Late Delivery of Files for Monday, 11th June

Problem:

We experienced a problem writing files into client FTP folders early this morning resulting in the late delivery of a substantial number of first edition files.

Delivery statistics show completion percentages for core repertoire first edition files were

• 4.46% at 01:00
• 15.52% at 01:30
• 99.95% at 02:00

Cause:

The failure was due to an incorrectly cut list from the Guardian that should not have been included in the feed in the first place.

This file caused a failure in our file distribution software. 

Solution:

We removed the offending object from the database, and following a restart of the software, the logs indicated that everything was normal. Files were again being distributed normally.

Unfortunately, there were about 4000 XML files and about 5000 IDS and XML objects waiting to be distributed. This was occurring extremely slowly due to all the loading which was going on at the same time. We therefore stopped loading files for 30 mins while the number of files awaiting distribution decreased.

Changes:

This was essentially human error and we are currently evaluating what options we have to ensure this type of failure won't happen again. We will update this entry as soon as we have a satisfactory solution.

NLA PCA Licence Excerpt:

7.5 Following expiry of the Transitional Period, in the event of Delayed Delivery you may as an interim measure for a maximum period of 24 hours from the target delivery times set out in the Service Level Schedule exercise the rights granted to you under a subsisting Electronic Licence to subject the Cuttings affected by Delayed Delivery to Text and/or Image Scanning and deliver them pursuant to the rights granted to you under an Electronic Licence provided always that the following conditions are met:

7.5.1 where the affected Cuttings derive from publications forming part of your Database Repertoire and the Electronic Repertoire, you must notify us in writing (email being sufficient for these purposes) within 12 hours of the relevant target delivery time set out in the Service Level Schedule, specifying the title and pages of the affected Cuttings that you have subjected to Text and/or Image Scanning under this clause 7.5; and

7.5.2 where the affected Cuttings derive from News International Publications, as these publications form part of your Database Repertoire but not part of the Electronic Repertoire, you must notify us in writing (email being sufficient for these purposes) before exercising the rights under this clause 7.5 specifying the title and pages of the affected Cuttings that you intend to subject to Text and/or Image Scanning; and by no later than the last day of the Viewing Period, delete from all systems and records which you own or which are under your control the images comprising those Cuttings which you subjected to Text and/or Image Scanning under this clause 7.5, and delete the associated text no later than the end of the Archive Period.