Fix Story Intelligence progress and character identity review

PlotLine.Tests/Program.cs

@@ -186,7 +186,10 @@ var tests = new (string Name, Action Test)[]
     ("Story Intelligence character defaults link proposed existing matches", StoryIntelligenceCharacterDefaultsLinkProposedExistingMatches),
     ("Story Intelligence character defaults ignore generic references", StoryIntelligenceCharacterDefaultsIgnoreGenericReferences),
     ("Story Intelligence character defaults keep descriptive identities", StoryIntelligenceCharacterDefaultsKeepDescriptiveIdentities),
-    ("Story Intelligence alias dropdown uses canonical characters", StoryIntelligenceAliasDropdownUsesCanonicalCharacters),
+    ("Story Intelligence character review uses single identity decision", StoryIntelligenceCharacterReviewUsesSingleIdentityDecision),
+    ("Story Intelligence auto resolves exact known identities before review", StoryIntelligenceAutoResolvesExactKnownIdentitiesBeforeReview),
+    ("Story Intelligence character matching keeps ambiguous known names visible", StoryIntelligenceCharacterMatchingKeepsAmbiguousKnownNamesVisible),
+    ("Story Intelligence descriptive references consolidate articles", StoryIntelligenceDescriptiveReferencesConsolidateArticles),
     ("Story Intelligence review omits character metrics dashboard", StoryIntelligenceReviewOmitsCharacterMetricsDashboard),
     ("Story Intelligence resumed chapters use canonical labels", StoryIntelligenceResumedChaptersUseCanonicalLabels),
     ("Story Intelligence character review posts selected existing match", StoryIntelligenceCharacterReviewPostsSelectedExistingMatch),
@@ -528,6 +531,7 @@ static void StoryIntelligenceGlobalProgressSurvivesInitialSignalRStartRaces()
     var root = PlotLineRoot();
     var layout = File.ReadAllText(Path.Combine(root, "Views/Shared/_Layout.cshtml"));
     var script = File.ReadAllText(Path.Combine(root, "wwwroot/js/story-intelligence-global-progress.js"));
+    var pageScript = File.ReadAllText(Path.Combine(root, "wwwroot/js/story-intelligence-progress.js"));
 
     Assert(layout.Contains("User.Identity?.IsAuthenticated == true", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Authenticated pages should always render the global progress host so a later import can appear without a full refresh.");
     Assert(layout.Contains("data-story-intelligence-has-active-work", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Initial render should expose whether the hidden strip currently has active work.");
@@ -540,6 +544,10 @@ static void StoryIntelligenceGlobalProgressSurvivesInitialSignalRStartRaces()
     Assert(script.Contains("snapshotKey !== lastSnapshotKey", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Progress monotonicity should reset only when the active book scope changes.");
     Assert(script.Contains("snapshotScore < lastSnapshotScore", StringComparison.Ordinal), "A newer but backwards snapshot for the same book must not regress the banner.");
     Assert(script.Contains("StoryIntelligenceGlobalProgress]"), "Development builds should expose low-noise client diagnostics.");
+    Assert(pageScript.Contains("const startWithRetry = () =>", StringComparison.Ordinal), "The full progress page should retry initial SignalR start failures like the working global banner.");
+    Assert(pageScript.Contains("connection.onclose(() =>", StringComparison.Ordinal), "The full progress page should recover after automatic reconnect is exhausted.");
+    Assert(pageScript.Contains("plotdirector:story-intelligence-run-progress-applied", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Incremental run events should expose a handler-level signal after the matching DOM run is updated.");
+    Assert(pageScript.Contains("ignored run progress for unwatched run", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Development diagnostics should show when published run IDs do not match page DOM run IDs.");
 }
 
 static void StoryIntelligenceSceneAnalysisCompletionBarrierReleasesReview()
@@ -5481,22 +5489,55 @@ static void StoryIntelligenceCharacterDefaultsKeepDescriptiveIdentities()
         "Named new characters without an existing match should default to Create New.");
 }
 
-static void StoryIntelligenceAliasDropdownUsesCanonicalCharacters()
+static void StoryIntelligenceCharacterReviewUsesSingleIdentityDecision()
 {
     var root = Path.Combine(AppContext.BaseDirectory, "../../../../PlotLine");
     var service = File.ReadAllText(Path.Combine(root, "Services/StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportService.cs"));
     var model = File.ReadAllText(Path.Combine(root, "ViewModels/OnboardingViewModels.cs"));
     var view = File.ReadAllText(Path.Combine(root, "Views/Onboarding/StoryIntelligenceCharacters.cshtml"));
 
