Most of my TV shows/movies come from my personal DVDs/BRs I ripped myself and I try to match the proper Plex filename format for the actual episodes/movies which works fine.
For special features, I also use the recommended filename format of “TV SHOW NAME S00EXX DESCRIPTIVE NAME” But because there really is no standard (I think) for how to number those and I don’t use popular sources, they really don’t match anything in the databases from which the descriptions for specials are pulled. So I end up with pretty much random names and descriptions for them which never match the contents.
Is there an easy/convenient way to make Plex just use the in-file or in-filename metadata for specials only and not use anything from databases which is only confusing, while keeping all the cool online database metadata for the actual movies/TV episodes?
Two options: Season00/Specials and Local Files/Extras
Season 00/Specials
If the show has Season 00/Specials listed on TMDB/TVDB, Plex will use that info to match your files, the same as it does for regular episodes.
If your files are not listed, then use a false episode number. Plex will have nothing to match it against. It will be listed by the episode number and not have any title or other information.
If the files are MP4s and if Plex is configured to do so, it will prefer embedded metadata over what is found in the online databases. Plex should pick up information such as title and description.
Be aware that if the embedded metadata is incorrect, it will result in Plex incorrectly displaying files. The setting is on a per library basis, so it will affect all files in the library.
Do I understand you correctly that the best way not to match my specials to what it is the databases (because the contents are different) would be to give them episode numbers that are not in the databases? So if I used, e.g., Episode numbers 100+ (assuming there are none such in the databases as there rarely if ever are), they would not get matched?
If so is there a way to display the descriptive text (after the S0E1XX in the filename) in the Plex listing? Or do I have to embed these names somehow in the MKV or MP4 files? (I have gone mostly to MKV files as I’m having a hard time embedding SRT subtitles in MP4s).
Basically, you are using fake episode numbers. They do not match because there is nothing to match against. If you use s00e100 and it is not listed at TMDB or TVDB, Plex will display it as Episode 100.
Plex does not use the text after sXXeYY. Plex does not read embedded metadata from MKV files. You would have to use the MP4 container and add the episode name to the file.
Option: Local Trailers and Extras may be a better fit. Plex displays the file name.
Option: The information at TMDB & TVDB is user contributed. You could add your files to the Season 0 / Specials section on those sites. If they accept your edits, they would eventually be picked up by Plex’s systems.
Subtitles
SRT/SSA/ASS subtitles can be external to movies and TV episodes. Save them as text files with UTF-8 formatting and a .srt extension. See the Subtitles info in Your Media for details.
Note: If using Local Trailers and Extras, then embed the subtitles in the file. I’ve not had good luck with Plex picking up external subtitles for such files.
