Keep existing metadata when moving media from existing to new library

[ajhieb]

Note: No file locations are changing. The only “moving” going on is moving the folder link/reference from one library to another.

Here’s an example:

Previous Setup
Library: TV Shows
Folder: \server\TV
Folder: \server\animation

New Setup
Library: TV Shows
Folder: \server\TV
Library: Animation
Folder: \server\animation

Currently when I make a change like this, Plex recognizes everything in the new library as new media (even though it’s already processed everything in that folder as part of the other library) This is true whether or not I wait before removing the old folder reference from the old library, prior to, or after creating the new library. The downloadable metadata isn’t a huge issue, but things like show intros have to be detected again which takes forever.

Seems to me that before plex starts downloading new metadata and running scheduled tasks on the new library it should check to see if those files (which are still referenced in plex) already have existing metadata, intro detection, etc and link it accordingly.

[tom80H]

There’s already an existing feature suggestion discussing an option to move items (or folders) between libraries. I suggest you comment/vote in that thread in order to help us avoid distracting or cannibalizing votes.

[Feature Request] Moving media between libraries without losing metadata using UI

Yes, there is a How To and even a Support Article but both don’t always work (especially keeping edited metadata) - or require many manual steps. Judging from the years of support requests/questions about this topic, there’s enough interest to warrant a renewed look at this. Can’t this be added to the User Interface to make it easier? Pretty please? It will be nice to finally get a feature that makes it easier to manage libraries for a change!

There’s another suggestion going even further on working items across libraries.

[Feature request] I would like a feature to move, separate, combine, or split libraries in Plex via a wizard

Reasoning: As my Plex library grows I would like the ability to rearrange the contents via a wizard that is easy and keeps all of the custom settings that have accumulated in the database for these items (what’s been watched, custom posters, collections, sort titles, and items I had to manually match). Example: I originally created a library called ‘DVD Movies’ and put all of my DVD movie stuff in this one library, but now I would like to have an additional library called ’ DVD Animated/Cartoon…

Unless I’m missing some unique aspect of your suggestion I’ll close this thread as a duplicate.

[ajhieb]

Both of those posts involve the actual media files moving to new locations. That’s not applicable to my scenario. In my scenario the media files are all static. The only change is moving a folder link from one library and adding it to another. (Though I would agree that the titles of those threads seem relevant.)

That said, if you still think it qualifies as a duplicate, I trust your judgement. Thanks.

[tom80H]

@ajhieb

Both of those posts involve the actual media files moving to new locations. That’s not applicable to my scenario. In my scenario the media files are all static.

I wonder if that makes all that much of a difference. You’re obviously right that the 1st link I posted is discussing keeping information of an item while moving it between libraries (and locations)… then again, you’re both aiming at the same target – or so it appears to me.

It seems to me though, your use case is well in the scope of the 2nd suggestion (re-arranging content [-> library folders] between libraries while keeping custom settings, metadata, watch history…). Unless I’m badly misreading your suggestion

[ajhieb]

Yes, after reading a little farther into that 2nd thread (I stopped at the “I tried moving everything to a new folder” part) it looks like it would cover what I’m asking for. Thanks.