-    Assert(model.Contains("AliasTargetOptions", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Character review should expose canonical alias targets.");
+    Assert(model.Contains("ExistingCharacterOptions", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Character review should expose canonical existing-character targets.");
-    Assert(model.Contains("public int? AliasTargetCharacterID", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Alias submissions should post canonical CharacterID targets.");
-    Assert(service.Contains("AliasTargetOptions = existingOptions", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Alias target options should come from canonical existing characters.");
     Assert(service.Contains(".OrderBy(character => character.CharacterName, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase)", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Canonical alias targets should be alphabetically ordered.");
-    Assert(service.Contains("existingIndex.Find(choice.AliasTargetCharacterID)", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Import should resolve alias targets by canonical CharacterID.");
+    Assert(service.Contains("existingIndex.Find(choice.ExistingCharacterID)", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Import should resolve same-character targets by canonical CharacterID.");
     Assert(service.Contains("coreImportCharacterMapping.MapBookAsync(batch.ProjectID, batch.BookID)", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Character import should rerun deterministic scene-character mapping after accepted aliases or new characters.");
-    Assert(view.Contains("name=\"Characters[@i].AliasTargetCharacterID\"", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Alias dropdown should post canonical CharacterID values.");
+    Assert(view.Contains("Same character as existing", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Review should present one clear identity decision.");
-    Assert(view.Contains("Model.CharacterReview.AliasTargetOptions", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Alias dropdown should render canonical targets, not unresolved candidates.");
+    Assert(view.Contains("name=\"Characters[@i].ExistingCharacterID\"", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Same-character dropdown should post canonical CharacterID values.");
-    Assert(!view.Contains("Model.CharacterReview.Candidates.Where(target => !string.Equals(target.Key, candidate.Key", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Alias dropdown must not be populated from unresolved candidates.");
+    Assert(!view.Contains("Alias of another character", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Review should not expose competing alias-chain semantics.");
+    Assert(!view.Contains("data-character-alias-panel", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Review should not render a separate alias target panel.");
+}
+
+static void StoryIntelligenceAutoResolvesExactKnownIdentitiesBeforeReview()
+{
+    var root = Path.Combine(AppContext.BaseDirectory, "../../../../PlotLine");
+    var service = File.ReadAllText(Path.Combine(root, "Services/StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportService.cs"));
+    var candidateService = File.ReadAllText(Path.Combine(root, "Services/StoryIntelligenceReviewCandidateService.cs"));
+
+    Assert(service.Contains("ResolveAutomaticMatchesAsync", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Character import should expose deterministic auto-resolution before persisted review generation.");
+    Assert(service.Contains("IsAutoResolvableKnownIdentity", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Exact known identities should be recognised separately from proposed strong matches.");
+    Assert(service.Contains("existingIndex.Find(candidate.DisplayName)?.CharacterID == candidate.ExistingCharacterID.Value", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Only unambiguous preferred/short-name/alias lookup matches should auto-resolve.");
+    Assert(service.Contains("LinkCandidateAppearancesAsync(candidate, characterId", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Auto-resolution should preserve scene-character associations.");
+    Assert(candidateService.Contains("await characterImport.ResolveAutomaticMatchesAsync(batch)", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Persisted review preparation should resolve exact known identities before saving review rows.");
+}
+
+static void StoryIntelligenceCharacterMatchingKeepsAmbiguousKnownNamesVisible()
+{
+    var root = Path.Combine(AppContext.BaseDirectory, "../../../../PlotLine");
+    var service = File.ReadAllText(Path.Combine(root, "Services/StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportService.cs"));
+
+    Assert(service.Contains("Dictionary<string, List<CharacterMatch>> byName", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Known-name lookup should retain all CharacterID owners for an alias key.");
+    Assert(service.Contains("matches.Select(match => match.CharacterID).Distinct().Count() == 1", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Known-name lookup should only return a match when there is exactly one owner.");
+    Assert(service.Contains("HasAmbiguousExistingMatch", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Ambiguous known-name matches should be preserved on candidates.");
+    Assert(service.Contains("return StoryIntelligenceCharacterClassifications.Ambiguous", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Ambiguous known-name matches should remain visible for review.");
+}
+
+static void StoryIntelligenceDescriptiveReferencesConsolidateArticles()
+{
+    var root = Path.Combine(AppContext.BaseDirectory, "../../../../PlotLine");
+    var service = File.ReadAllText(Path.Combine(root, "Services/StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportService.cs"));
+
+    Assert(service.Contains("IsMergeableArticle", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Candidate keys should normalise safe leading articles.");
+    Assert(service.Contains("words.RemoveAt(0);", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Barman/the barman and Creepy guy/the creepy guy should collapse to one candidate key.");
+    Assert(service.Contains("candidate.Aliases.Add(name)", StringComparison.Ordinal), "Consolidated references should preserve alternate observed labels as aliases/evidence.");
 }
 
 static void StoryIntelligenceReviewOmitsCharacterMetricsDashboard()

