Meta Data Editors

General Discussions
1

Dear Forum Members

I have two relatively silly questions I would like to ask but first I’d like to explain why.

I have found that when Plex comes to updating albums and TV shows the data used can be very hit and miss, and the only way to control this random behaviour is by editing the mata data that Plex installs.

However, editing data via Plex is not permanent, i.e. Plex on it’s next update cycle deletes my user data and re-installs incorrect/erroneous information.

For my album data another forum member suggested I use a meta data editor, which I now use, to keep my music data permanently the way I want it to be displayed.

Next, I found the following info about an essential meta data editing facility which is now part of Plex:

https://blog.plex.tv/2010/11/25/happy-thanksgiving-now-with-metadata-editing/

But having read this blog I still cannot find a way to access this facility within Plex, so my first silly question is this:

Can someone please “baby-step” the instructions for me so that I can access this meta data editing facility within Plex, if this is not in my particular version of Plex then is there an add-on/plug-in I can use to achieve the same results?

BTW, I run PMS version 0.9.11.7.803-87d0708-arm.bin on a ReadyNAS Duo V2 running Firmware 5.3.11.

Moving on slightly, I would like a meta data editing facility that is specifically aimed at dealing with TV Shows in order to stop Plex doing it’s weird combinations TV data, so my second question is this:

Does anyone know of a simple (possibly free) meta data editing facility that deals with TV shows?

Please note, if there are any queries that require clarification I will be happy to answer them.

UK Bob

2

@ukbobboy01 said:
However, editing data via Plex is not permanent, i.e. Plex on it’s next update cycle deletes my user data and re-installs incorrect/erroneous information.
If you click on the lock icon, it should keep that info even through updates. The only time I’ve seen this not stick is if the movie is unmatched and Plex then matches it later.
Next, I found the following info about an essential meta data editing facility which is now part of Plex:
https://blog.plex.tv/2010/11/25/happy-thanksgiving-now-with-metadata-editing/
That is a very old blog. It is basically describing the editing you are doing in the Web like you are now. Prior to that blog, even that level of editing was not available.

3

Hi MovieFan.Plex

@You said:
If you click on the lock icon, it should keep that info even through updates. The only time I’ve seen this not stick is if the movie is unmatched and Plex then matches it later.

Well, I have clicked on the locked icon and it has made no difference unless I have missed a step somewhere. I have always thought that the locked icon should be enough but now you are saying that once my editing is complete I should “match” the completed data.

I will try this later.

@You also said:
That is a very old blog. It is basically describing the editing you are doing in the Web like you are now. Prior to that blog, even that level of editing was not available.

I am somewhat disappointed because I was hoping that the metadata editing table was a separate utility that I could use.

Anyway, although I am not totally happy with your post I am thankful for the help it has given me in deciphering some of the Plex mysteries.

Cheers

UK Bob

4

Actually, I remember there is an old editor for Windows. It hasn’t been updated in a long time and I don’t know if it works with the current version, but you can give it a try. The program is not made by Plex so use this at your own risk.

http://www.eagleware.net/Files/plexeditor.aspx

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@MovieFan.Plex said:
http://www.eagleware.net/Files/plexeditor.aspx

I don’t think that one writes the meta data back into the actual media files, either.

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@OttoKerner said:
I don’t think that one writes the meta data back into the actual media files, either.
No, that modifies the actual Plex database.

Maybe I read the question wrong.

@OP - Did you want to edit the data once it is in Plex or did you want to modify the embedded metadata in the files themselves so that Plex will read them correctly?

7

Hi MovieFan.Plex

@You asked:
Did you want to edit the data once it is in Plex or did you want to modify the embedded metadata in the files themselves so that Plex will read them correctly?

Ideally, I would like to edit the embedded metadata in the files themselves so that Plex will read them correctly. Simply because I would like Plex to display the correct data properly without re-writing the “right information” with something erroneous.

You see, Plex has difficulty separating Part 1s from Part 2s of TV episodes, especially if those parts go across seasons, e.g when Part 1 is the last episode of, say, Season 2 and Part 2 is the first episode of Season 3.

Plex also has a problem when your TV show collection does not start from season 1 because Plex will insist that your collection starts from season 1 even if your collection starts from season 2 or 3. Plus, if you have different episodes from different seasons in your collection Plex will treat them all as episodes from season 1.

I strongly believe without a special Plex readable meta data editor the “TV episodes problem/confusion” can never be solved.

UK Bob

8

Just jumpin’ in here with what could be the obvious, but… you are using the SXXEXX nomenclature for the Season and Episode numbers, aren’t you?

I have many TV Series in my library in which I only have a few episodes of random seasons, and Plex has no problem storing them accordingly. Many of them are also not even separated by season folders, they are all just packed into one folder by the series name. The use of SXXEXX in the actual file name is essential.

9

If plex is adding everything as season1, you are not naming the files correctly. I have some recent shows on my collection without the prior seasons and they work fine.

You should not have episodes that span different seasons. That is not proper. The original show did not air that way so they should not be saved that way.

10

Hi Guys

Thanks for your replies, I hope I can answer your questions in a way that makes sense.

Plexhilarated

The SXXEXX nomenclature that you mention I have actually tried and things seem to have got worse, I believe my problem began because I started my movie and video collection before I actually installed Plex and so I was well on my set path before I was aware of SXXEXX.

However, as I said, I then tried to use SXXEXX on episodes that I already had and tried to correct but it did not work.

MovieFan.Plex

As you have probably guessed, I do not have any problem whatsoever with Plex adding movie data, including music videos or photos, but when it comes to TV shows and music albums, especially various artists, I have found that I have to manually go in and try to put things right.

I got advice from another forum member directing me to use a meta data editor to correct my albums data. And this is what I did, I managed to find a simple meta data editor, aimed at music (MP3) data, and tamed most my albums within Plex.

