Would be great if we could apply / build the same collections across multiple libraries.
For example, I keep separate SD, HD, and UHD movie libraries. (Yes, I know Plex can choose the best version and/or transcode, but I’m trying to keep the stress on the CPU to a minimum). I give my users access to the libraries that I know their devices can support, which avoids anyone accidentally selecting a 4K movie and forcing a transcode.
Within each library, I keep collections like “Awards” or “Superheros” or “Sports”. It would be great if those collections could exist and be populated across libraries.
“Dumb” collections are already linked across libraries, if they have the same title.
If I understand what you’re saying, I should see any collection (ex: “Faves”) in both libraries. And within that same “Faves” collection, I should have all of the movies that exist in both collections if they exist within that library. UHD “Faves” and HD “Faves” should both have Star Wars, but only HD “Faves” has The Italian Job because I only have it 1080p and not 4K.
Thats not what I’m seeing.
Here is an example where I’ve added 2 tv shows, 2 movies and one musical artist into collections by the same name.
This is the view when I enter the Collection from my tv show library.
If you enter the preplay page of any of the included tv shows or movies, you will see a similar display further down on these pages.
If you have the same title in 2 different libraries, you may see unexpected results.
Because both libraries contain the same “movie”. There will probably only one instance of every title appear in the collection.
If you want your SD, HD, and UHD versions to appear as distinct titles, you may have to turn them into distinct editions. https://support.plex.tv/articles/multiple-editions/
Thanks for the explanation. Not sure I want to use the “editions” hack since they aren’t actually different editions. That would just add to my complications by having LOTR Theatrical in 3 different libraries.
I know Plex doesn’t really want me splitting up my mobile, HD and UHD libraries, and would rather I just play the right version or transcode. As my movie library has grown, I’ve been looking for a way to streamline the activities that are used across multiple libraries – for movies and music, for that matter.
When I choose cover art, it would be nice if it changed the cover art on the movies that are in multiple libraries (mobile, HD, UHD, etc). Similarly, I have “sports” or “sleeping” or “awards” or “faves” collections in each library, and it would be nice if it just somehow imported the same titles into those collections without needing to do something manually. Maybe thats just lazy of me.
Thanks as always for your help.
Just checked.
It works for manually created collections.
But, if I have collection already created by PMS in one library - I can’t create same named collection in another library.
Correction - can create same named, but can’t rename to same name.
Hello. Similar question… I have 18 libraries setup in my environment vs. for example just 1 for TV shows and 1 for Movies. The reason is I keep smaller libraries for portability as I grow them and have the flexibility quarterly, annually, etc. to move libraries to balance across 2 NAS arrays. I have 105 collections setup on my server. I keep a spreadsheet with them all listed and which libraries they are associated with since it was a pain to have to check each library when a new show or movie was added and I needed to match the Collection name to keep them all linked. Ideally (or add a new collection name), what I would love to see is a single location/page where I could enter and manage the Consolidated Collections on my server from one page that all the libraries would use. I’m assuming that is not possible so if I use a Collection name to link movies and TV shows in numerous libraries I need to go to each library and manage/add that name?
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