PlotLine/Services/StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportService.cs

@@ -8,10 +8,13 @@ namespace PlotLine.Services;
 
 public interface IStoryIntelligenceCharacterImportService
 {
+    Task<StoryIntelligenceCharacterAutoResolutionResult> ResolveAutomaticMatchesAsync(OnboardingStoryIntelligenceBatch batch);
     Task<StoryIntelligenceCharacterReviewViewModel> BuildReviewAsync(OnboardingStoryIntelligenceBatch batch);
     Task<StoryIntelligenceImportCommitResult> ImportAsync(OnboardingStoryIntelligenceBatch batch, StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportForm form, bool completeReview);
 }
 
+public sealed record StoryIntelligenceCharacterAutoResolutionResult(int CandidatesResolved, int SceneAppearancesLinked);
+
 public sealed class StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportService(
     IStoryIntelligenceResultRepository runs,
     ICharacterRepository characters,
@@ -68,6 +71,60 @@ public sealed class StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportService(
     private static readonly Regex ParentheticalSuffix = new(@"\s*\([^)]*\)\s*$", RegexOptions.Compiled);
     private static readonly Regex LeadingQuantity = new(@"^\s*(\d+|one|two|three|four|five|six|seven|eight|nine|ten|several|some|many|few|couple|various|other)\s+", RegexOptions.IgnoreCase | RegexOptions.Compiled);
 
+    public async Task<StoryIntelligenceCharacterAutoResolutionResult> ResolveAutomaticMatchesAsync(OnboardingStoryIntelligenceBatch batch)
+    {
+        var data = await BuildCandidateDataAsync(batch);
+        if (!data.HasCommittedScenes)
+        {
+            return new StoryIntelligenceCharacterAutoResolutionResult(0, 0);
+        }
+
+        var lookupData = await characters.GetLookupsAsync(batch.ProjectID);
+        var roleTypes = lookupData.RoleTypes;
+        var presenceTypes = lookupData.PresenceTypes;
+        var existingIndex = await BuildCharacterIndexAsync(batch.ProjectID);
+        var resolvedNames = new Dictionary<string, int>(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        var resolvedCandidates = 0;
+        var linkedAppearances = 0;
+
+        foreach (var candidate in data.Candidates.Where(candidate => IsAutoResolvableKnownIdentity(candidate, existingIndex)))
+        {
+            var characterId = candidate.ExistingCharacterID!.Value;
+            AddResolvedName(resolvedNames, candidate.DisplayName, characterId);
+            foreach (var alias in candidate.Aliases)
+            {
+                AddResolvedName(resolvedNames, alias, characterId);
+            }
+
+            linkedAppearances += await LinkCandidateAppearancesAsync(candidate, characterId, roleTypes, presenceTypes, candidate.ExistingCharacterName ?? candidate.DisplayName, addAliasNames: false);
+            resolvedCandidates++;
+            AddDecision(batch, candidate.Key, StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportActions.LinkExisting, candidate.DisplayName, characterId, true);
+        }
+
+        foreach (var scene in data.SceneAnalyses)
+        {
+            var povName = Clean(scene.Parsed.PointOfView?.CharacterName);
+            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(povName) && resolvedNames.TryGetValue(povName, out var characterId))
+            {
+                await scenes.UpdatePovCharacterAsync(scene.SceneID, characterId);
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (resolvedCandidates > 0)
+        {
+            await coreImportCharacterMapping.MapBookAsync(batch.ProjectID, batch.BookID);
+            logger.LogInformation(
+                "Automatically resolved Story Intelligence character candidates. BatchID={BatchID} ProjectID={ProjectID} BookID={BookID} CandidatesResolved={CandidatesResolved} SceneAppearancesLinked={SceneAppearancesLinked}",
+                batch.BatchID,
+                batch.ProjectID,
+                batch.BookID,
+                resolvedCandidates,
+                linkedAppearances);
+        }
+
+        return new StoryIntelligenceCharacterAutoResolutionResult(resolvedCandidates, linkedAppearances);
+    }
+
     public async Task<StoryIntelligenceCharacterReviewViewModel> BuildReviewAsync(OnboardingStoryIntelligenceBatch batch)
     {
         var pipeline = await pipelineState.GetForBookAsync(batch.BookID, batch.UserID);
@@ -269,24 +326,17 @@ public sealed class StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportService(
 
