Doing the Plex "two step" dance

[ukbo0]

Dear Forum Members & Plex Devs

Ever since I started to use Plex, back in 2012, there has always been this problem of Plex replacing user entered data with it’s, sometimes wildly, erroneous data. And instead of fixing this long-standing bug, Plex has instead add facilities (some buggy) that most users neither want or use.

Now, I would have thought that it would be relatively easy to add a “User Fixed Update” option, to the Plex individual icon sub menu, that prevents Plex from making any further amendments to a Movie or TV series. That would cure a problem that’s been around far longer than necessary, i.e. well over a decade.

So Plex, for goodness sake, fix this problem that has existed since Plex’s first iteration (early 2000) up to and including the present day.

UK Bob

PS. No more doing the Plex two step dance.

[pshanew]

You could alway just try to follow Plex’s naming and organization guidelines.
https://support.plex.tv/articles/naming-and-organizing-your-movie-media-files/

https://support.plex.tv/articles/naming-and-organizing-your-tv-show-files/

That would likely resolve most of your issues. If not, specific examples would be required.

[ukbo0]

Hi Pshanew

Thanks for your quick reply, but I must point out that your suggestion, unfortunately, has been suggested before and I have followed them. And although the most egregious auto-updates no longer occur, this does not stop the Plex “two step” dance from reoccurring.

Here’s what I’ve found out over my 14 years of using Plex.

Plex is a good all round media database, but it does have flaws, e.g. no way to enter the main stars of a movie or TV series. However, that flaw, and some others, can be overlooked because they do not prevent the overall enjoyment of using Plex, i.e. the storage and playing of media.

However, the one bugbear that annoys me above anything else is when Plex picks a particular TV series and decides to constantly update/amend the main page to something else. And no matter how many times I correct those incorrect auto-amendments, Plex, a few days later, would change my correct amendments back to the incorrect ones, e.g. Invasion changed to Secret Invasion, Wednesday changed to My Wednesday and so on.

At this point I would like to make this clear, of the 85 plus TV series I have Plex only picks 3 or 4 of them to auto-update with incorrect data.

And you know something Pshanew, I have been through this rodeo before, just like other forum members have. And admittedly, some of the most problematic problems have been cured by adding imdb, tvdb or tmdb identification numbers to the movie or TV file names, as well as some other formatting corrections. But, unfortunately, the Plex “two step” still remains undefeated, just like gravity.

So, I sincerely believe that the only way to beat this “two step” bug is to add a user option that prevents Plex from auto-updating individual movies or TV series, either via a tick box or an added menu option.

Please let me know if there is anything in my reply that is unclear or confusing, or if you have any other questions.

UK Bob

[OttoKerner]

I still haven’t found out what “2-step” dance you’re talking about.

Please show the (actual) folder names of those series which give you grief.

[ukbo0]

Hi Otto K

At the moment, it’s 3.17 am in my neck of the woods but later on, when I’ve had some sleep, I will try and attach some screen prints to my next post.

UK Bob

[ukbo0]

Hi Otto K

I’ve got some screen prints to share, as an example of this Plex “two step” I’m plagued with, but I do not know how to link or upload them to the forum.

Some simple, Jack & Jill type, instructions would be appreciated, simple enough for a 70+ year old man can understand.

Cheers.

UK Bob

[napolij]

Look for this icon when you are creating a post . You can use it to upload images, logs, etc.

[FordGuy61]

@ukbo0

Invasion changed to Secret Invasion, Wednesday changed to My Wednesday and so on.

Please show exactly how you have the shows named and organized. A directory listing, screenshot, etc. Include the folder added to the tv show library and the file extension (mkv/mp4/etc).

You can do this easily with Plex Web. On a tv show episode page, click on the pencil icon (edit). When the edit window opens, choose Info. This shows the full path to the file. Take a screenshot and post it to the thread.

[OttoKerner]

@ukbo0

Some simple, Jack & Jill type, instructions would be appreciated, simple enough for a 70+ year old man can understand.

If you have the screenshot already as a .jpg or .png file, you can drag this file into the message editor of the forum with your mouse.

Another method would be to use the computer’s clipboard.
For instance if you are using Windows, you can open the “Snipping Tool” app.
It allows you to easily capture an area of your screen, then either save that into a file, or copy it onto the clipboard.
You can then paste this screenshot into the message editor of this forum. (the keyboard shortcut for pasting is the decades-old CTRL+V combination)

[ukbo0]

Hi Guys

I am unable to give a proper reply at the moment because I am about half-way through configuring my new modem, supplied by my new ISP. However, my new modem does not have a user manual, the ISP did not write one, so I am scrambling to assemble info/instructions that should help configure my modem to see all my wired and wireless devices.

As you can imagine, (and I can hear you asking) why did I choose such a restrictive |SP. Well, it wasn’t my direct choice but an arrangement between two partner companies, my former ISP would no longer support (the now old-fashioned) LAN line house phones, while my new ISP still supported my phone, albeit with a new digital line, i.e. no ADSL filter on the LAN line. So, I was transferred over from one company to another with very little inter-action from me.

Anyway, I now have a modem (the EE Smart Hub Plus) that I must now configure without the use of a manual.

Gonna take a bit of time

UK Bob

PS. I will make a proper “two-step” reply asap.

[ukbo0]

Hi Fellow Forum Users

I am now able to show, with screen prints, the Plex 2-Step.

As you can see, Plex changed Invasion to Secret Invasion, I have changed this Plex auto-mistake more than half-a-dozen times back to “Invasion Season Two” but Plex keeps auto-changing back to “Secret Invasion”.

As you can now see, Plex as also deleted my data and replaced it with “Secret Invasion” data.

