Can I use TMDB IDs for Plex?

Plex Media Server Metadata & Adding Files
1

Version 4.34.4

I’d like for Plex to match based on TMDB id. I have my directory structured using TMDB Ids, like this:

├───2316
│   └───7240
│        └───170135
│        └───170132
│        └───170134
│        └───170133
│        └───170130

2316 is the Series ID for “The Office”
7240 is the Season ID for Season 1
Under that are all of the episode IDs.

Is there any way for Plex to understand this? Any settings to switch to using IDs?

2

Yeap, you can use tmdb ids (I use them for everything) but not as you outlined. They need to use this type of format …

The Office (2001) {tmdb-2996}
The Office (2005) {tmdb-2316}

The id needs to preceded by tmdb- and it needs to be within {} brackets. The () is optional but I use it myself for my libraries. Plex does not use season ids to my knowledge only at the show or movie level.

1 Like
3

Ah, that’s unforunate. And Plex is not open source, right? I can’t write code and add my own features?

4

Nope, not open source. It’s their code and theirs alone.

5

Question… how do you manage your file structures with only numbers as reference?

Just curious about your setup being done this way. :slight_smile:

6

I was curious too… With only ids it world be difficult to find things quickly when there is large amount of folders.

7

I’m a software engineer and I’ve been a streaming site, complete with databases and other layers. It’s a whole system that I’ve build and it relies on this folder structure. I also built a tool that calls the TMDB API and gives me series and episode data.

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8

I guess in theory you could name the top level folder like this…

{tmdb-2996}
{tmdb-2316}

and it should work but won’t for series/seasons under that. They would need to match the SxxExx naming.

9

Ah! Gotcha! That’s pretty interesting and in that context makes sense.

Two pieces of software that come to mind - but based on your use you’re probably beyond them - are FileBot and Jellyfin. If you weren’t already aware of them they might be worth checking.

FileBot is a pretty comprehensive media renaming\matching software that has automation and CLI functionality that might be worth tapping as it can do the “plex friendly” naming including TMDB references … might be useful as reference at least for ideas for your own naming automation.

You might also look at Jellyfin for a media center as it is open source and more customization friendly. It’s pretty popular with more tech savvy folks (Plex is very consumer friendly) and as a software engineer you might find it more flexible for your setup.

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