             AddResolvedName(resolvedCharacters, candidate.DisplayName, characterId.Value);
             AddResolvedName(resolvedCharacters, importName, characterId.Value);
+            if (linkExisting)
+            {
+                await TryAddAliasAsync(characterId.Value, candidate.DisplayName, importName);
+            }
             foreach (var alias in candidate.Aliases)
             {
                 AddResolvedName(resolvedCharacters, alias, characterId.Value);
                 await TryAddAliasAsync(characterId.Value, alias, importName);
             }
 
-            foreach (var appearance in candidate.PresentAppearances.Concat(candidate.MentionedOnlyAppearances).Where(appearance => !appearance.AlreadyLinked))
+            linkedAppearances += await LinkCandidateAppearancesAsync(candidate, characterId.Value, roleTypes, presenceTypes, importName, addAliasNames: false);
-            {
-                await characters.SaveSceneCharacterAsync(new SceneCharacter
-                {
-                    SceneID = appearance.SceneID,
-                    CharacterID = characterId.Value,
-                    RoleInSceneTypeID = MatchRole(roleTypes, appearance.RoleInScene),
-                    PresenceTypeID = MatchPresence(presenceTypes, appearance.MentionedOnly),
-                    AppearanceNotes = appearance.Notes
-                });
-                linkedAppearances++;
-            }
 
             resolvedCandidateIds[candidate.Key] = characterId.Value;
             AddDecision(batch, candidate.Key, choice.Action, importName, characterId.Value, true);
@@ -343,18 +393,7 @@ public sealed class StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportService(
                 AddResolvedName(resolvedCharacters, alias, targetCharacterId.Value);
             }
 
-            foreach (var appearance in candidate.PresentAppearances.Concat(candidate.MentionedOnlyAppearances).Where(appearance => !appearance.AlreadyLinked))
+            linkedAppearances += await LinkCandidateAppearancesAsync(candidate, targetCharacterId.Value, roleTypes, presenceTypes, targetName, addAliasNames: false, aliasNoteTargetName: targetName);
-            {
-                await characters.SaveSceneCharacterAsync(new SceneCharacter
-                {
-                    SceneID = appearance.SceneID,
-                    CharacterID = targetCharacterId.Value,
-                    RoleInSceneTypeID = MatchRole(roleTypes, appearance.RoleInScene),
-                    PresenceTypeID = MatchPresence(presenceTypes, appearance.MentionedOnly),
-                    AppearanceNotes = BuildAliasAppearanceNote(candidate.DisplayName, targetName, appearance.Notes)
-                });
-                linkedAppearances++;
-            }
 
             aliased++;
             AddDecision(batch, candidate.Key, StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportActions.Alias, candidate.DisplayName, targetCharacterId.Value, true);
@@ -502,6 +541,7 @@ public sealed class StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportService(
         {
             var match = existingIndex.Find(name);
             candidate = new CharacterCandidate(key, name, match?.CharacterID, match?.CharacterName);
+            candidate.ApplyAmbiguousMatch(existingIndex.IsAmbiguous(name));
             groups[key] = candidate;
         }
         else if (!string.Equals(candidate.DisplayName, name, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
@@ -515,6 +555,8 @@ public sealed class StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportService(
             if (IsCharacterNameCandidate(cleanAlias) && !string.Equals(cleanAlias, candidate.DisplayName, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
             {
                 candidate.Aliases.Add(cleanAlias);
+                candidate.ApplyProposedMatch(existingIndex.Find(cleanAlias));
+                candidate.ApplyAmbiguousMatch(existingIndex.IsAmbiguous(cleanAlias));
             }
         }
 
@@ -667,18 +709,59 @@ public sealed class StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportService(
         {
             index.AddCharacter(character.CharacterID, character.CharacterName);
             index.Add(character.CharacterName, character.CharacterID, character.CharacterName);
-            index.Add(FirstName(character.CharacterName), character.CharacterID, character.CharacterName);
             index.Add(character.ShortName, character.CharacterID, character.CharacterName);
             foreach (var alias in await characters.ListAliasesAsync(character.CharacterID))
             {
                 index.Add(alias.Alias, character.CharacterID, character.CharacterName);
-                index.Add(FirstName(alias.Alias), character.CharacterID, character.CharacterName);
             }
         }
 
