Timetabling Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The following are some frequently asked questions about the timetabling process.

Accessing Enterprise/Syllabus Plus/Enterprise Course Planner

  • I am a new timetabler. How do I get an account for Syllabus Plus or Enterprise Course Planner?

Before we can grant access to Syllabus Plus (S+) or Enterprise Course Planner (ECP), you should attend a training course run by the Timetabling team. Please contact timetabling@manchester.ac.uk, including your user name and the area of the University you will be timetabling for, and we will be in touch to discuss dates. More information can be found on the training page of our website.

Once you have attended a training course, we will create an account for you. We will also add you to the Timetabling Forum e-mail list.

  • How do I access Enterprise/Syllabus Plus/Course Planner?

Enterprise, S+ amd ECP are accessed through a web portal: https://timetabling.manchester.ac.uk/scientia/portal/login.aspx. Once you have an account set up you can log into the portal using your usual University user name and password.

The latest version of Enterprise/S+/ECP should only be accessed through the Microsoft Edge browser. Other browsers (e.g. Firefox or Chrome) will not work.

** Note: Internet Explorer is being retired by Microsoft from 15th June 2022, so you will no longer be able to use this browser. The system works correctly on Microsoft Edge, as long as you are on an up-to-date version. **

From the portal you can access PROD2223 (the database for the 22/23 academic year) or PROD2324 (the database for the 23/24 academic year). If you have access to more than one database you will see a tab for each database at the top of the portal screen, select the tab for the database you want to access and click on the button for Enterprise Foundation. Make sure you have selected the right database for the changes you want to make.

The first time you access the system you will be asked if you want to install the software; click 'yes' when prompted.

A window titled "Enterprise Timetabler" will then appear with some options, with a message that says "Loading local database in x seconds" counting down. Make sure you have selected the option 'Reload data from the server' (this should be set as the default option). When accessing the system you will notice an additional "Configure" button on this window; this button should not be clicked on.

  • There is an option to load Enterprise from the Start Menu. Can I use this?

While strictly speaking, you can load Enterprise via the entry in the Start Menu we do not recommend this. This method can give you access to various locally saved versions of the database, which may mean you end up working on a version of the database that is not the live data.

In order to ensure you are always in the correct database we recommend that Enterprise should always be loaded through the Enterprise Portal, as noted above, and making sure 'Reload data from the server" when prompted.

  • How do I reinstall Enterprise?

There may be occasions when you will need to reinstall Enterprise.

The quickest and easiest way to do this is to download this file to your computer (it may not download using Internet Explorer so if you are having difficulty please try another browser), unzip it, copy the file inside to your desktop and then double click it to run it. This will automatically delete the necessary files to allow for a reinstallation of Enterprise. You will know its been successful as the file will automatically delete itself when its complete (it should only take a couple of seconds to run). You must not have Enterprise loaded when you run this file. You can then restart Enterprise (this may take some time, if you are asked if you want to install Enterprise please click ‘Yes’ or ‘Install’).

Alternatively you can delete this manually, if you wish to do this please follow these steps:

Restart your computer.

Follow the following file path and delete the folder 2.0:

  • C:\Documents and Settings\(your username)\Local Settings\Apps

Or

  • C:\Users\(your username)\appdata\local\apps\

and then restart Enterprise (this may take some time, if you are asked if you want to install Enterprise please click ‘Yes’ or ‘Install’).

For some users, this folder is hidden and you will need to contact your local IT to get them to delete the folder.

  • Accessing Enterprise/S+/ECP On Campus

You must be connected to the Global Protect vpn before loading Enterprise/Syllabus+.

You cannot load Enterprise/Syllabus+/ECP via Wi-Fi to the eduroam or UoM_WiFi networks. This is due to the way these networks assign IP addresses.

When on campus you must use a wired connection to the network.

  • Accessing Enterprise/S+/ECP From Home

You must be connected to the Global Protect vpn before loading Enterprise/Syllabus+/ECP.

You can also use a Remote Desktop connection, using the Global Protect vpn, to remotely connect to you work PC.

More information on how to do this can be found here.

