Movies' filename prefixed with index in their filename

Plex Media Server Metadata & Adding Files
1

Hi there!

I currently have a set of folders containing movies that must be watched in a very specific order which can’t be determined from other criterias like their release date.

The movies are named like this: %(index). %(title).%(ext). For instance, if the third movie is released in 2017 and is called “My Super Movie”, the filename will be 03. My Super Movie (2017).mkv.

I have two problems with that:

  • First, Plex doesn’t seem to play well with this prefix and most of the movies aren’t detected and associated correctly, which means I have to associate them manually.
  • Secondly, there is no way in the UI to display the movies by filename order. In such case I don’t them to be sorted by name but by filename, which is why the index is in the filename in the first place.

Is is possible to achieve what I’m trying to do? If not, what are some alternatives?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Server Version#: 1.23.3.4707
Player Version#: Web 4.59.2

2

Discard complicated, unnecessary gyrations that blow your file names.

Sort Title is all you need:

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Your Collection doesn’t ‘Need’ 250+ items in it (probably), but ‘Star Wars’ puts all the Star Wars in a grouping - the number sets the sequence.

2 Likes
3

All movies have a title and you can make a different Sort title.

Plex
Plex709×373 25.1 KB

but it sounds like what you really need/want are collections and we are currently working on custom collection order ( I do not have an ETA on it). Custom Collection Sorting - Machete Order

1 Like
4

Thanks for your answer.

Is it possible to generate the sort title directly from the filename, automatically? I’d rather not input this by hand if possible, as I have quite a few folders like this.

5

You can create Smart Collections:

There’s a learning curve of some inclination, but fiddling with the filters will most likely lead you to a happy place - eventually.

6

I’ve seen that option, but it doesn’t seem like collections can sort by filename order, from what I see it just puts together movies matching a specific criteria :thinking:

7

Sort Title always works - even in a Smart Collection.
(have not actually tested it, but Sort Title is a bit of magic that works just about everywhere).

8

Yes but as I said I don’t want to sort by title but instead by filename to take into account the prefix that is in the filename. I want the movies to be in a specific order without manually editing their sort title (if that’s possible).

10

Unfortunately as the library is used by other media players for various reasons, I can’t get rid of the prefix in the filename.

But I’ll try this sort title option and smart collections, this should do the trick.

Thanks a lot for your help! :slight_smile:

11

Whoops - that Delete Button - when hit by mistake is very quick...lol

Dump your method - it won’t work and will blow your file names.

Use Sort Title instead.

Once the Sort Title is in place - create a Smart Collection and test it.

Plex and Matching only works with proper file names and structuring.
Add a bunch of stuff Plex doesn’t recognize to your file names and your Plex life will become very unpleasant, very quickly.

1 Like
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