         return index;
     }
 
+    private static bool IsAutoResolvableKnownIdentity(CharacterCandidate candidate, CharacterIndex existingIndex)
+        => candidate.ExistingCharacterID.HasValue
+            && !candidate.HasAmbiguousExistingMatch
+            && !IsFamilyRoleOnly(candidate.DisplayName)
+            && existingIndex.Find(candidate.DisplayName)?.CharacterID == candidate.ExistingCharacterID.Value;
+
+    private async Task<int> LinkCandidateAppearancesAsync(
+        CharacterCandidate candidate,
+        int characterId,
+        IReadOnlyList<CharacterRoleInSceneType> roleTypes,
+        IReadOnlyList<PresenceType> presenceTypes,
+        string primaryName,
+        bool addAliasNames,
+        string? aliasNoteTargetName = null)
+    {
+        var linkedAppearances = 0;
+        if (addAliasNames)
+        {
+            await TryAddAliasAsync(characterId, candidate.DisplayName, primaryName);
+            foreach (var alias in candidate.Aliases)
+            {
+                await TryAddAliasAsync(characterId, alias, primaryName);
+            }
+        }
+
+        foreach (var appearance in candidate.PresentAppearances.Concat(candidate.MentionedOnlyAppearances).Where(appearance => !appearance.AlreadyLinked))
+        {
+            await characters.SaveSceneCharacterAsync(new SceneCharacter
+            {
+                SceneID = appearance.SceneID,
+                CharacterID = characterId,
+                RoleInSceneTypeID = MatchRole(roleTypes, appearance.RoleInScene),
+                PresenceTypeID = MatchPresence(presenceTypes, appearance.MentionedOnly),
+                AppearanceNotes = string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(aliasNoteTargetName)
+                    ? appearance.Notes
+                    : BuildAliasAppearanceNote(candidate.DisplayName, aliasNoteTargetName, appearance.Notes)
+            });
+            linkedAppearances++;
+        }
+
+        return linkedAppearances;
+    }
+
     private async Task TryAddAliasAsync(int characterId, string alias, string primaryName)
     {
         var cleanAlias = Clean(alias);
@@ -853,9 +936,9 @@ public sealed class StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportService(
             return StoryIntelligenceCharacterClassifications.NonCharacter;
         }
 
-        if (candidate.ExistingCharacterID.HasValue)
+        if (candidate.HasAmbiguousExistingMatch)
         {
-            return StoryIntelligenceCharacterClassifications.ExistingCharacter;
+            return StoryIntelligenceCharacterClassifications.Ambiguous;
         }
 
         if (StoryIntelligenceCharacterReviewDefaults.IsGenericContextualReference(name)
@@ -865,6 +948,11 @@ public sealed class StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportService(
             return StoryIntelligenceCharacterClassifications.GenericReference;
         }
 
+        if (candidate.ExistingCharacterID.HasValue)
+        {
+            return StoryIntelligenceCharacterClassifications.ExistingCharacter;
+        }
+
         if (candidate.Aliases.Count > 0)
         {
             return StoryIntelligenceCharacterClassifications.NewAlias;
@@ -1029,6 +1117,11 @@ public sealed class StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportService(
             .Where(word => !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(word))
             .ToList();
 
+        if (words.Count > 1 && IsMergeableArticle(words[0]))
+        {
+            words.RemoveAt(0);
+        }
+
         if (words.Count > 1 && IsMergeableTitle(words[0]))
         {
             words.RemoveAt(0);
@@ -1037,6 +1130,11 @@ public sealed class StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportService(
         return words;
     }
 
+    private static bool IsMergeableArticle(string value)
+        => value.Equals("the", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || value.Equals("a", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || value.Equals("an", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+
     private static List<string> WordsForFiltering(string? name)
         => CleanCharacterName(name)
             .Replace("/", " ", StringComparison.Ordinal)
@@ -1083,7 +1181,7 @@ public sealed class StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportService(
 
     private sealed class CharacterIndex
     {
-        private readonly Dictionary<string, CharacterMatch> byName = new(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        private readonly Dictionary<string, List<CharacterMatch>> byName = new(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
         private readonly Dictionary<int, CharacterMatch> byId = new();
         private readonly List<CharacterIndexRow> rows = [];
         private readonly List<CharacterIndexCharacter> characters = [];
@@ -1102,16 +1200,37 @@ public sealed class StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportService(
 
         public void Add(string? name, int characterId, string characterName)
         {
-            var key = Normalise(name);
+            var key = Normalise(CleanCharacterName(name));
             if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(key))
             {
-                byName.TryAdd(key, new CharacterMatch(characterId, characterName));
+                if (!byName.TryGetValue(key, out var matches))
+                {
+                    matches = [];
+                    byName[key] = matches;
+                }
+
+                if (matches.All(match => match.CharacterID != characterId))
+                {
+                    matches.Add(new CharacterMatch(characterId, characterName));
+                }
+
                 rows.Add(new CharacterIndexRow(name!, characterName));
             }
         }
 