If you have any queries or issues setting up or using Remote Desktop connection, please contact the IT ServiceDesk for help.

  • Enterprise/S+/ECP is slow and taking a long time to refresh

The Enterprise/S+/ECP system is a complex system which contains a lot of data and complicated relationships. As such it can take time to load and can run slow, in particular at key times of the year when there is a lot of data being changed.

There are some good practice tips that you can follow to help improve performance of Enterprise/S+/ECP:

  • Log off your computer at the end of the day, rather than shut down. This will enable any updates to be completed overnight, rather than during the day. This can dramatically improve the performance of your PC as updates can be quite resource hungry. This also means any Enterprise/S+/ECP related processes are closed, as occasionally these can linger in the background.
  • Refresh regularly. We advise users should make use of the auto refresh feature of Enterprise (Tools – Options – tick the Auto SDB Refresh box). This defaults to refreshing every 10 minutes, which is a good setting. Please note you must set this to run everytime you load Enterprise, it doesn't remember when you close down the software.
  • It may also be worth deleting your 2.0 folder on a fairly regular basis and doing a fresh install of Enterprise, say once a fortnight (please see steps above for how to do this).
  • If you are not currently working in the system, please close S+ back to Enterprise. This keeps the Data Sync between the two parts of the system up-to-date, and can avoid any long periods while you are waiting for Enterprise to refresh and update.
  • Most of all please be patient when using Enterprise – e.g. if you move from S+ back into Enterprise after making changes, or if you create or change a variant in Enterprise, make sure the data sync has completed before clicking further in the system.

If you are following these tips and are still finding the system difficult to use please contact timetabling@manchester.ac.uk. We may need to refer you to IT Services to investigate further.

  • Enterprise TimeTabler appears to load, the icon shows on the task bar but will not open

There is a known issue where if Enterprise is closed while minimised, the next time it is loaded it appears to load normally however once completed disappears, the Enterprise TimeTabler icon is still on the task bar but cannot be opened.

Press Ctrl+SHIFT and while this is pressed right-click on the Enterprise TimeTabler icon on the taskbar. Select the option to maximize the window and this should restore the Enterprise TimeTabler window.

If the above doesn't work you need to close the system down (you may need to force it closed through task manager), then follow the steps above to reinstall Enterprise.

Documentation, guidance and training

  • What training is provided for Timetabling, Syllabus Plus and ECP?

Details of the training sessions we provide can be found on the Training section of our website. Time permitting, we can also arrange desk-side assistance as well if necessary.

  • What documentation and guidance is there for Timetabling, Syllabus Plus and ECP?

Links to training guides, policy documents and other guidance can be found on the Documentation and Guidance section of our website. We are currently considering how we update these to be a more effective resource.

Data in Enterprise/Syllabus Plus

  • How do I add staff members to S+?

Academic staff should be attached to all the activities they are teaching. As well as ensuring that their own individual timetables are correct and up-to-date and that student timetables contain the correct lecturer/tutor/teaching assistant information for their activities, having this information up-to-date is important for the Lecture Capture/Podcasting.

Staff member information is automatically imported into S+ from the HR Resource Link system. For new members of staff however it can take a while for this information to be set up in the HR system, in this case we can manually create the member of staff – please e-mail timetabling@manchester.ac.uk, including the lecturer/tutors name, their staff ID number and their e-mail address.

If you cannot locate a member of staff under your department in S+, it may be that they are under another department and need to be shared with your department. Again, please contact timetabling@manchester.ac.uk with the details and we will investigate.

  • How do I add school/faculty-owned room to S+?

The main aim of using S+ for timetabling is to provide students with a complete personalised timetable containing all their activities. This includes not just those activities in the central rooms you request from CTS, but also any local school or faculty owned rooms, computer clusters and academic’s offices. We can also add any off-campus locations that you may use for your teaching activities if required.

We currently have almost 1500 locations in S+ which have been identified by schools and faculties as used for teaching, so if you are using a local room you should be able to allocate this to your activities as needed.

