def write_deployment(self, campaign_key, deployment_data, extras):
        """
        Write the deployment data to the db, and return a key.
        """

        start_time_stamp = datetime.datetime.strptime(extras[3], '%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S.%fZ')
        end_time_stamp = datetime.datetime.strptime(extras[4], '%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S.%fZ')

        # check if the deployment already exists
        deployments = Deployment.objects.filter(start_time_stamp=start_time_stamp,
                                                short_name=deployment_data['title'],
                                                )

        if deployments.count() > 0:
            print "Deployment %s already exists." % deployments[0].short_name
            return deployments[0].id

        deployment = Deployment(start_time_stamp=start_time_stamp,
                                end_time_stamp=end_time_stamp,
                                short_name=deployment_data['title'][:100],
                                mission_aim=deployment_data['description'],
                                type="SVAM",
                                operator="",
                                start_position=extras[0],
                                end_position=extras[1],
                                transect_shape=extras[2],
                                min_depth=extras[5],
                                max_depth=extras[6],
                                contact_person="",
                                descriptive_keywords="",
                                license="")
        deployment.campaign_id = campaign_key
        deployment.save()

        return deployment.id
    def write_deployment(self, campaign_key, deployment_data):
        """
        Write the deployment data to the db, and return a key.
        """

        # check if the deployment already exists
        deployments = Deployment.objects.filter(start_time_stamp=deployment_data['start_time_stamp'], short_name=deployment_data['short_name'])

        if deployments.count() > 0:
            print "Deployment %s already exists." % deployments[0].short_name
            return deployments[0].id

        deployment = Deployment(**deployment_data)
        deployment.campaign_id = campaign_key
        deployment.save()

        return deployment.id