Match Meta-Data to File Structure

[Legolad]

This is how SpongeBob Season 1 looks in PLEX:

This is how it looks in the folder:

Note that SpongeBob doesn’t ever air as multiple episodes in a half-hour time slot. Instead, each episode includes 2 stories. In a standard 20 episode season, you get 40 stories.

In this example, I’m missing Episode 9 and half of Episode 13. I address that later.
For now, let’s focus on the core issue: Plex pulls its episode meta-data from an external source. That meta-data does not match the structure of my files. Therefore the tags are all wrong.

This is NOT a common occurrence, but it does happen a lot more in children’s cartoons.
Because of its rarity, I think it’s okay for this to require more from users to handle it.
My suggestion is actually 4 features that work together to solve the problem.

FEATURE REQUEST #1: Enable the user to view the episode meta-data and choose the best match for their files.

In this example, if I view the meta-data for S01E01, I might see one match that shows
E01 is “Help Wanted” and another match that shows E01 includes 3 segments like my file. I would choose the latter because it best matches my file.

FEATURE REQUEST #2: Enable the user to view the episode meta-data, specify which episodes are in each file, and specify start times for each episode per file.

In this example, if I view the meta-data for S01E01, I might see that E01 is listed as “Help Wanted” and E02 is listed as Reef Blower, etc. I tell Plex that episodes 1-3 are in File 1 and set the start time for each episode.

FEATURE REQUEST #3: Enable the user to view the episode meta-data, specify which episodes are in each file, and specify a common time to use for splitting the files to match the meta-data.

In this example, if I view the meta-data, I see that E04 is “Bubblestand” and E05 is “Ripped Pants”. The remaining episodes follow the same pattern of 2 episodes for each of my files. I tell Plex to split the remaining files (except E13) at 12:00.

FEATURE REQUEST #4: When mapping meta data to files, enable the user to de-select files that are outliers and identify which episodes to skip when applying the mapping.

In this example, when I tell Plex to split the remaining files I can de-select Episodes 1-3 because they were in File 1. I can also de-select Episodes 18-19 as well as 27 because I don’t have File 9 and File 13 is not complete.

[FordGuy61]

You can get most of what you request using Plex’s current naming guidelines, which supports multiple episodes in a single file. That approach does have limitations. You’ll have better results splitting the files into individual episodes.

Also, Plex uses TheTVDB.com to match episode numbers and names. If you match what is listed at those sites, the episodes will appear correctly in Plex. You can use either the Aired Order or DVD Order, depending on how you want Specials to be listed. See the show listing for details on the differences between the two orders.

Separating files into individual episodes

SpongeBob SquarePants - s01e01 - Help Wanted.mkv
SpongeBob SquarePants - s01e02 - Reef Blower.mkv
SpongeBob SquarePants - s01e03 - Tea at the Treedome.mkv

Splitting files is straightforward using MKVToolNix, especially if you’ve chapter markers for each episode. See [HowTo]: splitting multi-episode files with MKVtoolnix GUI

Multiple episodes in a single file

SpongeBob SquarePants - s01e01-e03 - Help Wanted Reef Blower Tea at the Treedome.mkv
SpongeBob SquarePants - s01e04-e05 - Bubblestand Ripped Pants.mkv
etc.

There are limitations to using the multi-episode in a single file approach. It will definitely help to have chapter markers for each episode.

Plex Documentation

See Plex Docs -> Your Media -> TV Show Files (Naming & Organizing) -> Naming and Organizing Your TV Show Files for additional details.

[Legolad]

Yep. I agree that this is a workaround that works (mostly) with the current version. I know the workaround and have used it in the past. But this is not a support request.

Rather, this is a request for a new feature that would help users deal with the mismatch of meta-data and file structure. What are your thoughts on this as a new feature? Would you find it useful? Is there a way to make it simpler?