Data not appearing after import

Problem: After importing data from Excel, some or all records are not showing in TPlus Exam.

Solution:

• Ensure the Excel file follows the correct template format provided by TPlus Exam.
• Check that column headers match exactly — even extra spaces can cause import failures.
• Make sure the data starts from the correct row (usually row 2, with row 1 as headers).
• Verify that the Excel file is saved in .xlsx format (not .xls or .csv).

Duplicate records in imported data

Problem: After importing, you notice duplicate student or course records.

Solution:

• Check your source Excel file for duplicate entries before importing.
• Use the Process & Analyze module (Chapter 5) to identify and review duplicate records.
• If duplicates were imported, you can re-import the corrected data — TPlus Exam will overwrite the previous import.

Error message during data import

Problem: An error message appears when trying to import the Excel file.

Solution:

• Close the Excel file before importing — TPlus Exam cannot read files that are currently open in Excel.
• Ensure the file is not corrupted. Try opening it in Excel first to verify the data.
• Check that no cells contain special characters or formulas that may not be supported.

Schedule generation takes too long

Problem: The schedule generation process is running for a very long time without completing.

Solution:

• Review your constraints — too many strict constraints can make it difficult for the system to find a valid schedule.
• Try relaxing some constraints temporarily to see if the schedule can be generated, then re-apply constraints one by one.
• Ensure your data is clean and does not contain errors that could cause infinite loops during generation.

Courses not assigned to any slot

Problem: After generating the schedule, some courses are not assigned to any exam slot.

Solution:

• Check the Analysis section (Chapter 7) to identify unassigned courses.
• Verify that the number of available slots is sufficient for all courses.
• Review constraints that may be preventing certain courses from being scheduled (e.g., room capacity, time restrictions).
• You can manually assign unassigned courses to available slots using the editing features in Chapter 7.

Student clashes detected

Problem: The system shows student clashes where a student has two exams at the same time.

Solution:

• Use the Highlight feature to identify all clashing slots.
• Move one of the clashing courses to a different slot using the editing features.
• Re-run the analysis after making changes to confirm all clashes are resolved.
• Consider applying a No Clash constraint before regenerating the schedule.

Invigilator not assigned to any slot

Problem: After generating invigilators, some lecturers are not assigned to any invigilation slot.

Solution:

• Check the Analysis — Invigilator List (Section 8.3.1) to see the full list of invigilators and their assignments.
• Verify that the lecturer data was imported correctly and the lecturer is included in the invigilator pool.
• You can manually allocate an invigilator to a slot using the Manually Allocate feature (Section 8.3.2).

Invigilator assigned to own course

Problem: A lecturer is assigned to invigilate their own course exam.

Solution:

• Use the Highlight feature (Section 8.3.2) to identify such assignments.
• Remove the invigilator from that slot and manually assign a different invigilator.
• Check your constraint settings to prevent this from happening during regeneration.

Position not assigned to invigilator

Problem: After generating positions, some invigilators do not have a position (e.g., Chief Invigilator, Room Invigilator).

Solution:

• Use the Highlight Incomplete Position feature (Section 8.5.2) to find invigilators without positions.
• Manually add a position using the right-click menu on the slot (Section 8.5.2).
• Ensure the position quotas are correctly configured before generating positions.

Seat allocation failed or incomplete

Problem: After allocating seats, some students are not assigned a seat number.

Solution:

• Check that the room capacity is sufficient for all students in that slot.
• Review the Seating Arrangement Options (Section 8.6.1) — the numbering settings may be limiting seat allocation.
• Use the Analysis — Student List (Section 8.7.1) to identify students without seats.
• You can use Re-Allocate Seat (Section 8.7.2) to reassign seats or Custom Seat to manually assign specific seats.

Seat numbering is not correct

Problem: Seat numbers are not in the expected order or have unexpected gaps.

Solution:

• Review the Seat Numbering settings in Generate Options (Section 8.6.1) — ensure the numbering method is set correctly.
• Check the Numbering Gap Between Courses setting if you need gaps between different courses in the same room.
• Use Reset Seat to clear all seat assignments, adjust the settings, and re-allocate.

Students from the same course sitting together

Problem: Students taking the same course are seated next to each other, which is not desired for exam integrity.

Solution:

• Review the Seating Arrangement Options (Section 8.6.1) and ensure the appropriate seating arrangement method is selected.
• Use the Numbering Gap Between Courses option to add gaps between students of different courses.
• Re-allocate seats after changing the settings.

Print preview shows blank or missing data

Problem: When trying to print, the preview shows blank pages or missing information.

Solution:

• Ensure all previous steps have been completed — schedule generated, invigilators assigned, positions allocated, and seats arranged.
• Check that the correct report type is selected for printing.
• Try closing and reopening the print preview window.

Export to Excel/PDF not working

Problem: The export function fails or produces an empty file.

Solution:

• Make sure you have write permissions to the destination folder.
• Close any previously exported file that may still be open — the system cannot overwrite an open file.
• Try exporting to a different location (e.g., Desktop) to rule out folder permission issues.
• Ensure sufficient disk space is available.

Save your work frequently

Always save your timetable file regularly, especially after making major changes such as generating the schedule, assigning invigilators, or allocating seats. This prevents data loss in case of unexpected errors or system crashes.

Follow the workflow order

TPlus Exam is designed to be used in a specific workflow order: Import Data → Configure Timetable → Process & Analyze → Apply Constraints → Generate Schedule → Generate Invigilators & Seating → Output. Skipping steps or doing them out of order may cause issues.

Use Analysis before editing

Before manually editing the schedule, invigilators, or seating arrangement, always use the Analysis features first. This helps you understand the current state and identify exactly what needs to be changed.

Use Highlight to find problems quickly

The Highlight feature is available in multiple modules (Schedule, Invigilators, Positions). Use it to quickly identify issues such as clashes, incomplete assignments, and missing positions without manually checking each slot.

Back up your data

Keep a backup of your original Excel data files and your TPlus Exam timetable file. If something goes wrong, you can always re-import the data and start fresh.

Check for updates

Ensure you are using the latest version of TPlus Exam. Updates may include bug fixes, performance improvements, and new features that can help resolve issues you are experiencing.