         public CharacterMatch? Find(string name)
-            => byName.TryGetValue(Normalise(name), out var match) ? match : null;
+        {
+            if (!byName.TryGetValue(Normalise(CleanCharacterName(name)), out var matches))
+            {
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            return matches.Select(match => match.CharacterID).Distinct().Count() == 1 ? matches[0] : null;
+        }
+
+        public bool IsAmbiguous(string name)
+            => byName.TryGetValue(Normalise(CleanCharacterName(name)), out var matches)
+                && matches.Select(match => match.CharacterID).Distinct().Count() > 1;
 
         public CharacterMatch? Find(int? characterId)
             => characterId.HasValue && byId.TryGetValue(characterId.Value, out var match) ? match : null;
@@ -1125,14 +1244,46 @@ public sealed class StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportService(
     {
         public string Key { get; } = key;
         public string DisplayName { get; } = displayName;
-        public int? ExistingCharacterID { get; } = existingCharacterId;
+        public int? ExistingCharacterID { get; private set; } = existingCharacterId;
-        public string? ExistingCharacterName { get; } = existingCharacterName;
+        public string? ExistingCharacterName { get; private set; } = existingCharacterName;
+        public bool HasAmbiguousExistingMatch { get; private set; }
         public HashSet<string> Aliases { get; } = new(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
         public List<CharacterAppearanceImport> PresentAppearances { get; } = [];
         public List<CharacterAppearanceImport> MentionedOnlyAppearances { get; } = [];
         public decimal? Confidence { get; set; }
         public string? Description { get; set; }
         public string? FirstAppearanceNote { get; set; }
+
+        public void ApplyProposedMatch(CharacterMatch? match)
+        {
+            if (match is null || HasAmbiguousExistingMatch)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            if (ExistingCharacterID.HasValue && ExistingCharacterID.Value != match.CharacterID)
+            {
+                HasAmbiguousExistingMatch = true;
+                ExistingCharacterID = null;
+                ExistingCharacterName = null;
+                return;
+            }
+
+            ExistingCharacterID = match.CharacterID;
+            ExistingCharacterName = match.CharacterName;
+        }
+
+        public void ApplyAmbiguousMatch(bool isAmbiguous)
+        {
+            if (!isAmbiguous)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            HasAmbiguousExistingMatch = true;
+            ExistingCharacterID = null;
+            ExistingCharacterName = null;
+        }
     }
 
     private sealed record CharacterAppearanceImport(

PlotLine/Services/StoryIntelligenceReviewCandidateService.cs

@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ public sealed class StoryIntelligenceReviewCandidateService(
 
     public async Task PrepareCharacterCandidatesAsync(OnboardingStoryIntelligenceBatch batch)
     {
+        var automatic = await characterImport.ResolveAutomaticMatchesAsync(batch);
         var review = await characterImport.BuildReviewAsync(batch);
         await PersistAsync(
             batch,
@@ -50,6 +51,16 @@ public sealed class StoryIntelligenceReviewCandidateService(
             candidate => candidate.Classification,
             candidate => candidate.ExistingCharacterID,
             candidate => candidate.PossibleAliases.Take(5));
+        if (automatic.CandidatesResolved > 0)
+        {
+            logger.LogInformation(
+                "Persisted Story Intelligence character review omitted automatically resolved identities. BatchID={BatchID} ProjectID={ProjectID} BookID={BookID} CandidatesResolved={CandidatesResolved} SceneAppearancesLinked={SceneAppearancesLinked}",
+                batch.BatchID,
+                batch.ProjectID,
+                batch.BookID,
+                automatic.CandidatesResolved,
+                automatic.SceneAppearancesLinked);
+        }
     }
 
     public async Task PreparePeerCandidatesAsync(OnboardingStoryIntelligenceBatch batch)

PlotLine/Views/Onboarding/StoryIntelligenceCharacters.cshtml

@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
             {
                 <div class="story-review-card-actions">
                     <button class="btn btn-outline-primary btn-sm" type="button" data-character-bulk="create-all">Create all</button>
-                    <button class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm" type="button" data-character-bulk="link-existing">Link existing matches</button>
+                    <button class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm" type="button" data-character-bulk="link-existing">Use same-character matches</button>
                     <button class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm" type="button" data-character-bulk="ignore-all">Ignore all</button>
                     <button class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm" type="button" data-character-bulk="expand">Expand all</button>
                     <button class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm" type="button" data-character-bulk="collapse">Collapse all</button>
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@
                                     {
                                         <div class="story-review-note">
                                             <strong>Possible existing character</strong>
-                                            <p>@candidate.CharacterName may already be @candidate.ExistingCharacterName. Choose whether to link them or create a separate character.</p>
+                                            <p>@candidate.CharacterName may already be @candidate.ExistingCharacterName. Choose whether this is the same character or a separate character.</p>
                                         </div>
                                     }
 