That is why I am looking for a meta data editor preferably aimed at TV shows, simple to use and can correct/amend Plex readable data.

Now, I know you say this is not available but I was hoping that the meta data editor previewed here: https://blog.plex.tv/2010/11/25/happy-thanksgiving-now-with-metadata-editing/ would be a good compromise.

So, in order to correct past mistakes, and wrong turns, I need to find a TV show specific, Plex friendly, meta data editor.

UK Bob

11

Ok, I guess there is a confusion with the term metadata. You are referring to data embedded with the media files themselves. There is no function in Plex to modify this data. you will definitely have to use a 3rd party program to do this.

Plex also stores information on your media in it’s own database. This is also sometimes referred to as metadata. The program I mentioned as well as the feature mentioned in the blog from your link are for modifying this Plex metadata, not the metadata embedded into the file.

I do not know of any good editors designed specifically for modifying the embedded metadata in video files. I personally do not use embedded metadata. I just let Plex handle it all for me.

12

Hi MovieFan

I had to reluctantly bite the bullet and rename all of my TV episodes as Plex expect them to be, i.e. Name - SxxExx (Episode Title).mp4.

My life has now become a lot easier.

Cheers.

UK Bob

13

Old thread I know, but I have been chasing my own tail for a couple of years now on trying to get Plex to behave properly.
This thread sheds light on something I was not aware of. So you are saying the Plex team for some reason calls their own database records “metadata” when in fact that is not technically correct?

[ Metadata, as I have seen defined for a couple of decades, is tags defining the data they are part of. The whole idea behind metadata is that the file has embedded fields, it becomes object orientated. By this definition metadata it is embedded.
Data that describes external data are called records, tables, databases etc. ]

14

Hi Venice230

When your post popped into my email intray it peaked my interest but I had to re-read the whole thread to actually understand where you were coming from.

And yes, this an old thread which I had originally started back in October 2015, well over a year ago.

OK, you said, “metadata is that the file has embedded fields, it becomes object orientated. By this definition metadata it is embedded.” Now the problem with your explanation is that you’ve got to have some background in software programming to understand it. While most of us can only run, install and use software applications, e.g. like being able to drive a car but know absolutely nothing about how it works.

Now back to metadata, my understanding of this term is formatted external text data that Plex can use to populate it’s inbuilt database, that way Plex won’t have to go looking on the Internet and populate itself with erroneous data.

OK, my explanation may be wrong but it’s understandable, may I suggest that you re-write your understanding of “metadata” in terms that most ordinary people can readily understand, which could mean leaving out words such as embedded, object orientated and other technically specific words.

Catch you later.

UK Bob

15

One method I’ve used to get PLEX to stop overwriting my edited changes is to “Unmatch” the item. If I understand it correctly (and it’s possible that I don’t), Unmatch stops PLEX from retrieving metadata from other sources and uses whatever you enter, regardless of which Agents you’ve selected. I used this method to correct incorrect and/or unacceptable metadata about a television series and it worked for me. I would imagine that it would work for movies, as well. Your mileage may vary.

With respect to music (i.e. album art) I maintain the embedded metadata in the files using MP3Tag. I don’t use any of PLEX’s agents or 3rd parties. The accuracy of the matching is suspect and I prefer to use my own album art, artist posters and artist backgrounds.

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@venice230 said:
This thread sheds light on something I was not aware of. So you are saying the Plex team for some reason calls their own database records “metadata” when in fact that is not technically correct?
Metadata is just any data set used to describe something. There is embedded metadata (aka tags), but the term can also be used to describe external data. Plex uses the term in very general ways to describe all the data that can be used, including but not limited to that retrieved from online sources, embedded data, the info saved in Plex’s database, or what you see in the UI when editing the media. If you have a specific question about metadata, you 'll need to be more specific.

@srewobwj said:
One method I’ve used to get PLEX to stop overwriting my edited changes is to “Unmatch” the item. If I understand it correctly (and it’s possible that I don’t), Unmatch stops PLEX from retrieving metadata from other sources and uses whatever you enter, regardless of which Agents you’ve selected. I used this method to correct incorrect and/or unacceptable metadata about a television series and it worked for me. I would imagine that it would work for movies, as well. Your mileage may vary.
I would not recommend using “Unmatch”. That leaves the file in a state of limbo. PMS will constantly try to match that file and if it finds something that is close, it will match it and change the data you’ve set. Instead use “fix incorrect match” or “match” if you’ve already unmatched it and change the agent to Personal Media. This will prevent PMS from trying to match the file ever again.

17

Hi Srewobwj & MovieFan.Plex

Well guys

I have a few comments but nothing, i think, is controversial.

Srewobwj

First, I use ID3 Tag to maintain my album/CD data and art within Plex, and it works perfectly, also music downloaded from Amazon UK comes pre-installed with the correct metadata that Plex can readily see and use.

The way you use Plex to maintain your show data is unique, I’ve found a small tagging utility called Video Tag, this works 95% of the time and tends to prevent Plex from getting erroneous data from the Internet. Video Tag also works for film data but as there is no Plex sanctioned/approved metadata table available any tagging utility that can be used is a compromise and in rare instances Plex can still overwrite that tagging data.

MovieFan.Plex

Unfortunately, metadata is a nebulous term with constantly shifting meanings, depending on who is using it. My meaning is based on my Plex usage and how I can get it to accept my data.

Mind you, if Plex themselves wrote a Movie & TV show tagging utilty, similar to the one they have previewed before, then none of us would be running into these accuracy issues.

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UK Bob

18

This application is the key for me.

Run it on your separate TV and Movies Folders. It will automagically rename and pull down metadata and media posters. Then its easy for Plex to recognize.

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