[Feature request] Local extras recognition enhancement

Feature Suggestions
1

Hi,

 

First of I'd like to say that I've read this: https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200220677

I'd like to propose an enhancement to this. It's missing the availability to recognize the extras in folders that contain multiple movies.

 

Eg.

/Movie folder 1
  Movie 1.ext
  Movie 2.ext
  Movie 3.ext
/Movie folder 2
  Movie 4.ext
  Movie 5.ext
  Movie 6.ext

I'd like to add to some of those movie additional extras (to those suplied automatically by PMS).

For eg. like this:

/Movie folder 1
  Movie 1.ext
  Movie 2.ext
  Movie 2-extra name-scene.ext
  Movie 2-extra name-deleted.ext
  Movie 3.ext

/Movie folder 2

  Movie 4.ext

  Movie 4-extra name-trailer.ext

  Movie 5.ext

  Movie 6.ext

  Movie 6-extra name-interview.ext

Where 'extra name' is the name displayed in the library and '-' at the end is the standard extras type as stated here: https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200220677

 

2

Real life example please.

3 
/S
  Saving Private Ryan (1998).mkv
  Saving Private Ryan (1998)-An Introduction-behindthescenes.mkv
  Saving Private Ryan (1998)-Boot Camp-behindthescenes.mkv
  Saving Private Ryan (1998)-Teaser-trailer.mkv
  Saving Private Ryan (1998)-Trailer-trailer.mkv
/W
  Whiteout (2009).mkv
  Whiteout (2009)-Deleted Scenes-deleted.mkv
  Whiteout (2009)-From Page To Screen-interview.mkv
  Whiteout (2009)-The Coldest Thriller Ever-interview.mkv

Is this what you're looking for ?

4

The second (real life) example you provided seems inconsistent with the initial mock up (or, at least doesn't fully demonstrate the issue). I assume you mean that the Saving Private Ryan files (movie and extras) would sit in an "S" directory alongside other movies (in your case, I'm assuming other movies that being with the letter s).

Correct me if I'm wrong, but another applicable example could simply be:

/Movies
  Saving Private Ryan (1998).mkv
  Saving Private Ryan (1998)-An Introduction-behindthescenes.mkv
  Saving Private Ryan (1998)-Boot Camp-behindthescenes.mkv
  Saving Private Ryan (1998)-Teaser-trailer.mkv
  Saving Private Ryan (1998)-Trailer-trailer.mkv
  Whiteout (2009).mkv
  Whiteout (2009)-Deleted Scenes-deleted.mkv
  Whiteout (2009)-From Page To Screen-interview.mkv
  Whiteout (2009)-The Coldest Thriller Ever-interview.mkv

In this case, the extras for Saving Private Ryan or Whiteout would not be picked up correctly based on the following requirement from the support page:

"Local extras can be located alongside the main movie file in a directory named for the movie."

As such, Plex is expecting to see:

/Movies
  /Saving Private Ryan (1998)
    Saving Private Ryan (1998).mkv
    An Introduction-behindthescenes.mkv
    Boot Camp-behindthescenes.mkv
    Teaser-trailer.mkv
    Trailer-trailer.mkv
  /Whiteout (2009)
    Whiteout (2009).mkv
    Deleted Scenes-deleted.mkv
    From Page To Screen-interview.mkv
    The Coldest Thriller Ever-interview.mkv

If I understand this request correctly, then I'd say it makes sense.

My personal preference is to have folders for each movie (I stored extras in the folders prior to the feature in Plex), but I know many prefer not to, so the extras feature should be able to support that.

The only thing I'm wondering about is that I think Plex already treats "Saving Private Ryan (1998).mkv", "Saving Private Ryan (1998) 720.mkv", and "Saving Private Ryan (1998) any text.mkv" as multiple versions of the film. But, since you would end each extra file with the proper '-', hopefully it won't be difficult for them to implement.

5

Yes, you're right. Sorry for not adding the movies without the extras to the example.

/S
  Saving Private Ryan (1998).mkv
  Saving Private Ryan (1998)-An Introduction-behindthescenes.mkv
  Saving Private Ryan (1998)-Boot Camp-behindthescenes.mkv
  Saving Private Ryan (1998)-Teaser-trailer.mkv
  Saving Private Ryan (1998)-Trailer-trailer.mkv
  Shame (2011).mkv
  ■■■■■■ (2000).mkv
/W
  Wedding Crashers (2005).mkv
  Whiteout (2009).mkv
  Whiteout (2009)-Deleted Scenes-deleted.mkv
  Whiteout (2009)-From Page To Screen-interview.mkv
  Whiteout (2009)-The Coldest Thriller Ever-interview.mkv
  Working Girl (1988).mkv

This should be better.

