Server Version#: Plex Media Server 1.21.2.3943-a91458577
Player Version#:
I have ripped my DVD collection and placed it on a windows box. I use Plex Media Server via my Roku box to watch these on my tv. I am having an issue with naming and getting things to show up correctly. For example, I have all 5 of the Rambo movies. I have named the .avi files on my computer like this:
1 - First Blood
2 - Frist Blood 2
3 - First Blood 3
4 - First Blood 4
5 - First Blood 5
When I open this folder on my Roku box (or even on the computer via a web browser to Plex directly) it only shows 3 copies of First Blood, Rambo 2008 and Rambo - Last Blood. I then went in and renamed them to
First blood.avi
Rambo - First blood 2.avi
Rambo III.avi
Rambo 2008.avi
Rambo - Last Blood.avi
Plex still shows three copies of First Blood, Rambo 2008, and Rambo - Last Blood. How can I name these so that Plex will pick them up correctly?
I have the same thing with other naming conventions. For example, I have all of my Law and Order dvds ripped and placed on the computer. I was naming the later sessions as lao1001.avi for Law and Order Season 10 Disk 1. It would not see those at all. I had to rename the file to be lao101.avi before it would see the later seasons.
What am I doing wrong and is there any way I can force Plex to pick up the name that I want the files to be rather than what it thinks they should be?
No mixing movies and TV shows in the same library.
Specific to the Rambo movies:
/movies <-- Movie library points here. Name not important.
../First Blood (1982)
..../First Blood (1982).ext <-- ext = mp4/mkv/etc
../Rambo First Blood Part II (1985)
..../Rambo First Blood Part II (1985).ext
../Rambo III (1988) {imdb-tt0095956} <-- can add IMDB or TMDB id to assist in matching. See docs.
..../Rambo III (1988) {imdb-tt0095956}.ext
Plex is especially picky with TV shows. Review the documentation. Follow it explicitly for best results.
/TV Shows <-- TV library points here. Exact name unimportant.
../Law & Order <-- TV show name as listed at TheTVDB.com
..../Season 01 <-- "Season" must be in English. Two digits for season, unless shown otherwise at TheTVDB.com.
....../Law & Order - s01e01 - Prescription for Death.ext <-- Episode name is optional. Not used by Plex.
....../Law & Order - s01e02.ext
99.9% of matching problems can be solved if you just name stuff right. It took me a long time to get the knack. You can’t just toss stuff in there and have PLEX be able to figure it out. Movies need a date. TV shows need to have the same named folder as Thetvdb calls it. PLEX has no idea what is actually in the file. You can have 2 copies of the same 2 min home video and name them Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) and Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and they will show up in PLEX as those two movies. It has no idea it is really a birthday party.
Good luck. If you have anymore questions, feel free to just ping here again. It takes a bit to figure out the names. rule of thumb, if it is a movie, name it exactly the same as IMDB including the date in parentheses.
When you make changes be sure Plex picks it up.
A good way to do that is to perform the “Plex dance” after you make changes.
The following is from earlier and some of the steps may no longer be needed.
“Plex Dance” to force Plex to reread the media files correctly.
…
Move the folder or files to a location where Plex cannot see them
Force a scan of the library
Empty trash
Clean bundles
Move the folder back into the library
Force a scan of the library
…
Be sure to do each step above in order and allow each step to complete before doing the next and do not skip any steps.
Also before you do the above be sure the agent “Shows” has “Local media assets” moved below everything else.
