Data model: split clues?

[dbaynard]

trafficstars

Hello,

There's a type of clue that the data model doesn't appear to handle. Where the clue is spllit over two (or more) runs there are multiple rows. So there isn't a one to one relationship between clue_number and clue (clue as opposed to clue).

I'm not quite sure how best to handle this — and whether it should be handled here or downstream (though I don't have a downstream, yet). It might be good for the parser to merge the relevant entries: using the clue_number and a cleaned up clue from the first clue, and merging with the ANSWER from the second.

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In the case I found, the clue for the second row is essentially a pointer to the first clue; the answer in the first clue is only part of the actual answer.

Here's an example: data: clues: 2 rows where rowid in ["607962", "607964"] sorted by puzzle_date descending.

JSON representation of a split clue (with the answers!)

{
  "607962": {
    "rowid": 607962,
    "clue": "& 2 Toxic chemical agent that’s a threat to the world (7,6)",
    "answer": "CLIMATE",
    "definition": "a threat to the world",
    "clue_number": "27a",
    "puzzle_date": "2021-12-06",
    "puzzle_name": "Cyclops 716 Caricature Premiership",
    "source_url": "https://www.fifteensquared.net/2021/12/06/cyclops-716-caricature-premiership/",
    "source": "fifteensquared"
  },
  "607964": {
    "rowid": 607964,
    "clue": "See 27ac. (6)",
    "answer": "CHANGE",
    "definition": "see 27A",
    "clue_number": "2d",
    "puzzle_date": "2021-12-06",
    "puzzle_name": "Cyclops 716 Caricature Premiership",
    "source_url": "https://www.fifteensquared.net/2021/12/06/cyclops-716-caricature-premiership/",
    "source": "fifteensquared"
  }
}

In addition to doing nothing, there are a few options, including the parser change above. I'd like the clue to correspond to answer rather than reflect what the crossword lists as a clue… but I'm sure there are trade-offs, of which I'm not aware.

In any case, this is a great resource you've curated!