MKV file doesn't show up when browsing

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
1

I have a downloaded mkv file that plays fine on local Windows 10 machine (using VLC player). It won’t even show up in the list of available videos, although other episodes of the same TV program do show up. If I browse to the file on the server via network, it will play, so the file is not corrupted. File is “Fixer Upper S04E15 The Flipper Upper.mkv”

I also read the forum post suggesting a permissions issue, but I’m sure that’s not a problem here. I didn’t search for all possible combinations of fixing issues, such as converting, but I did look at all settings and don’t see a way to convert, when it won’t recognize the file in the first place.

I have debug logging turned on. I have attached the log and the database files.

I have a lifetime pass.

My setup
Nighthawk X10 R9000
Router Firmware Version V1.0.2.32

Plex Media Server
1.7.5.4035-313f93718
PC
Linux 3.10.20-al-5.0-ga_na (#4 SMP Fri Apr 28 15:21:20 UTC 2017)

2

Is this on a Linux server/desktop machine or on the NIghthawk?

Regarding the naming, the Plex naming conventions call for a delimiter between Series - SxxExx - Optional Title.ext

This said,

Fixer Upper/
  Season 4/
    Fixer Upper - S04E15 - The Fixer Upper.mkv

If you rename them in-place, you must perform the Plex Dance to remove the old association with the incorrect name.

  1. Move file(s) to neutral location
  2. Update Libraries (scan files)
  3. Empty Trash
  4. Clean Bundles
  5. Move file(s) back
  6. Scan files again
  7. Observe matching and being populated
3

Still not working after doing all steps (if I understood you). AND, thanks (!!) for the quick reply.

My Steps
I just copied the info on the screens, and I didn’t know why it showed “PC” in the information. But, the server is on the Nighthawk. My ‘delimiter’ is a space. Is the " - " naming convention needed, or just best to have a consistent naming style? (I prefer a single space " " - haha.

I had never done the plex dance before, but I found all the items in the “Libraries …” main menu, so nice to learn that!

Not sure what “observe matching…” meant. I went to the specific folder (I have two folders for movies, shows, etc – one for each person in the house), and then both a scan (couldn’t hurt) and then an “Analyze”. I watched each video name on the bottom as it was analyzed.

The “Fixer Upper - S04E15 - The Flipper Upper.mkv” (new name) did not show up in the list, nor in the bottom status messages. It doesn’t seem to recognize the file at all. I DID watch it on my desktop with VLC. It’s about 45 minutes long.

Would prefer that all files play, but if they don’t, would like to know how I can tell it will not play, and perhaps how to convert it so that it would play.

4

The space isn’t a valid delimiter in Television episodes. It’s fine for movies but not television. Punctuation is. The naming conventions are linked in my signature Media Preparation (How to name your media files) It exists so you don’t have intermittent matching issues and this type problem.

“Observe matching” is my way of saying that you can sit back and watch … presuming it all went correctly of course.

Once you can get it to match (which it will with the correct naming) we can determine any playback issues. MKV’s usually are very stable to playback.

5

I understand your answer regarding naming conventions. However, as I mentioned, I DID rename it per your suggestion and posted the renamed file name, but it didn’t show up.

I renamed it again to a simple name “Fixer Upper The Flipper Upper.mkv” and then it showed up as a different show “Fatal Flip”. I then turned off auto match and it showed up as a single file (no series information, etc).

Respectfully, I think the Plex software needs to be enhanced a little. It should ALWAYS show the file name, even if it can’t parse it into specific series.

However, I will consider this question finished, I guess.

6

When you rename a file which has already been seen by PMS, you must make PMS believe it’s completely removed.

These are the steps you missed by doing it your way and why I expressed the Plex Dance (how you need to do it).

The scanner will always show the files at first but, if your system is fast enough, they will populate and then be removed because they’re not matched VERY quickly.

It has always been this way.

