Client Profiles - Do these get overwritten?

Plex Players Gaming Consoles
1

Server Version#: 1.13.6.5339
Player Version#: 2.16.2

Do the XML files for each client profile (ie. Xbox One.xml) get overwritten after each update? The reason I ask is that the default Xbox One.xml profile seems to prefer AAC to AC3 for audio trancodes. This causes SERIOUSLY poor/low audio for basically all my files since they are DTS and thus have to be transcoded on the Xbox One. Changing the profile settings to prefer AC3 seems to fix the issue but if this gets overwritten after each update the fix becomes untenable.

Can anyone speak to this?

2

If you place a custom XML file in the Profiles directory, which you create under Plex Media Server, it is never overwritten and always loaded in favor of the distribution default profile.

If the default profile has been loaded (used once), PMS must be restarted in order for the customized profile to take precedence or be updated. This is because they are loaded into memory at first use and not read again.

3

So I shouldn’t just edit the Xbox One.xml? How does the Xbox One client know to use the custom XML and not the default Xbox One.xml profile?

4

you put it in the Profiles directory and restart server as he said. after you restart ones there take precedence

5

I see what he said but it wasn’t (and still isn’t) very clear. So I create a new Profile (ie. Xbox One New.xml). Do I delete the default Xbox One.xml? If not and both are there, how does the Xbox know to use the Xbox One New.xml over the Xbox One.xml?

6

No, Don’t edit the one you find is the distributed copy. I overwrite all distribution files when installing.

Additionally, because you’re modifying the XML tagged to a specific build ID (the code you see), it will never migrate forward as you update.

Only the Profiles directory in your Plex Library is held safe with software updates, downgrades, re-installation.

7

Every XML I’ve referred to in this thread is in the /usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resourcse/Profiles directory. Is there some other directory that has XML’s?

8

Yes, there is another. The master copy. The one PMS uses when you don’t have a custom profile.

[chuck@lizum Profiles.107]$ pwd
/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Profiles
[chuck@lizum Profiles.108]$ ls
Android.xml                       Opera.xml                          Sonos.xml
Asus Transformer Prime TF201.xml  Panasonic Viera 3D TV.xml          Sony Blu-ray 2013.xml
Chromecast.xml                    PlayStation 3 App.xml              Sony Blu-ray.xml
Chrome.xml                        PlayStation 3.xml                  Sony Bravia 2010.xml
cloudsync.xml                     PlayStation 4 App.xml              Sony Bravia 2011.xml
Firefox.xml                       Plexamp.xml                        Sony Bravia 2012.xml
Generic.xml                       Plex Desktop.xml                   Sony Bravia 2013.xml
HTML TV App.xml                   Plex Home Theater-RaspberryPi.xml  Sony Streaming Player.xml
Internet Explorer.xml             Plex Home Theater.xml              sugar.cmake
iOS-iPad-1,1.xml                  Popcorn Hour.xml                   tvOS.xml
9

OK, that’s where I was editing the Xbox One.xml as it’s the only spot I’ve found profiles. What is the directory I should be creating this default profile in?

10

It will be overwritten when the installer runs. Guaranteed.

Place your custom profile in

/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Profiles

Only the profiles placed here are held safe during updates.

Also be advised, you must create the Profiles directory in your Library and assign it as plex:plex ownership

1 Like
11

Ah OK I have to create the Profiles directory…that explains why I didn’t see it. Thanks for the detailed explanation.

12

You’re welcome.

It’s not created by default because XML profile writing is not for the timid. :slight_smile:

1 Like
13

Is there some way to confirm via logs what profile is being used? And do I need to name my custom profiles the same or different from the default ones?

14

The clients are keyed to the XML names.
The only distinction between stock versus customized is the file location (in your “Library”)
The logs will confirm only by reporting their behavior, typically when the MDE (Media Decision Engine) engages to determine how to play an item.

15

Ok so it doesn’t appear that my custom profile is being used because it’s still converting DTS audio to AAC instead of AC3 even though I have the order as “ac3, aac, etc.”

16

As initially stated, profile writing is not for the timid.

There is a learning curve to figure out how it layers and interacts

17

So simply switching the order of AC3 an AAC does not suffice?

18

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