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Week-planner model

  1. #1
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    Week-planner model

    Hello everybody!

    I'm starting a week planner project in excel, but I am not sure where to start and if it's doable. Thus, I'm gonna have the project built through this forum.

    Goal:
    Making a weekly planner Monday-Friday that distributes tasks with the help of binary variables, solver and perhaps through macros (if needed?). The tasks are distributed on the basis of minimum hours per task set by the user, and otherwise a percentage distribution between the tasks for a predetermined work week (like 08:00-17:00 every day). The limitations are set by exogenous set tasks and endogenous times for meals and workout.

    Model outline

    Main sheet:
    The week planner itself, with a day-time grid, days divided in monday-friday,
    hours divided in half hours ex 07:00 till 23:00. The tasks are predetermined, ie. subjects in school, meals and exercise

    Support sheets

    A. Binary variables
    On every day each task is assigned a column that through solver is given a binary variable where 1 means that this task is chosen for that incremental half hour

    Illustration monday:
    Hour - T1 - T2 - T3 - Workout - Meal - MAX
    07:00 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1
    07:30 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1
    08:00 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1
    Etc.
    (The max summing the rows and set to be 1 by solver)


    B. Exogenous set tasks (like lectures)

    C. Distribution rules:
    i) Minimum amount of assigned tasktime before given deadlines.
    ii) Optimal percental distribution


    ISSUES:
    1. GROUPING
    a. How do I make grouped distributions more desirable -> Prioritizing having the same task for a longer period than changing back and forth
    b. How do I make task-groupings more desirable shortly before the related exogenous set task (as studying the subject (task) prior to a lecture (exogenous task))

    2. OPTIMAL TIME INTERVALS FOR TASKS
    How do I make tasks distribute optimally between 08:00 and 17:00. Meals being between 07:00-08:30, 11:00-12:30 etc, and exercise optimally between 15:00-20:00

    3. INPUTTING EXOGENOUS TASK TIMES EASILY INTO THE MODEL
    How do I set up a lecture plan that the models interprets and inputs correctly into the week plan, and how do I make it easy to change.

    4. MANAGING THE DISTRIBUTION VARIABLES
    How do I model in the minimum times for a given deadline (ie. 5 hours before wednesday 12:00). And percent distribution (20% - 25% -30% -25%)

    Anyone have some advice on making a model like this?
    Thanks in advance!

  2. #2
    Forum Moderator Leith Ross's Avatar
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    Re: Week-planner model

    Hello HaZeR86,

    Another alternative might be using Outlook rather than Excel. Outlook can perform quite a few of tasks you need already and can be modified using VBA for others you need. If that isn't a viable option for you then perhaps you should look into purchasing a software program.
    Sincerely,
    Leith Ross

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