If you are unable to find the room, please contact timetabling@manchester.ac.uk with the details (building/room name and capacity) and we can investigate. It may be that the room is in S+ but just needs sharing with your department so you can allocate your courses to it. It may also have an incorrect capacity, however we can get this updated. Finally it may never have been identified as used for teaching, especially in the case of academic offices, and we may need to get the room imported from Archibus, the Estates room database.

It is important to remember to make sure you still book school rooms and computer clusters, etc. locally as you would do normally, and then replicate these bookings in S+.

  • How do I book computer clusters?

During the initial room allocation phase, if you require one of the Central clusters you can request this in the same way as requesting a central teaching room - set up your activity and tag it as requiring a room, making sure you select the suitability for computer clusters.

Once the initial room allocation period is completed you can allocate any available central clusters to your activities directly in S+, and this will book them for you.

The Central clusters include Ellen Wilkinson B3.1/B3.17/B3.3, Humanities Bridgeford Street 2.1/2.2/2.88, Mansfield Cooper 2.01, Sackville G11, Samuel Alexander NLG.2, Simon 6.004 (6th floor) cluster and Williamson 3.59. These can be identified in S+ through the suitability IT - COMPUTER CLUSTERS.

The clusters are still owned and managed by IT Services so if there are problems with equipment in the room you should log this with IT Service. If you have any specific software requirements or any queries about computer clusters please also direct these to IT Services.

This only applies to the clusters mentioned above, any other clusters across campus must continue to be booked in the usual way and if you are unsure you should check locally for this. Once you have booked a cluster please reflect this booking in S+ for your teaching activities in the same way as you would allocate a school/faculty owned teaching room (see above).

It is important to remember to make sure you still book school rooms and computer clusters, etc. locally as you would do normally, and then replicate these bookings in S+.

  • How do I add Named Availabilities to S+?

If you require a specific named availability (week pattern) that is not in S+, please contact timetabling@manchester.ac.uk with the details and we will create it.

  • I have a query/issue about Campus Solutions data

The Timetabling team only have very limited knowledge of CS. Please get in touch and we will try to advise if we can, however any issues with data in CS should be directed to the Student Systems Office.

Timetables and Class Lists

  • How do I view a timetable?

Students and Staff can view their timetables through Publish.

More information on personalised Student and Staff timetables, as well as Group Level timetables, can be found on the Timetables section of our website.

  • A teaching assistant (GTA) is unable to see their staff timetable, can you help?

Firstly, you should make sure they are added to the correct activities in S+. If you are unable to find the teaching assistant in S+, follow the steps above to request they are added as a member of staff.

When a user logs into MyManchester, the system does a check to see if they have a student and/or staff role associated with their user account.

If they have a student role, they get access to the relevant student services through MyManchester and are able to see their timetable for any activties they are attached as a student.

If they have a staff role, they get access to the relevant staff services through MyManchester and are able to see their timetable for any activties they are attached as a member of staff.

If a teaching assistant is correctly added to activities in S+ but they are unable to see them in their MyManchester timetable it is likely that they do not have a relevant staff role associated with their account. This is an issue that your School or Faculty will need to resolve with HR.

  • How can I sync my calendar with my devices?

You can link your timetable to your personal calendar app, for example Outlook, Office365, Google, etc.It takes two minutes, and here’s how you do it:

  1. Log in to the timetable app: https://timetables.manchester.ac.uk/
  2. Select the button in the top right of the screen. If you’re on a tablet, laptop or desktop, this will appear as a subscribe button. If you’re using a smaller screen or a phone, this will be a download icon.
  3. Select one or more of the sync options, including Apple, Google, Outlook, Office365 and Yahoo, and follow the on-screen steps.

Podcasting/Lecture Capture

  • I have a query about Podcasting/Lecture Capture.

The University of Manchester has introduced podcasting (also known as lecture capture) into many lecture theatres and teaching spaces across campus. This system has been set up to help students replay, revisit and revise from past lectures. It takes a feed from S+ to automatically record and process them into usable formats.

For more information, please see the My Podcasts webpage.

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If you have a query not answered by the above or by any of the training guides and policy documents in the Documentation and Guidance section of our website, please contact us at timetabling@manchester.ac.uk.