I removed all internet metadata from a list of episodes by setting the agent to "Personal Media Shows", but Plex is still generating thumbnail artwork by taking a still from each file. Is there a way to stop Plex from doing this and instead just have a blank thumbnail in it's place?
I'm watching on my Roku and I've accidently hit the back button while starting a series sending me to the last episode, with potential spoilers in the thumbnail from the image cache. (Why I've also removed any spoiler text from the episode description by disabling anyonline metadata scraping)
I disabled the local media assets and did the file move dance as you perscribed. I also added filename.jpg next to each file. It works for the folder view, but the “recently added” view still shows it.
I know I can remove the library from the global dashboard, but the library specific dashboard still shows it (and on Roku that’s the default view when you select a folder so you see it immediately).
I have the most recent Plex sever (0.9.16.3) and the Roku Stick.
I can’t seem to be able to edit my post, but to clarify - in the “Recently Added” view I can still see the automatically generated thumbnails (I see filename.jpg as expected in the folder view).
That is an old thread and unfortunately my advice there was wrong. Plex always creates a thumbnail based on a screen shot. Turning off local media assets prevents PMS from seeing the local filename.jpg file. You actually want this enabled and at the top of the agent list.
If you don’t want PMS to generate the screen shot you need to update your library manually from a command line instead of using Plex Web. Here is a link to how to use the scanner from a command line. The option you want is --no-thumbs or you can use the --thumboffset to select an earlier spot in the file to generate the images. https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/201242707-Plex-Media-Scanner-via-Command-Line
Enable the Local Media Assets agent and drag it to the top of the agents list
Disable automatic library updates in the server settings (Update my library automatically and Update my library periodically)
Set up my own scheduled task to periodically run the scanner from the command-line with the --no-thumbs parameter (or if I’m feeling adventurous, set up some file monitor to emulate the automatic on-change update)
BTW, I’m assuming (3) is pretty much what the server is doing behind the scenes? If so, shouldn’t it be a relatively simple matter to implement this feature, given that the scanner already supports it (essentially just one more checkbox in the settings web UI)?
Yes, 3 could be accomplished with a setting in the scanner settings. Currently, the agents cannot be configured specifically for 1 movie or 1 library, so it cannot be done, but it is theoretically possible. I thought there was a feature request to do this but I can’t find it right now. You can try making your own request.
Even a global agent setting that completely disables thumbnail generation for all libraries would be great, if it’s the library-specific setting capability that’s currently blocking the feature.
I’m afraid the approach we discussed doesn’t work. Here’s what I did:
Enable the Local Media Assets agent and drag it to the top of the agents list
Disable automatic library updates in the server settings (Update my library automatically and Update my library periodically)
Move files out of folder
update library
empty trash
clean bundles
put files back
"Plex Media Scanner.exe" --scan --refresh --force --no-thumbs --section 4
Thumbnails are still generated (I can see them in both web and roku clients). However, I did discover an alternative Plex Roku client (RARflix) that does honor filename.jpg, so that can serve as a (somewhat tedious) workaround.
Surely with the introduction of Plex DVR this will be addressed now? Who wants to use Plex to record their programs to see the results/spoilers before they even watch the recording!
