Missing controller sessions in atcsessions API call

[Kurt Ernstsen]

I've started testing the use of the VATSIM atcsessions API call on our website to replace us querying for vatsim-data.txt and parsing/aggregating the data ourselves.  I'm loving the simplicity of the new API.  One things I'm seeing is a slight difference it total controller hours per month when comparing the API totals to VATSIM Stats Center totals.  I'm find that a few of the sessions listed in stats center are not included in the API results.

For example, when I query the API for CID 1496314, I am not seeing sessions starting on 10/10/2020 3:10 or 10/10/2020 3:30, amongst a few others, that ARE listed on the VATSIM Stats Center for that same user.  When looking at VATSIM Stats Center, the missing (from API results) sessions do not have the "ATC Session Details" link in that line.

What does it mean when there is no "ATC Session Details" link for that session?  And why is that session included in the Stats Center total time, but those sessions are not included in the API results?

Thanks.

[Jordan Jolenaar]

On 10/28/2020 at 7:58 PM, Kurt Ernstsen said:

I've started testing the use of the VATSIM atcsessions API call on our website to replace us querying for vatsim-data.txt and parsing/aggregating the data ourselves.  I'm loving the simplicity of the new API.  One things I'm seeing is a slight difference it total controller hours per month when comparing the API totals to VATSIM Stats Center totals.  I'm find that a few of the sessions listed in stats center are not included in the API results.

For example, when I query the API for CID 1496314, I am not seeing sessions starting on 10/10/2020 3:10 or 10/10/2020 3:30, amongst a few others, that ARE listed on the VATSIM Stats Center for that same user.  When looking at VATSIM Stats Center, the missing (from API results) sessions do not have the "ATC Session Details" link in that line.

What does it mean when there is no "ATC Session Details" link for that session?  And why is that session included in the Stats Center total time, but those sessions are not included in the API results?

Thanks.

Hi,

As far as the connections go that you are getting from the API that data is provided by FSD, and you may see mixed results in the statistics center. Sometimes you will see a session be "split" where the client didn't logout, but sometimes it shows as 2 sessions. Perhaps someone with more info about that could shed some light on it.

I'd recommend you trust the data being provided from the API. As I mentioned earlier the data that is being provided in the API is using the data provided by FSD. Stats is very old, and it's possible that there is a bug on the stats side.

As far as ATC Session data (I'm assuming you are referring to tracked aircraft, amended FPs, etc) that is being served up by the API. It should be on "api/ratings/{cid}/atcsessions"

 

Edit: Looks like the API does return the ATC Session data for the atcsessions endpoint.

Edited November 6, 2020 by Jordan Jolenaar

[Kurt Ernstsen]

Here's another one that caught my attention.  This controller logged 1 hour and 23 minutes on Nov 1st at OKC_TWR.  Our current site got the correct data by way of aggregating data from http://data.vatsim.net/vatsim-data.txt.  This controlling session can be confirmed via VATSIM Statistics Center for that user (https://stats.vatsim.net/conn_details.php?id=1366052&datecode=202011).  However, when the new website (development still in progress) pulls controller sessions form the API, that Nov 1st session is not listed.  https://api.vatsim.net/api/ratings/1366052/atcsessions  Again, there is no "details" link on the VATSIM Statistics Center page for that session like there are on most other controlling sessions.

 

I talked to the controller in question about this session.  He recalls being primed up and connected to AFV, but said there was no traffic during that session.  I would assume that the API would still return the data for the session regardless of how much traffic was seen.

Edited December 1, 2020 by Kurt Ernstsen

[Kurt Ernstsen]

The above mentioned user controlled OKC_TWR again late last night, and reports seeing traffic.  That session IS being reported by https://api.vatsim.net/api/ratings/1366052/atcsessions.  I think there may be a bug in the API code that excludes atc sessions that have 0 aircraftseen, possibly???

[Ryan Bentley]

It seems that this information is present in the connections table but not present in the atcsessions table which would indicate the issue lies within FSD. I will look into this further and update you.

In the mean time, you can see the connection here: https://api.vatsim.net/api/ratings/1366052/connections/

[Kurt Ernstsen]

Any updates on this issue?  We're beta testing the new site now, and hope to release it to production later this week.  However I want to make sure the controller hour query is 100% correct before we release the new site.  Thanks.

[Ryan Bentley]

We do not yet have a solution but I will update you if this changes.

[Raihan Shahzad]

Similar issue has been brought to my attention from one of our member (1481995); some of his sessions without any traffic seen/handled are missing, such as a very recent session of him on VCBI_T_TWR 2021-04-20 19:44:12 2021-04-20 21:44:17 02:00:05 is missing and upon investigation further, i found that more session from him are missing which are not having any ATC Session Details.  Hence the API for atcsessions is not fetching data for connections which are not having any details https://api.vatsim.net/api/ratings/1481995/atcsessions/?page_size=10

Any possibility yet to include such sessions through API?