@@ -114,11 +114,7 @@
                                         </label>
                                         <label>
                                             <input type="radio" name="Characters[@i].Action" value="@StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportActions.LinkExisting" data-character-action @(candidate.CanLinkExisting ? string.Empty : "disabled") @(IsDefault(candidate, StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportActions.LinkExisting) ? "checked" : string.Empty) />
-                                            Link existing character
+                                            Same character as existing
-                                        </label>
-                                        <label>
-                                            <input type="radio" name="Characters[@i].Action" value="@StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportActions.Alias" @(IsDefault(candidate, StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportActions.Alias) ? "checked" : string.Empty) data-character-action />
-                                            Alias of another character
                                         </label>
                                         <label>
                                             <input type="radio" name="Characters[@i].Action" value="@StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportActions.Ignore" @(IsDefault(candidate, StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportActions.Ignore) ? "checked" : string.Empty) data-character-action />
@@ -127,7 +123,7 @@
                                     </fieldset>
 
                                     <div data-character-existing-panel hidden>
-                                        <label class="form-label" for="character-existing-@i">Existing character</label>
+                                        <label class="form-label" for="character-existing-@i">Same character as</label>
                                         <select id="character-existing-@i" class="form-select" name="Characters[@i].ExistingCharacterID" data-character-existing-target>
                                             <option value="">Choose character...</option>
                                             @foreach (var existing in candidate.ExistingCharacterOptions)
@@ -148,18 +144,6 @@
                                         <label class="form-label" for="character-import-name-@i">Import name</label>
                                         <input id="character-import-name-@i" class="form-control" name="Characters[@i].ImportName" value="@candidate.ImportName" />
                                     </div>
-
-                                    <div data-character-alias-panel hidden>
-                                        <label class="form-label" for="character-alias-target-@i">Alias target</label>
-                                        <p class="form-text">Treats both identities as the same physical character and keeps this manuscript name as an alias/reference.</p>
-                                        <select id="character-alias-target-@i" class="form-select" name="Characters[@i].AliasTargetCharacterID" data-character-alias-target>
-                                            <option value="">Choose character...</option>
-                                            @foreach (var target in Model.CharacterReview.AliasTargetOptions)
-                                            {
-                                                <option value="@target.CharacterID" data-canonical="true">@target.CharacterName</option>
-                                            }
-                                        </select>
-                                    </div>
                                 </div>
                             </details>
                         }
@@ -202,44 +186,12 @@
                 }
             };
             const actionFor = (card) => card.querySelector("[data-character-action]:checked")?.value || "@StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportActions.CreateNew";
-            const isCanonicalTarget = (card) => {
-                const action = actionFor(card);
-                return action !== "@StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportActions.Ignore" && action !== "@StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportActions.Alias";
-            };
-            const updateAliasTargets = () => {
-                const allCards = cards();
-                for (const card of allCards) {
-                    const body = card.querySelector("[data-character-key]");
-                    const ownKey = body?.getAttribute("data-character-key") || "";
-                    const select = card.querySelector("[data-character-alias-target]");
-                    if (!select) continue;
-
-                    const previous = select.value;
-                    for (const option of Array.from(select.options)) {
-                        if (!option.value) continue;
-                        if (option.dataset.canonical === "true") {
-                            option.disabled = false;
-                            continue;
-                        }
-                        const targetCard = allCards.find(item => item.querySelector("[data-character-key]")?.getAttribute("data-character-key") === option.value);
-                        option.disabled = option.value === ownKey || !targetCard || !isCanonicalTarget(targetCard);
-                    }
-                    if (select.selectedOptions[0]?.disabled) {
-                        select.value = "";
-                    } else {
-                        select.value = previous;
-                    }
-                }
-            };
             const updateCard = (card) => {
                 const action = actionFor(card);
                 const namePanel = card.querySelector("[data-character-import-name-panel]");
-                const aliasPanel = card.querySelector("[data-character-alias-panel]");
                 const existingPanel = card.querySelector("[data-character-existing-panel]");
-                if (namePanel) namePanel.hidden = action === "@StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportActions.Ignore" || action === "@StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportActions.Alias" || action === "@StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportActions.LinkExisting";
+                if (namePanel) namePanel.hidden = action === "@StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportActions.Ignore" || action === "@StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportActions.LinkExisting";
                 if (existingPanel) existingPanel.hidden = action !== "@StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportActions.LinkExisting";
-                if (aliasPanel) aliasPanel.hidden = action !== "@StoryIntelligenceCharacterImportActions.Alias";
-                updateAliasTargets();
             };
             document.querySelectorAll("[data-character-bulk]").forEach(button => {
                 button.addEventListener("click", () => {

