

What a farce that you should have to do that for just one piece of software!!

Edited March 18, 2021 by elsiegee40

[RootsSchImp]

The tragedy of this thread is that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is having to do your timetable on etimetable

 

Thoughts and prayers @kennysarmy

[kennysarmy]

The tragedy of this thread is that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is having to do your timetable on etimetable

 

Thoughts and prayers @kennysarmy

 

Ha. Thankfully I just oil the wheels and not steer the ship.

[Jaan]

Hopefully this will be integrated within bromcom in the future and be truly web browser based.

[kennysarmy]

Hopefully this will be integrated within bromcom in the future and be truly web browser based.

 

Ah...The Future...

 

Always waiting for it...

[Jaan]

Ah...The Future...

 

Always waiting for it...

 

Dont say that! we're moving from SIMs to Bromcom because its stuck in the 90s!

 

Bromcoms development "seems" alot faster

 

Edited March 19, 2021 by Jaan

[supportman]

We gave up in the end, probably the worst part of Bromcom I would say (other than their room booking system of course), everything else is great!!.

 

Apparently the etimetabler can't even find dynamic spaces in your timetable and you need to run reports to design the timetable.

 

We are most likely going to buy Keith Johnsons timetabler. And then just build manually into Bromcom.

 

https://www.timetabler.com/

 

I have attempted to contact bromcom about improvements in this area but have had no replies really on progress. Its a shame.

Edited March 19, 2021 by supportman

[Bromcom_PO]

Hi supportman Bromcom is prioritising upgrading its e-timetabler to a browser version. Sorry, to hear you have had no response about your suggested improvements. Please message me directly with contact info so we can discuss. Thanks

[supportman]

Hi supportman Bromcom is prioritising upgrading its e-timetabler to a browser version. Sorry, to hear you have had no response about your suggested improvements. Please message me directly with contact info so we can discuss. Thanks

GREAT NEWS! A browser version is what we all want

 

Let us know when its done, even if its simple. It really is needed.

[Keith-Johnson]

'Supportman' wrote: "We are most likely going to buy Keith Johnson's TimeTabler. And then just build manually into Bromcom."

 

Just to say that you do not need to enter the completed timetable manually into Bromcom! There is an official import into Bromcom to take an export from TimeTabler.

This has the advantages of speed ...but also of accuracy ...no typing errors!

Edited June 25, 2021 by Keith-Johnson

[TechMonkey]

'Supportman' wrote: "We are most likely going to buy Keith Johnson's TimeTabler. And then just build manually into Bromcom."

 

Just to say that you do not need to enter the completed timetable manually into Bromcom! There is an official import into Bromcom to take an export from TimeTabler.

This has the advantages of speed ...but also of accuracy ...no typing errors!

Bit off topic but is there any plan or roadmap to update Timetabler, to cloud based or even just modernise it?

[Keith-Johnson]

Bit off topic but is there any plan or roadmap to update TimeTabler, to cloud based or even just modernise it?

 

TimeTabler (and Options and StaffCover) have a WishList system ...and the software is updated with Users' minor requests almost weekly throughout the year, ...as well as the major annual update with new features. So from that point of view it's as modern as Users (ie. Timetablers) want it to be.

 

The Cloud has so many disadvantages for a timetabler that TimeTabler is not yet cloud-based; we'll keep reviewing the situation. Options is much more appropriate for being Cloud-based and we have actively started work on this (the linked TOOLS program is already Cloud).

 

Keith Johnson

Edited June 27, 2021 by Keith-Johnson

[supportman]

Hi @Keith-Johnson

 

Just wondering what the workflow is for changing the timetable after its been imported to Bromcom?

 

Our timetabler is worried about making changes, should this be done directly in Bromcom?

[Keith-Johnson]

Hello Supportman

 

Yes, smaller changes (like the usual room-swaps after the start of term) are best done in the MIS.

You'd normally only go back to the timetabling software if you needed to make bigger structural changes to the timetable during the year (eg. if someone goes on maternity leave and the replacement isn't qualified to teach all the classes, so you have to shuffle staff around). For more detailed help your colleague can contact the free Support Centre.

 

Keith

[kennysarmy]

Any news on the Browser version of e-Timetabler ?

[supportman]

Any news on the Browser version of e-Timetabler ?

 

I saw on Linked in that it was the next development goal after the HR module new features.

 

They are still planning for next year but have not started it yet according to their lead developer. Seems ambitious to me as timetabling is always complicated with edge cases.

 

I found this one that works with Bromcom recently, looks pretty good and fully cloud based with Bromcom export and import:

 

Skolaris: Online school timetable software

 

 

Edited July 6, 2021 by supportman

[Jaan]

We've managed to get etimetabler to install from a network share and then run once it's updated.

 

If you install it as you would normally on your "Admin" machine..... then copy the below file to a network location accessible by your user/s

 

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Bromcom Computers Plc\e-Timetable\e-timetable.appref-ms

 

add rules to applocker to allow it to run (via its digital sig)

 

then place a shortcut to the network location on the desktop (or other location) for your user/s

 

when installing or if it updates, you might get an error if using redirected folders ( or start menus) as the installer won't have write access to place the shortcut.

 

once the install (or update) has finished, just run it again and it will load.

[sonofsanta]

I was just fighting with this earlier, as it happens. Trying to run the .appref-ms file from the AppShared drive didn't work for us, but it seems to be okay if I install and run the software on my machine as admin, find the path it's running from in Task Manager, then copy that whole folder out to the AppShared drive and create a shortcut to the EXE there for users. I had already run the installer on the user's machine as an admin before, so that may be a necessary step too (including the Crystal Reports bit).