One of the Ninjas wrote a very helpful Plug-in. WebTools https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/126254/rel-webtools-2-x

7

I found what I think was the root cause for not recognizing files that I put into my folder.
I happened to find a setting under “Edit Library” [Select 3 dot menu to right of library name, then select edit], which controls which scanner is used, “Plex Movie Scanner” or “Plex Video Files Scanner”. It was set to “Movie”. When I changed it to use “Video Files”, all of the extra files were recognized.

BTW, I did follow naming conventions, but that didn’t work (by itself) in my case, because of the scanner setting.

This might be due to an incorrect setup locally, but I don’t have a lot of files kept on the server, and I thought this might help others as well.

8

Local extras only require the Local Media Assets agent be enabled. Plex Movie is still used.

9

All I can say is that when I changed the scanner (on the server), it immediately found the 3 additional files, because they were TV series files, I suppose. They were not “movies”.

I don’t actually understand how your comment related to my last post. I do have “Local Media Assets” checked, but that did not result in finding the files. I did the “Plex dance” 3 times before finding the scanner setting, and reviewed naming conventions (again). I had set up the library as “Movies”, which is why it was set to the movie scanner. If I had set it up as “Video Other”, then it would have been OK from the beginning, and I wouldn’t have learned the difference. So, that’s a good thing, I guess .

10

Something must be wrong with your naming convention. Something subtle you missed.

Care to show me a few examples of what isn’t being found, along with the structure, and we’ll figure it out together?

11

I renamed episode 1 of “The Orville” to this: The Orville - S01E01.mkv

It was not found until I switched to the “Video Other” scanner, although I went through the Plex dance 3 or 4 times (deleting the file and recopying it from my local computer onto the Nighthawk X10 R9000 attached USB drive each time).

See attached screen shots

It did not make any difference whether or not files were in the suggested structure, probably because I originally had created a “Movies” library. After changing the scanner, they appeared within 10 seconds or so.

Full local network path to that drive and folder is
\READYSHARE\HouseData\StephanVideo\Series\The_Orville\Season 01

I’m more than happy to interact with you, perhaps share my screen, etc. but would rather to this off line. I understand posting a “final” solution if there is one different from what I’ve mentioned, but, as I said, it appears to all be working this way.

I don’t have a large enough set of files to want to keep the Episode\Series\Season structure myself, but I’m willing to help improve the product.

I’m sure we both want a product that eventually “just works” for everyone.

1 Like
12

@PlexMoundsView said:
Full local network path to that drive and folder is
\READYSHARE\HouseData\StephanVideo\Series\The_Orville\Season 01

Do not use the underscore for the folder name.

13

Also, I’m having issues matching The Orville (2017). This includes me trying to match it manually. Plex comes up with a crap ton of results but none are The Orville

14

The documentation shows a single quote as permissible, so it would seem very strange to not allow underscores in a folder OR file name. File and folder name parsing is not difficult, and it should just work. Other than some keywords (such as “Episode”, etc), it should take anything, including [multiple] periods in names. That’s my $.02 anyway.

And, it’s all working for me, WITH the underscore, after changing the file parser.

15

@PlexMoundsView said:
And, it’s all working for me, WITH the underscore, after changing the file parser.

Great! Glad it’s working for you.

16

@PlexMoundsView said:
I found what I think was the root cause for not recognizing files that I put into my folder.
I happened to find a setting under “Edit Library” [Select 3 dot menu to right of library name, then select edit], which controls which scanner is used, “Plex Movie Scanner” or “Plex Video Files Scanner”. It was set to “Movie”. When I changed it to use “Video Files”, all of the extra files were recognized.

BTW, I did follow naming conventions, but that didn’t work (by itself) in my case, because of the scanner setting.

This might be due to an incorrect setup locally, but I don’t have a lot of files kept on the server, and I thought this might help others as well.

This guy nailed the solution. And for future record, this also allowed me to add my external HDD when plugged into the same Mac as a folder to choose files to play from…double whammy! You the man

17

fixed my problem. thanks!

18

Yep, same here. I’ve never had to worry about naming convention. Plex seemed smart enough to work it out.

Instead of all video files, I just made a TV folder and BAM, it worked. Thanks fella.

Plex Experts, listen to the little people.