The issue
Erroneous values for stop times and durations are logged for items played from a container. The same items, when fired manually or by using links, are logged correctly.
Below I’ve included logfile excerpts for the same 7 carts played from within a container and individually using links. This behaviour is repeatable.
Background
Like many stations, we injest the content of mAirList playout logs into our scheduling system’s database. We don’t use this information for invoicing; it’s used to generate reports that we use for a range of management and compliance purposes. It’s imperative that the source data be accurate and reliable.
I’ve been looking into data accuracy problems that hint at improbable playout scenarios (more than one spot going to air at the same time) and spots being paused mid-play. Initially I focussed on the data injestion process (Perl script) but I couldn’t find an explanation for the error there. Tracing the Perl code revealed the true source of the problem. The source data is flawed. Stop times (and durations) are logged erroneously when items are played from within a container.
2019-06-17 10:45:50 START Container
2019-06-17 10:45:50 START C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27128.wav Dylanesque + Bob Dylan and Tom Petty at MEMO Nik Tripp (Helen collier)
2019-06-17 10:46:21 STOP C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27128.wav Dylanesque + Bob Dylan and Tom Petty at MEMO Nik Tripp (Helen collier) 31.045
2019-06-17 10:46:21 START C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27305.wav The Night Cat + Upcoming Gigs (The Night Cat)
2019-06-17 10:46:52 STOP C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27305.wav The Night Cat + Upcoming Gigs (The Night Cat) 31.2
2019-06-17 10:46:52 START C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27432.wav Severins at the NSC Adam Pont (Geoff Berry)
2019-06-17 10:47:22 START C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27438.wav The Lifted Brow + Winter edition Grace Kindellan (The Lifted Brow)
2019-06-17 10:47:53 START C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27459.wav Michael Stevenson Simon Winkler (Monash University Museum of Art)
2019-06-17 10:48:29 STOP C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27459.wav Michael Stevenson Simon Winkler (Monash University Museum of Art) 35.849
2019-06-17 10:48:29 START C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27467.wav Dave Graney & The MistLY Dave Graney (Dave Graney)
2019-06-17 10:49:02 STOP C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27467.wav Dave Graney & The MistLY Dave Graney (Dave Graney) 33.728
2019-06-17 10:49:02 START C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27482.wav Improvisation Development Music Workshops Vanessa Toholka (Eltham College)
2019-06-17 10:49:33 STOP C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27482.wav Improvisation Development Music Workshops Vanessa Toholka (Eltham College) 30.202
2019-06-17 10:49:33 STOP C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27432.wav Severins at the NSC Adam Pont (Geoff Berry) 160.431
2019-06-17 10:49:33 STOP C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27438.wav The Lifted Brow + Winter edition Grace Kindellan (The Lifted Brow) 130.183
2019-06-17 10:49:33 STOP Container 222.691
2019-06-17 10:57:44 START C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27128.wav Dylanesque + Bob Dylan and Tom Petty at MEMO Nik Tripp (Helen collier)
2019-06-17 10:58:15 STOP C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27128.wav Dylanesque + Bob Dylan and Tom Petty at MEMO Nik Tripp (Helen collier) 31.06
2019-06-17 10:58:15 START C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27305.wav The Night Cat + Upcoming Gigs (The Night Cat)
2019-06-17 10:58:46 STOP C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27305.wav The Night Cat + Upcoming Gigs (The Night Cat) 31.2
2019-06-17 10:58:46 START C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27432.wav Severins at the NSC Adam Pont (Geoff Berry)
2019-06-17 10:59:17 STOP C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27432.wav Severins at the NSC Adam Pont (Geoff Berry) 30.248
2019-06-17 10:59:17 START C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27438.wav The Lifted Brow + Winter edition Grace Kindellan (The Lifted Brow)
2019-06-17 10:59:47 STOP C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27438.wav The Lifted Brow + Winter edition Grace Kindellan (The Lifted Brow) 30.373
2019-06-17 10:59:47 START C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27459.wav Michael Stevenson Simon Winkler (Monash University Museum of Art)
2019-06-17 11:00:23 STOP C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27459.wav Michael Stevenson Simon Winkler (Monash University Museum of Art) 35.865
2019-06-17 11:00:23 START C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27467.wav Dave Graney & The MistLY Dave Graney (Dave Graney)
2019-06-17 11:00:57 STOP C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27467.wav Dave Graney & The MistLY Dave Graney (Dave Graney) 33.712
2019-06-17 11:00:57 START C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27482.wav Improvisation Development Music Workshops Vanessa Toholka (Eltham College)
2019-06-17 11:01:27 STOP C:\mAirListData\sponsorship\carts\27482.wav Improvisation Development Music Workshops Vanessa Toholka (Eltham College) 30.217
Cameron