Odd issue having Plex always getting wrong meta data for 1 Show

Plex Media Server Metadata & Adding Files
1

Server Version#: 1.41.3.9314
Player Version#: all Win desktop, Apple and Android.

I have Plex monitor a file system where shows are deposited by a different OTA DVR that I use. (yes I tried Plex DVR, too many missed shows, gave up) The show is Law & Order, Files written as “LawOrder-S24E10-GreaterGood-1157491-0.mpg” But Plex always uses “The Rope” thinking its the show. Law & Order SVU is always correct, it comes in as “LawOrderSpecialVictimsUnit-S26E10-MasterKey-1157492-0.mpg”
Plex has been misinterpreting this show since I started getting it over a year ago. I go in and manually match it. But the next week its The Rope again. Anyway to force it to always see the correct metadata? Thanks, Bill

2

Is there any way you can have your other DVR use the correct show name “Law & Order” instead of “LawOrder?” And maybe leave off the extraneous numeric info at the end?

Also, is it saving the episode files into a Show Name → Season XX → Episode hierarchy?

I use NextPVR for certain things in what seems like a similar manner as what you’re doing. It has options to save media in a Plex-compatible’ish format. It seems like whatever you’re using is trying to sanitize the file names to something with no spaces and no special characters.

[Edit]
Example of how NextPVR names and organizes recordings…

tv/
├── Forged in Fire
│   ├── Season 07
│   │   ├── Forged in Fire.S07E01.Sword of Perseus.ts
│   │   ├── Forged in Fire.S07E02.General Pattons Sabre.ts
│   │   ├── Forged in Fire.S07E03.The Jian Sword.ts
│   │   ├── Forged in Fire.S07E04.The Rock-Throwing Crossbow.ts
│   │   ├── Forged in Fire.S07E06.The Boa-Zande Sword.ts
│   │   ├── Forged in Fire.S07E07.The Musketeer Rapier.ts
3

I use Windows as the OS. “&” cannot be used in a file name with Windows. And interestingly, my NextTest box can save the file with an & in it. Weird.
And “LawOrderSpecialVictimsUnit-S26E10-MasterKey-1157492-0.mpg” and Plex work just fine finding the correct metadata. -Bill

4

I’m not sure what gave you that idea, but the ampersand can be used without issue in file names in Windows:

image

At any rate, there’s no transitive property of “this works so this similar thing should work” in the example you provided. In all cases, the actual show name should be used whenever possible. You’re feeding the scanner input it simply can’t unambiguously parse.

[Edit]
Supporting information:

5

Yeah, after I wrote that I noticed what nextpvr did and am I was able to create a file name with an ampersand in it. But its unlikely I will be able to change the name, without resorting to a script. I still thing plex must be doing something odd when it figures out the other law and order shows without issue.

6

Plex tries to guess the show based off the folder name, and then the file name. Not following the standards will cause problems with matching. What you can do is use a holding directory from your DVR, then use a program like https://www.tinymediamanager.org/ to correctly name the files prior to adding them to plex.

7

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.