6

For me, what could enhance the recognition of local extras is if Plex expanded the list of available of extra types or if in the Plex server, new extra keywords could be created for it to look for when scanning the folder locations.

New extra types like:

  • Gag Reel
  • Shorts
  • Alternate Editions (to alternate cuts or isolated music score)
7

For me, what could enhance the recognition of local extras is if Plex expanded the list of available of extra types or if in the Plex server, new extra keywords could be created for it to look for when scanning the folder locations.

New extra types like:

  • Gag Reel
  • Shorts
  • Alternate Editions (to alternate cuts or isolated music score)

I think that's a different request than what the OP is looking for. I've definitely seen feature requests out there for this--especially where it relates to alternate editions or multiple cuts. Take a look and "like" the following posts if they're what you're looking for:

For gag reel and shorts, I usually just lump them under the "Behind the Scenes" tag, and use the extra name to identify that it's a Gag Reel, etc.

8

I think that using my proposed naming scheme it should be possible to also identify different versions of movies (which woould also be cool to have) - like:

/A
  Avatar (2009).mkv
  Avatar (2009)-extendededition.mkv
  Avatar (2009)-directorscut.mkv
  Avatar (2009)-some gag reel-gagreel.mkv
  Avatar (2009)-Learn To Walk Like A Blue Monkey-short.mkv

And for first 3 from above it would show a window to sellect the version before playing - the last 2 would show up as extras.

That would be very nice, If it was implemented.

9

I agree, I just think those are different requests. Your request is great for folks that don't have folder for each movie but want to have extras. The other request is for the extras to expand to cover additional types, as well and properly supporting additional cuts/versions of movies. As such, it would be great if you could show your support there by liking the first post for either/both threads (if you haven't already--you may have).

10

I am not sure if this is the right thread but it was the closest match I could find.

Under LINK are two ways described to add “Local Extras”. As I recently updated my server I now like to make use of it.

I would like to use the “Inline” way but there is some unexpected behavior. I organized it in this way:
 

/Movies
     /Apollo 18 (2011)
          Apollo 18 (2011).mp4
          Apollo 18 (2011)-trailer.mp4

but it is not recognized as extra. It simply does not show up at all.

If I change the name of the extra to “something-trailer.mp4” it works just fine.

If I organize it in the “Organized in Subdirectories“ methode, using exact the same name, Plex will recognise it:

/Movies
     /Apollo 18 (2011)
          Apollo 18 (2011).mp4
          /Trailers
                Apollo 18 (2011)-trailer.mp4

I this meant to be this way or what is my mistake?

11

I personally would prefer to not use a file naming convention for extras and merely have Plex include all media contained in an Extras folder contained inside the Movie folder. Because not every extra is a behind the scenes, trailer or Deleted Scene. No reason to have to misname something just to see it when all that needs to happen is have Plex display all media in the Extras folder by whatever filename it has and add it to the extra display that currently exists.

Movies

- Avengers

--Extras

---Extra 1.mkv

---Extra 2.mkv

---Trailer.mkv

--Avengers 1080P.mkv

12

I personally would prefer to not use a file naming convention for extras and merely have Plex include all media contained in an Extras folder contained inside the Movie folder. Because not every extra is a behind the scenes, trailer or Deleted Scene. No reason to have to misname something just to see it when all that needs to happen is have Plex display all media in the Extras folder by whatever filename it has and add it to the extra display that currently exists.

Movies

- Avengers

--Extras

---Extra 1.mkv

---Extra 2.mkv

---Trailer.mkv

--Avengers 1080P.mkv

I'd be good with this solution too. It'll be hard to have categories to cover everything (especially if they're hard coded like they currently are), so it might be better to just avoid categories altogether. Really, what they should do is make it flexible and allow people to either specify their own categories. That way, we could simply have one "Extras" category if that's all we want, and people that want additional groupings can add them as desired.

13

The Help under the Link says:

Local inline extras will be detected and used if named and stored as follows:

  • Movie/Movie_Name (Release Date)/Descriptive_Name-ExtraType.ext

Nothing says that the “Descriptive_Name” can not be the same as ”Movie_Name (Release Date)”.

I understand that you would do and recommend one “--Extra” directory. But my existing extra files and there structure would better fit to the “Inline” way. So I would like to have the extra inside the movie folder and not generate 100 sub directory’s.

So my question is still if the behavior to ignore “Apollo 18 (2011)-trailer.mp4” if it resist in the “Apollo 18 (2011)” directory is something I can suppress by configuring … or if it is a unwanted behavior and maybe get fixed in one of the next releases (then I would simply wait).

14

Early 2021 clean-up: implemented (requires own folder for the applicable movies)