Instructions

The scheduling solver is easy to use. Follow the steps below to find out how you can schedule your jobs in a faster more efficient way.

Step 1: Upon launching the application, you will be prompted to enter the number of resources. This translates to the number of parallel, identical machines or servers you wish to have in the problem you create. The machines are represented by parallel lines on the "Gantt Chart" window that opens after you enter your answer.

Step 2: To add a job, click on "Add New Job." You may name the job for your own convenience. Click on one of the colors displayed to represent your job. In the "Gantt Chart" window, click on any one of the parallel lines of machines to "deposit" your job. You will see a rectangle of the color chosen appearing on the screen. You may add more of the same job on the screen. Simply click again on any one of the parallel lines. Each rectangle block represent a "unit" of job. By default, each "unit" job takes 1 unit of time.

You may also specify other parameters for the job in the "Add New Job" dialogue box.

1. Weight: You can specify a number from 1 to 10 to designate the importance of each

job. A "10" denotes the highest priority. A "1" describes the least importance. By default, the weight of a job is set to "1".

2. Processing Time: You can assign different processing times for different jobs.

Default processing time is set at 1 unit of time.

3. Ready Time: You may specify the time from time 0, the default time, at which a job becomes available to be processed.

4. Due Date: You may specify the due date of each job. You need to enter this field if you wish to use a criteria relating to lateness to optimize the schedule.

Step 3: You may edit the job on the "Gantt Chart" window. For example you may lengthen the job. Click on the "Edit" button, highlight a job and follow the instructions in the instruction box on the screen.

Step 4: You may also add precedence to the jobs. Click the "Arc" button and connect the jobs in the order that they have to be done.

Step 5: You may add another machine/ resource at any time by clicking on the "Machine" button.

Step 6: Select a goal and algorithm you wish to solve your problem with by choosing the entries on the corresponding pull-down menus. You are now ready to solve! Click on the "Solve" button. To see the results under various goals, click on the "Statistics" after the solver has finished its work.

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