How to install a custom scanner

[psycik]

No comment?

[elan]

Why would a custom scanner be deleted? It works when I copy the .py file into the correct directory but after a few days I find it's been deleted. Nothing tells me why.

Although I have just scanned with it and got a "Plex Media Scanner has stopped working" - I think on thumbnail extraction. Hm nope, it's still there.

We don't delete any files out of ...Plex Media Server/Scanners. If you put your scanner into the Scanners.bundle directory inside Plug-ins, then it will be deleted.

[psycik]

We don't delete any files out of ...Plex Media Server/Scanners. If you put your scanner into the Scanners.bundle directory inside Plug-ins, then it will be deleted.

Ah, awesome, this would be why. I'm sure I'd tried that other scanners\series path, but that was a few versions ago.

[tmar89]

How does one test/debug a custom scanner under Windows? My scanner file has print statements and I tried using the following with no success. Nothing prints to the console.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Plex\Plex Media Server>"Plex Media Scanner.exe" --scan --refresh --verbose

[dlanor]

I’ve been trying to make sense of the information given in the first post of this thread, and that seems to be impossible.



NONE of the specified folder structures exist anywhere within the folder structure of the Win7-installed PMS program, nor do they exist in the ‘AppData’ folder structure belonging to the PMS server either. So where in **** are those folders supposed to reside … ? I’m unable to find anything closely matching the descriptions.



The closest matches I can find are the folders:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Plex\Plex Media Server\Resources\Plug-ins\Scanners.bundle\Contents\Resources

and

C:\Users\Ronald\AppData\Local\Plex Media Server\Plug-ins\Scanners.bundle\Contents\Resources



Both folders do have subfolders for ‘Movies’, ‘Music’, ‘Series’, etc, and there are python files inside them too.

But the folder structures they reside in are entirely different from that described in the first post of this thread.



So what I’m asking is:

Which (if any) of those subfolders I found are safe to use for scanner scripts as described in this thread ?



Or is this thread an example of Plex focusing mainly on Mac computers, with no relevance at all for the greater user base, who use Windows (like I do) ?



Btw:

IMO Any description of file/folder paths which is dependent on a specific OS should always mention that OS and the dependency on it explicitly.



Addendum: (Just to clarify)

I also find a folder named:

C:\Users\Ronald\AppData\Local\Plex Media Server\Scanners



But that folder does NOT contain any of the media type subfolders mentioned in the first post.

Instead it is completely empty. So it doesn’t match the descriptions at all.

Still, I suppose this too could be a possible location for custom files, if I create my own subfolders.





Conclusion:

I strongly suggest that you post clearer instructions for how this is to be done and what folder paths to use,

with separate such instructions for each OS that has a Plex server implementation.



Best regards: dlanor

[pettenstein]

I am having trouble getting a custom scanner recognized by Plex.

I’m running Plex/Web 0.9.9.4 and have placed a custom scanner (http://forums.plexapp.com/index.php/topic/19699-single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/) in ‘~/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Scanners/Series’ and restarted Plex. But it doesn’t show up in the scanner list.



Btw, the folder Library did not exist, so I created it.



What could I be doing wrong?

I am running Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS and installed Plex through Aptitude.

[cosine83]

For anyone confused by the OP, the instructions are for Mac OS X only.

For Windows Vista/7/8:

C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Plex Media Server

For Ubuntu 10.04 (older/newer YMMV but it shouldn't be too different, if at all):

/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/

You'll have to create a new folder named "Scanners" and then sub-folders in there for each scanner type you want to use (Movies, Series, Music).

I installed BABS and the path looks this: C:\Users\Justin\AppData\Local\Plex Media Server\Scanners\Series

To get to the AppData folder you'll either need to enable viewing hidden files and folders via Folder Options or type the path directly in the Windows Explorer/My Computer address bar. Another way to get there would be to right-click the Plex icon in your taskbar and go to the Plug-Ins folder then go up a folder.

Side note: the Plug-ins folder in C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Plex Media Server is where you want to install any plug-ins you want to use.

[athey]

Can someone point me to documentation for scanners so I can develop my own?

