I'm using the tv_grab_sd_json XMLTV system to pull listings from Schedules Direct in the UK.
The episode-num entries like:
<episode-num system="dd_progid">EP016364530163</episode-num>
Appear to be made up on two parts: a programme identifier ('EP01636453') and an episode identifier ('0163'). This is especially useful when the programme entry doesn't include any other episode information.
So I've been using the episode identifier as an ordering scheme so that the programmes can be recorded out of order but sorted by episode number.
However, I've had a number of cases where the episode numbers seem to be out-of-order, for example:
Mon 06-Mar-2017 13:15 - 13:45 : Channel 5 : Home and Away (EP012675812275)
Tue 07-Mar-2017 13:15 - 13:45 : Channel 5 : Home and Away (EP012675812276)
Wed 08-Mar-2017 13:15 - 13:45 : Channel 5 : Home and Away (EP012675812279)
Thu 09-Mar-2017 13:15 - 13:45 : Channel 5 : Home and Away (EP012675812280)
Fri 10-Mar-2017 13:15 - 13:45 : Channel 5 : Home and Away (EP012675812277)
Mon 13-Mar-2017 13:15 - 13:45 : Channel 5 : Home and Away (EP012675812278)
Tue 14-Mar-2017 13:15 - 13:45 : Channel 5 : Home and Away (EP012675812283)
So here the programme identifier is consistent ('EP01267581') but the episode numbers go:
2275
2276
2279 *
2280 *
2277
2278
2283
Note the programme is on the same channel at the same time on consecutive days with the chronological order being the correct programme order. But the assigned episode-num entries do not reflect this.
So, is this an issue? Should they be in order?
Or can I not rely on the uniqueness or order of the assigned episode-num values?
Thanks,
Richard.