Plex assumes that I want it to organize my media files. WRONG!!! COMPLETELY WRONG!!! My media files are already organized exactly the way I want them on my disk. I want Plex to play specific media files in the specific folder I direct it to. If I want it to play the files in a specific order, I’ll create a playlist.
Plex also assumes that my media files contain the standard metadata that all commercial products do. WRONG!!! COMPLETELY WRONG!!! I have terabytes of media files that are not commercial products and contain no metadata at all.
If Plex would add an ON/OFF switch for automatic organization of media files I’d gladly pay for it.
If anyone reading this knows of a product that does what I want, please let me know.
@brogoff said:
I read everything when I first installed it and there weren’t any other agents available. Are they a recent addition?
there are multiple 3rd party agents, and the agent order/priority is also very important. - you can get everything you want just by selecting the right library type and right agent order.
If you want to use your own information, use the Personal Media Agent, in which case PMS will not try to match your files. You can then view By Folder to see your file structure.
@brogoff said:
Plex assumes that I want it to organize my media files. WRONG!!! COMPLETELY WRONG!!! My media files are already organized exactly the way I want them on my disk. I want Plex to play specific media files in the specific folder I direct it to. If I want it to play the files in a specific order, I’ll create a playlist.
I think you could accomplish what you want using the home video library, and maybe the folder view that is also available.
So if one really want to use Plex, or at least some of the features.
Wouldn’t it be easier, assuming you wanted to use the product, to ask “Hey, I’m new to Plex and I’d like to know if it’s possible to view my media this way…”
Thanks to everyone for the advice. I wish I still had the time and patience to dig into the configuration of software products the way I used to when I was still working in software development. I’m old, cranky, and retired now and I rebuild laptops for a little extra income. I can’t afford to spend hours configuring software that’s a luxury, not a necessity. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find any other streaming product that works.
I’m not new to Plex. I set up it the first day I heard about it and it actually worked - sort of. I could only find the few files that had metadata – when I could get a stable connection to my server, which was only about half the time. It was frustrating because I could connect to other streaming media sources anywhere anytime. Since the last Plex update, what I see in the iPhone app (when it connects) is a disorganized mess.
The 32 years I spent working with software product managers (not the same as program managers) taught me that they allocate budget to features that are profitable. That forces designers and developers to implement only the features on the requirements list, which is usually created by technically clueless marketing types. Clearly, the ones at Plex think it’s a good idea to shove one rigid concept of organization down everyone’s throat – unless someone is willing to change the configuration. I don’t believe that adding some simple file organization options would involve a huge investment in resources. I don’t expect anyone at Plex to listen but who knows?
@brogoff said:
I could only find the few files that had metadata – when I could get a stable connection to my server, which was only about half the time.
Actually Plex prefers you DON’T have metadata embedded in your files - at least for MP4 files and if you do have embedded metadata that isn’t in compliance with Plex Naming Standards and have not moved Local Media Assets out of the top slot in your Agent lists Plex gives embedded metadata top priority making a match with online databases quite impossible… i.e. your media won’t be found… not reliably at any rate.
That’s why for the last few months (unknown exactly when it died) a missing Goggle API that kicked in when encountering bad file names went away and the forums started filling up with people complaining about Plex not being able to find their media any more.
This has improved the value (tremendously) of programs such as FileBot - that pre-matches your media with the appropriate online databases and re-names your files so that Plex and the databases can find them instantly. This works out great for people that use FileBot/Other while others who refuse to rename their files are subjected to constant pain and suffering.
Plex is simply the best personal media server on the planet providing you submit to it’s demands - naming and structuring your files in accordance to the suggested guidelines (that are definitely not suggestions, but are requirements). If that doesn’t sound like you then Plex isn’t what you’re looking for in a media server unless you force Plex to stop being Plex and do the same things you did when you were using Windows Explorer and VLC… hunt, peck, drag, drop, watch, lather, rinse, repeat.
I dare say that is the reason you set up your current system in the first place… to make it easier to find things. Unfortunately Plex can’t make sense out of what makes sense to you.
Personally I just submit and name/structure my files the way Plex expects to see them. It’s easier than getting up every day and leaping into the ring with Plex only to have it kick my @$$. I am a coward, but I’m also enjoying my media.
Plex’s naming style is only the recommended method. You can use any naming scheme you want, the naming guidelines are just to give you the best chance that Plex will be able to match your files. If a user doesn’t want to rename their files, that’s fine, just be aware that matching may not work and you’ll just have to do it manually.
JuiceWSA, thanks for your thoughtful reply! I plead guilty to felony RTFM. It’s a more interesting problem than I expected and I would do the homework required to understand Plex Naming Standards, how Plex uses metadata, agents, online databases, FileBot, etc, had I not just found a media server that does exactly what I want right out of the box:
It took some effort to find it and I’ve only been using it for one day, so I can’t give my full endorsement yet. I’ll report back when I find out how well it works under a wider set of conditions.
MovieFan.Plex, thanks for your replies as well. The problem with renaming everything is that you can no longer download files and continue to seed them on a Bit Torrent tracker, unless you have a copy for seeding and another renamed for compatibility with Plex. Twice the disk space in other words, not that disk space is much of an issue now that there are cheap multi-terabyte drives and storage appliances.
Before you assume that I’m downloading or seeding anything illegal, please be assured that I’m not. I’ve never used PirateBay or any of the ones like it. There are many trackers in the world (public and private) used to exchange media files that are not commercial products and I’m not talking about porn, although I’m sure those exist as well.
@brogoff If you ever change your mind regarding keeping a copy of the file (and in turn start using Plex again), it can all be done automatically with the above mentioned software Filebot. It has an addon that is essentially a script which kicks off as soon as the download is complete. It extracts (if need be), copies, renames and sort it in one swoop. It can even call upon Plex to scan for the new file if one so desires.
I guess I got lucky, because Plex doesn’t rename any of my stuff. I kinda wish it would with the TV shows I add… Guess I need to look into the settings a bit more since clearly it does for you
Plex was a no hassle “set it and forget it” experience for me, which is exactly what I like about it. It just works.
I’ve now tested Younity under a variety of conditions and it’'s worked flawlessly. It seems to be a suitable alternative for anyone who doesn’t like Plex’s default media file organization and doesn’t want to muck around with its configuration.