Thanks

[koira]

Hey there!

Just tried this one with the most recent PLex Server (v0.9.9.0) and it works like a charm - even loads german meta-data from TVDB when you set the language correct.

One hint, though: Go save the script in ~/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Scanners/Series (possibly creating the folder "Series"manually), Using the other path mentioned above doesn't yieald working results.

plex on! :-)

[Olivier38]

Hi ,

any way to have a documentation on how to build a scanner, what are the function, who to get files infos, etc...

?

thank you

Olivier

[Fullmakt]

Hi ,

any way to have a documentation on how to build a scanner, what are the function, who to get files infos, etc...

?

thank you

Olivier

Did you find any   API/documentation Olivier?

[Olivier38]

No

[Fullmakt]

I suppose this is it... http://pythonhosted.org/plex/tutorial.html#creating-and-using-a-scanner

[oscarmets44]

I can't install it. I went to the folder  /Users/oscarmets44/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Scanners/OscarAnime  (then I copy/paste the .py file on there.)

where OscarAnime will be the plex section name; however when I create the section in plex, on the agent section it doesn't appear. :'(

this is the version of plex I am running: Version 0.9.9.7.429-f80a8d6

[suffex57]

For anyone confused by the OP, the instructions are for Mac OS X only.

For Windows Vista/7/8:

C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Plex Media Server

For Ubuntu 10.04 (older/newer YMMV but it shouldn't be too different, if at all):

/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/

You'll have to create a new folder named "Scanners" and then sub-folders in there for each scanner type you want to use (Movies, Series, Music).

I installed BABS and the path looks this: C:\Users\Justin\AppData\Local\Plex Media Server\Scanners\Series

To get to the AppData folder you'll either need to enable viewing hidden files and folders via Folder Options or type the path directly in the Windows Explorer/My Computer address bar. Another way to get there would be to right-click the Plex icon in your taskbar and go to the Plug-Ins folder then go up a folder.

Side note: the Plug-ins folder in C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Plex Media Server is where you want to install any plug-ins you want to use.

Worked perfectly for Win7. Thank you!!

[yoderman]

I must be a complete newbie....  I am trying to install the custom movie scanner that Plex recommends via the zip file in the support area to import  video_ts and bdmv movie files into my movie library (file is 'plex movie file with disc image support.py') .  I am using windows 7.  I cant find a localappdata directory anywhere in my drives to install the downloaded .py file.  Can somebody please provide specific guidance on where I need to place this .py file.  also, if I need to create a movies sub-directory under the scanners folder, where the heck is the appropriate 'scanners' file to add the directory?  I have no plex or program files under my c:\user directory (support document said i need to install the .py file under the user directory). .

I have done the following and it is not working.  on c: drive, I put the .py file downloaded from the plex recommended zip file in the following location:  C:\progam files\plex\plexmediaserver\resources\plugins\scanners.bundle\contents\resources\movies\ 

after I pasted the file there, i revised the title of my movies library.  then i logged out of plex, restarted my pc from scratch, logged back into plex and went into the library advanced setup for scanners and my custom .py file is not in the drop down field.

help...troy

[soada101]

Ok so there is absolutely no any help with this its insane. 

so what i have figured out as of 3/13/15 for windows 8.1 for installing a scanner.

Start plex server

Right click the plex symbol in the lower right hand side of the screen

Click open plug-in folders

This is the file directory just add your username

C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Plex Media Server\Plug-ins\Scanners.bundle\Contents\Resources\

Once you are there you have 
movies photos series etc etc.

Place the scanner in the desired folder
Right click the plex symbol again ... Exit .... Restart media server. 
this worked for me.

hope it helps you.

[hiiya76]

It is not working on the latest version of PMS 0.9.12.0.  I have tried all the different ways listed in this forum.  Any news on when it will get fixed?

I see the scanners listed, but it states scanner is required.

[ZeeD2610]

See https://forums.plex.tv/topic/160440-plex-0912-scanner-is-required/

[SeZMehK]

Would it be possible if you could tell me how to install scanners on freenas? I seem to also break the jail when I try. I asked around the freenas forums but not getting much help. Thanks