The Tag page has also been rewritten with “Secret Invasion” data, at this point I am fed up with replacing Plex’s incorrect data with correct info only for Plex to come along a week or two later and change everything back to garbage info and pictures (which follows).

I must point out that whenever I enter TV program/season data in my database I also use IMDB, TVDB and/or TMDB reference index/reference numbers, alongside the TV program’s file name, to identify the TV item I am entering.

So, I am at a loss on how to stop Plex from auto-entering wrong data, thus erasing my correct data.

Please note, of the fifty-plus TV seasons I have this only happens to three (3) programs, that is:-

Invasion Season 2 changed to Secret Invasion

Wednesday Season 2 changed to My Wednesday (a South Korean or Japanese program [I can’t tell which]).

Rick And Morty Season 7 changed to Rick And Morty Anime.

Finally, I don’t know how or why Plex chooses to continually change the data and picture information for these three programs but it does, and I am so fed up with it.

Any suggestions will be gratefully received.

UK Bob

PS. The 1st step - Enter data with correct data and posters.

2nd step - Plex auto-replaces data with incorrect data and adds pictures and images not related to the original information.

Repeat forever.

[FordGuy61]

Please show exactly how you have the shows named and organized. A directory listing, screenshot, etc. Include the folder added to the tv show library and the file extension (mkv/mp4/etc).

You can do this easily with Plex Web. On a tv show episode page, click on the pencil icon (edit). When the edit window opens, choose Info. This shows the full path to the file. Take a screenshot and post it to the thread.

[Divideby0]

When this first came, I started to suspect that the show was disappearing and reappearing, which - if automatic trash collection is enabled - could explain the show dropping ALL information.

I think two things are happening:

1. The user has the media on an unstable drive, likely an external drive. Either it gets unmounted, or spins down long enough that Plex cannot detect the contents of the drive, and marks it for deletion. With trash collection turned on, it is removed, and all custom changes are eliminated.

and

2. The OP does not have the media labelled correctly. Likely, the folder is not called “Invasion (2021)”. When the show is scanned by Plex, it is probably matching to the more popular Marvel show “Secret Invasion”. Including the year in the folder should help, but to be absolutely sure, they can include the TMDB or TVDB or IMDB ID in the folder name to guarantee a correct match.

If I am wrong on either/both points, let me know.

EDIT: I find it interesting that the OP keeps insisting that Invasion Season 2 keeps changing to Secret Invasion Season 2. Not “invasion changes to Secret Invasion”. No mention of season 1. Is the user adding all TV Show seasons to the root of the TV Shows folder monitored by Plex? Or perhaps adding each show one-by-one to the library by editing the source and targeting the season folders?

Either way, Wednesday showing up as My Wednesday is a classic case of improper folder labeling.

[ukbo0]

Hi FordGuy61 and Divideby0

Guys, sorry for taken “a time” to reply to your replies, but as you can guess, life gets in the way.

Anyway, due to the lengths and complexity of your replies, I intend to go through Devideby0’s email first and get back to FordGuy61’s later on.

OK, Devideby0

Your first para “I started to suspect that the show was disappearing and reappearing…”
Well, that does not happen, the programs are just changed and I know this because the posters that I personally enter (main and individual programs) do not change. Therefore, my data (only) is not being automatically trashed, just changed.

Now, your two thoughts:-

1. Interesting thought but I use NAS drives to hold my entertainment databases, nothing is held on my PC, except pre-entry data, or any other external drives I may be experimenting with (not bad for a 70+ish man). And as you know, NAS drives are designed to be stable and long lasting.

2. Incorrect media labelling, as I said before, my directory/folder labels contain the shows name, the shows year and either the IMDB or TVDB index/ref number.

At this point, I must admit that before I started to use IMDB, TVDB or TMDB refs the “two-step” problem was worse, i.e. upto 20 or so percent of my TV program’s database. However, since I started to use those reference the “two-step” problem has largely been cured, as of now, there are only three hold-outs I’ve mentioned.

Your EDIT.

Yes it is interesting, season 1 of “Invasion” is not touched, only season 2. Another thing, why is season 7 of “Rick And Morty” changed to “Rick And Morty Anime” with the Japaness actors information, including pictures, added to that programs info. And where does “My Wednesday” comes from? Remember, all these programs have their IMDB and/or TVDB refs in their directory/folder names.

Just one final thing, I have been using Plex for 14 or so years now and this “two-step” problem has always been around but for the most part it is now under control (again, except for the three hold-outs).

I hope I have answered your questions and cleared up any queries you may still have, but if I have spawned any futher queries then “hit me up”. I may take a bit of time to answer but, if I can, I will eventually answer.

FordGuy61

Hi FG61, time is my enemy at the moment. I will get back to you with the screen prints you ask for as soon as I can.

Back soon.

UK Bob

[Divideby0]

Okay. Thanks for ruling out my theories. That can help rule out a bunch of possibilities. I myself have my videos mounted in my NAS, with the server pulling from that very stable source as well. What you had described was fairly typical for a USB-mounted drive, so I just wanted to bring that up as a possibility.

What I’d like next is likely what FordGuy has asked you for, but to double check let’s make sure to get a screen-grab of:

• The library “Add Folders” panel. Click the triple dot ... menu on your library, and click Manage Library > Edit. Ideally, you’d have just one folder here, but some people can have more complex cases, such as splitting a TV Show library by letters across multiple hard drives if they have multiple GB of shows. Example:
  
• FordGuy suggests you take the Media Info panel screenshot. Click triple dot on any episode in your “Invasion” series, and click “Get Info”. Example:
  
  

I have a new theory, but I will hold off on voicing it until these screens are taken.