the problem I’m having is that several of my Animes are ending up with single episodes, but that episode has 20 actual episodes being listed as alternate versions when they’re not. I found the blog post on how to split entries, but then when I go to try that, the “Split” option is entirely missing. is there anything else I could do?
For TV Shows, you do not split apart. You fix the incorrect naming during the Plex Dance -
If you’re having issues with naming stuff and getting it to match thetvdb you might want to look at alternatives such as the anidb agent or such - https://github.com/ZeroQI/Hama.bundle (I don’t use it myself, there are surely others)
I’m already using HAMA.
other than being as vague as possible then linking me to a post which doesn’t actually explain what I’m asking, as far as fixing “incorrect” naming, why is there no way to:
- define how filenames are recognized?
- manually edit entry information for each file?
- just split apart mismatched shows?
I get Plex is supposed to be as easy to setup for the end user as possible, but once it’s setup, oversimplification just makes using it harder.
now, (using my biggest problem series as an example) my issue is, each of the episodes is a stack of episodes the Dance beleives is a version of the first episode
each episode looks similar to this
no, the filenames do not match Plex’s idiotically strict naming structure. I name my series based on the circumstances of each series. in the case of the …monogatari plural series, [a??] is the release order of the series, {c??} is the chronological order of the overall story (which seems to be ignored anyway). now the seemingly simple problem is, Plex doesn’t seem to understand that “[a01] Bakemonogatari” is not the same thing as “[a02] Nisemonogatari” or “[a03] Nekomonogatari¦Kuro”, etc., and this is absolutely braindead and wrong.
what you’re telling me is that there is no way to actually fix this without completely bombing my folder structure and filenames.
@“Sarrreq Teryx” said:
- define how filenames are recognized?
That is exactly what the video scanner does. When you use an extremely unique naming scheme then you will need a unique scanner.
- manually edit entry information for each file?
This is because files themselves do not have metadata. The Show/Episode has metadata and a file is attached to the episode after it is matched.
- just split apart mismatched shows?
You can split apart mismatched shows. You cannot split apart mismatched episodes. To split apart a mismatched show they have to be in separate folders as Plex will not let you split apart shows that are stored in the same show folder.
what you’re telling me is that there is no way to actually fix this without completely bombing my folder structure and filenames.
No, what he is telling you is that you will need to do one of the following:
- Use the Plex scanner and rename your folder/files to match what the Plex Scanner is looking for
- Use the ABSS scanner and rename your folder/files to match what the ABSS Scanner is looking for
- Write your own/Modify one of the others to match how you already have things named for
You have a very unique way to name your media using a single show folder with a very different naming scheme. While it makes sense to you it makes 0 sense to the Plex scanner. The only data you have provided to the scanner is show and episode name. This is why all your episodes are put into those 15 episodes.
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apparently, I’m already using ABSS (must have forgotten I installed it).
OK, I’m not much of a programmer, I’ve never used Python, and am terrible with RegEx. I’m looking at ABSS’s code, but I’m completely lost. I’m also looking at this and am not understanding it.
That is where it is kind of tricky.
From what I can tell the scanner is currently only parsing the episode number from your file names and everything else is being ignored/dumped as irrelevant.
What I assume you should be able to do is look at modifying the part that looks for season information (Typically looks for Sxx) and modify that to look for Axx (As that appears to follow what the show above breaks down into for season information). From what I can tell these RegEx’s are near the top in the Series_RX and Season_RX.
Typically when I have had to do something like this I will use RegEx Pal to add my test string, your file name(s) and the work on the regex in the top to get it to match the part I am looking for. The only thing I’ve had to work on is removing the identifiers ie ? as the regex pal does not like them in there.
As someone with the same issue, I have to say that jmckee’s answer was extremely condescending to the user.
The simple question is WHY ISN"T there the same command to split items that have been erroneously grouped?
Great customer service, Plex.
@jmckee 's answer was well balanced and informative. He’s a volunteer - like many of us - and he completely skipped the part where I usually tell people:
Submit to Plex’s demands on naming, or suffer. Plex will stomp a you shaped divot into the ground and move on the next victim. It doesn’t care how YOU want to name files, it cares about what works.
Plex has to access the online databases to retrieve the material. TVDB, for instance, has a pretty strict set of rules when it comes to file naming and structuring or it simply won’t work. If a user can’t be bothered to name a file correctly FileBot (link in my signature) can do it for you in seconds. FileBot will pre-match your file with the appropriate online database, retrieve the exact and proper name then re-name your file perfectly in the blink of an eye.
If that’s not easy enough, then feel free to leap into the ring with Plex and battle the beast. Nobody cares.
Now THAT’S condescending and probably downright rude, but it’s the truth. I like to go right for the bullet with a pair of needle nosed pliers while you’re kicking and screaming in the back of the getaway van. It’s going to hurt like the dickens, but if it doesn’t kill you you’ll eventually feel better.
Actually, if you used a naming convention that Plex expects to see, then this wouldn’t be an issue at all. As you think your naming convention is the end-all, be-all, that’s where there is a problem. 99% of matching errors are caused because someone is intent that their naming conventions are the best possible way of doing things. (The other 1% is because of reused series names, such as Doctor Who and Doctor Who (2005)) K.I.S.S. guys… Re-inventing the wheel is just adding layers of difficulty and your issues are a result.
From this site: Reddit - Dive into anything
The OP there made specific reference to this series further down his discussion:
Extra
It’s possible that maybe one or two anime are matched incorrectly, but you can fix that manually very easily by using the Fix Incorrect Match feature in Plex.
If you ever run in trouble with weirdly released series like monogatari or shows that have the exact same name but one is older and one is newer you can add the anidb id at the end of the folder like so: “Shouwa Genroku Rakugou Shinjuu [anidb-10960]”.
If you do some googling or look on the Plex forums you’ll also find specific Myanimelist and AniDB agents which might come in handy on the rare occasionn when the HamaTV agent ever can’t find anything. Also, the user here found a way to rename seasons within an entry which can come in handy if you want it like that.
So here he suggests you break them into separate folders, then add in the anidb show number as part of the folder name.
That reddit post was the 4th down in a Yahoo search with this string “anime monogatari series naming” BTW…
Yo may be able to use FileBot for this, too. It’s worked on my limited anime stuff.
Let us know how this works, will you?
