Tapelog

Tapelog is YSTV's system for keeping track of what is recorded on all our video tapes, and finding where there is free space to be able to record something.

The idea is that every use of the tape should be recorded, so that even if an item is deleted it should be possible to recover the record from the administration interface, as the recording may still be on the tape. Items that pass their expiry date should automatically be marked as deleted, so they are counted as empty space when looking for space to make new recordings. Not all of this is currently working.

History

In 1995, YSTV's tape log system consisted of a set of A4 notebooks. VHS, Umatic and SVHS tapes were each assigned a separate notebook and each tape was assigned a page within the notebook. At the time there were about Unverified or incomplete information. Typically VTs for programmes would be produced on Umatic, and programme output would be recorded onto VHS, or more commonly SVHS. Some programmes would, unofficially, commandeer their own VHS tape and mark it (on the label) with the name of the programme. At times, these tapes would be hidden by the programmes' producer within the station, in order to prevent them being recorded over by another programme.

The paper based tape log had been instigated many years before, and the quality of the record keeping was dubious in places. During 1995-96, Chris Kwouk developed YSTV's first computerised tape log system using a BBC Micro. As well as recording the contents and the quality (tape not programme) of the tape, it also allowed tapes to be check out and in of the archive. If a tape was being worked on it would be checked out and then checked back in when the work was complete. At the time of installation, a lot of time was spent going through the archive (usually at max speed on the Umatic system), and updating the BBC micro tapelog with any deletions or ommissions. Overall reaction to the system was positive.

Some programmes, Miss dRAG being an example, were duplicated from an SVHS master (usually for distribution purposes for paying customers or complimentary purposes) and a VHS copy stored in a marked case within the tape shelves but not in the tape log.

Later Kevin Bowman transferred the data into a MySQL database and wrote a PHP front end, which ran on it's own PC in the control room. Several features including the admin interface went and stayed missing at this point. All entries marked as deleted in the BBC database were also lost as only the current content was migrated. Dave Baker merged this into the YSTV website proper so it could be used from anywhere, and did some XHTML clean-up. David Furey later added a few of the most urgent missing features to it, after nagging from Richard Ash about not being able to edit shows or view deleted entries (which were kept in the database, but not visible).