Server Version#: Latest Version
Player Version#: Latest Version
Hi Guys,
I’ve been looking for a media sever that will allow me to access my media collection via my smart TV. Plex showed some promise because it provides the means to handle external subtitle files. I decided to go to the next step and add my TV shows. I’m hoping someone here can provide some insight as to why Plex ignores most of my collection misidentifies some of my collection and in general gets it all wrong. The files are organized my genre then by the series and the series by season. Can’t get much more organized than it already is. Here’s an example, Game Of Thrones is organized as follows: Media\Video\TV Series\Fantasy\Game Of Thrones\Season 01 - \Season 08. How much more organized does it need to be? Doesn’t seem that complicated. Game Of Thrones is TOTALLY missing as are most of my TV shows. I would be grateful for any help you can provide.
Plex Documentation → Your Media → Naming & Organizing Your TV Show Files
You need to follow Plex naming and organization requirements.
/Media/Video/TV Series/Fantasy <-- Folder added to TV Show library (see note below)
.../Game of Thrones (2011) <-- ShowName (intro year)
....../Season 01 <-- "Season" in English, Two digits for number
........./Game of Thrones (2011) s01e01 Winter is Coming.ext <-- sXXeYY mandatory
.../Season 02
........./Game of Thrones (2011) s02e01 The North Remembers.ext <-- ext = mkv/mp4/etc
Note: Given your current organization, you should add Fantasy to the TV Show library. You cannot add TV Series. Plex does not support additional folders between the folder added to the library and the main show folder. If you’ve other folders, such as Drama, Comedy, etc, you can add those to the same library if desired.
/TV Series/Fantasy <-- folder added to TV show library
/TV Series/Drama <-- folder added to TV show library
etc
/TV Series/Uncategorized <-- "catch all" for uncategorized shows
An alternative is to re-arrange your files, moving all TV shows under the TV Series directory. You would then add just that directory to the TV Show library.
Example:
/TV Series <-- folder added to TV show library
.../Game of Thrones
.../House of the Dragon
.../Cheers
If you’ve many files to rename, there are tools that can assist. Here’s a short list.
Many people use Filebot.
The free version of Tiny Media Manager works for basic renaming.
TMM Renamer Patterns:
- Show Name:
${showTitle} (${showYear}) - Season:
Season ${seasonNr2} - Episode Name:
${showTitle} (${showYear}) s${seasonNr2}e${episodeNr2} ${episode.title} - Movie Name:
${title} (${year}) {imdb-${imdb}}
PowerRenamer in Microsoft Power Tools is helpful for simple renaming with pattern matches or regular expressions. It makes quick work of tasks such as adding a year to file names, removing undesirable text from multiple files, etc
FYI Sub folders will screw you up
Hello,
Thanks for the information. I fail to see why some items were added while others were not. The file system structure is consistent across the board. So it should have been a complete failure not a hit and miss. My movies are organized in the exact same fashion. That part seems to have been more successful than the TV Shows. I guess I’ll have to look for a different solution because I have no intention of reorganizing my files into a file system with absolutely no organization whatsoever and it’s a shame that it has to be that way because it most definitely shouldn’t be
You can leave the files on your file system exactly how they are.
FordGuy outlined exactly how to do that and specifically what folders to add as the library path
I have not only different folders added to the my tv library but some of these drives are on different computers throughout my house
Rearranging your files was the alternative method
Thank you I will try loading file files from the genre level of the file system rather than from the root. I may also try loading them from the series level so I can monitor the progress more closely. Still by the same token the program seems to favor chaos over structure and the hit and miss nature seems to indicate that the program itself has design issues. I’m a software engineer so I know a Charlie Foxtrot when I see one.
That is a bad idea, you will have the same issue. Plex looks for/needs the show name folder
Do this only if you want additional frustration, as it will not work.
Plex is very straightforward:
- Read directions.
- Follow them.
- Enjoy watching your media.
Stray from the documentation at your own peril. Many have tried. It usually does not end happily.
al·go·rithm
noun
- a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer.
There has to be rules and recognizable pattern to follow
The differences in how people choose to organize their files on their file system is infinite
All media server software I’m aware of works exactly the same way. If you can design a system that adapts to anything you throw at it I suggest you do so. You’ll be the first and very rich
Read: Your Media
Follow the same convention for movies. Add your genre folders, not the folder above.
Plex has naming requirements for movies, just as it does for TV shows. The closer you follow the documentation, the faster you will be enjoying your media.
Series Level IS the show name Sir. The file structure for video files is \video\media type\genre\series name\season\video files.
DO NOT insult me. I am a trained software engineer. TWO BS Degrees in my field. This software has it’s own problems. that much is VERY clear. It is NOT just me. If it were then NOTHING would be working. Since it is hit or miss that says that there are other issues at play. The software can’t even deal with an organized file structure. Throw everything in the same folder and the software would be happier than a pig in a mud hole. I will look for a solution elsewhere. Thanks
Some might interpret that differently than you do
Thanks for your resume, but you don’t need a software degree to use Plex. There are kids in middle school who have fully functioning servers without any “hit or miss” problems
You can read the instructions and follow them or complain it doesn’t work
You keep saying that your file system won’t work despite being told otherwise with step by step “almost” foolproof instructions
Good luck finding something easier to use. I see a Netflix subscription in your future lol
If you read the documentation for how plex wants files stored, you should use the genre level of your folders that are added to your library:
\video\media type\genre
NOT
\video\media type\genre\series name
Incorrect, it cannot correctly parse your folder/naming schema. I have had reports of libraries far larger than yours and Plex is indexing/matching just fine because they followed the instructions for naming.
Why must you tell us of your credentials? Plex TV show naming is pretty straight-forward, easy to follow, and yes it is quite structured.
I don’t have any software degrees or formal training yet I understand it…amazing…and guess what? If you follow the naming conventions it actually works. Amazeballs…
But please…tell us of your great expertise while disagreeing with what the software requires. Great comedy. 
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