PlotLine/wwwroot/js/story-intelligence-progress.js

@@ -14,6 +14,15 @@
     .flatMap((root) => (root.dataset.storyIntelligenceRunIds || "").split(","))
     .map((value) => value.trim())
     .filter(Boolean))];
+  const diagnosticsEnabled =
+    location.hostname === "localhost"
+    || location.hostname === "127.0.0.1"
+    || location.hostname.startsWith("dev.");
+  const log = (message, data) => {
+    if (diagnosticsEnabled && window.console?.debug) {
+      window.console.debug(`[StoryIntelligenceProgress] ${message}`, data || "");
+    }
+  };
 
   const numberText = (value) => {
     const number = Number.parseInt(value ?? "0", 10);
@@ -399,14 +408,17 @@
   const applyRunProgress = (state) => {
     const runId = field(state, "runID", "RunID") || field(state, "runId", "RunId");
     if (!runId) {
+      log("ignored run progress without run id", state);
       return;
     }
 
+    let matched = false;
     onboardingRoots.forEach((root) => {
       const chapter = root.querySelector(`[data-story-run-id="${runId}"]`);
       if (!chapter) {
         return;
       }
+      matched = true;
 
       const status = field(state, "status", "Status") || "Pending";
       const stage = field(state, "currentStage", "CurrentStage") || status;
@@ -527,6 +539,19 @@
 
       recalculateOnboardingTotals(root);
     });
+
+    if (!matched) {
+      log("ignored run progress for unwatched run", {
+        runId,
+        watchedRunIds: runIds,
+        payload: state
+      });
+    } else {
+      log("applied run progress", { runId, status: field(state, "status", "Status"), completedScenes: field(state, "completedScenes", "CompletedScenes") });
+      document.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent("plotdirector:story-intelligence-run-progress-applied", {
+        detail: { runId: String(runId), state }
+      }));
+    }
   };
 
   const connection = new signalR.HubConnectionBuilder()
@@ -537,23 +562,40 @@
   connection.on("StoryIntelligenceProgressChanged", applyLegacyProgress);
   connection.on("StoryIntelligenceRunProgressChanged", applyRunProgress);
   connection.onreconnected(() => {
+    log("SignalR reconnected");
     legacyJobIds.forEach((jobId) => connection.invoke("WatchStoryIntelligenceJob", jobId).then(applyLegacyProgress).catch(() => {}));
     runIds.forEach((runId) => connection.invoke("WatchStoryIntelligenceRun", Number.parseInt(runId, 10)).then(applyRunProgress).catch(() => {}));
   });
+  connection.onclose(() => {
+    log("SignalR closed; retrying start");
+    startWithRetry();
+  });
 
-  connection.start()
+  let startRetryTimer = null;
-    .then(() => Promise.all([
+  const startWithRetry = () => {
+    window.clearTimeout(startRetryTimer);
+    connection.start()
+      .then(() => {
+        log("SignalR connected", { runIds, legacyJobIds });
+        return Promise.all([
       ...legacyJobIds.map((jobId) => connection.invoke("WatchStoryIntelligenceJob", jobId)),
       ...runIds.map((runId) => connection.invoke("WatchStoryIntelligenceRun", Number.parseInt(runId, 10)))
-    ]))
+        ]);
-    .then((states) => {
+      })
-      states.filter(Boolean).forEach((state) => {
+      .then((states) => {
-        if (field(state, "runID", "RunID") || field(state, "runId", "RunId")) {
+        states.filter(Boolean).forEach((state) => {
-          applyRunProgress(state);
+          if (field(state, "runID", "RunID") || field(state, "runId", "RunId")) {
-        } else {
+            applyRunProgress(state);
-          applyLegacyProgress(state);
+          } else {
-        }
+            applyLegacyProgress(state);
+          }
+        });
+      })
+      .catch(() => {
+        log("SignalR start or watch failed; retrying");
+        startRetryTimer = window.setTimeout(startWithRetry, 2000);
       });
-    })
+  };
-    .catch(() => {});
+
+  startWithRetry();
 })();