Listening field note
Which timecode problems should an interview index flag?
Flag impossible time shapes, end-before-start ranges, decreasing starts, overlaps, unusually long gaps, and missing timecodes, while distinguishing blocking structural errors from reviewable source characteristics.
Reject impossible rows atomically
A malformed delimited or caption row can shift the entire mapping; do not import a partial file and pretend it is complete. Write the decision in plain language and retain the original source separately so the index can be audited against something outside the browser project.
Overlaps can be legitimate
Cross-talk, caption practices, and multi-track sources can create valid overlaps. Surface them without universally declaring an error. Review the result as a retrieval aid rather than a conclusion. Human-authored fields must remain visibly distinct from exact source-derived text.
Missing time remains visible
Untimed passages can still be useful for text retrieval, but the exported reader should not invent a media locator. Carry the limitation into the frozen edition and passive handoff so a recipient can understand what was checked, what was not checked, and what remains their responsibility.