I thought people might be interested to see how I'm using Manifold 8 to manage my duties as Department Chair. One thing we have to do is arrange the class schedule: assigning classrooms, making sure there aren't schedule conflicts, keep track of overload hours, and just making everything fit. It's the classic case of having to put 10lbs. of flour into a 5lb. bag.

So, I'm using Manifold to take the class times in HMS and converting them to DMS to create area features. Then, with spatial SQL, I can not only create schedule charts, I can perform intersections to see if there are conflicts in the schedule. So, this is a great example of using the spatial aspect of GIS, and the power of Manifold's SQL and Form creation, to solve a seemingly non-spatial problem.

You can check out the video here.

--- Manifold 8, ain't dead yet!!

Looks great. I had heard your approach a while back, but hadn't made the leap that the HMS::DMS conversion is so straight forward. Thank you Art.

Nice, really clever and useful. Isn't this similar to how Bill Gates got started?

Landsystems Ltd ... Know your land | www.landsystems.co.nz

No. Bill Gates wasn't dumb enough to agree to be Department Chair.

As a fellow professor, I am impressed at your willingness to volunteer for such a thankless task. Being the punching bag in the middle of the trifecta of complaints and demands from students, faculty, and administration can be soul sucking.

Thankfully, I have demonstrated a lack of organization necessary for such responsibility so I haven't been told it's "your turn".

All that being said, M8 is great for organizing nonspatial data. I love the flexibility!

Thanks. Feel free to reach out. I’d enjoy hearing about what you are doing as a professor.

Great use of Manifold 8, SQL and Forms.

Really Clever, you can actually build a Add-in and a lot of Department Chairs in the US universities, would love a tool to solve this exact problem... every semester... this is a business opportunity.

I sincerely hope Manifold 8, never dies, becomes immortal. 99% of my clients, did not saw the need to upgrade to 9, me neither. I do have some 9 licenses, but for very specific tasks, most everyday work is done in 8.

---- Manifold 8, alive and kicking!!

Very impressive and fun to follow, Art.