Scan Order for a Plex Library

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
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Server Version#: 1.18.7.2457 (windows)
Player Version#: n/a

I have several large libraries to organize my media. When I originally created the library, I added the directories in the order I wanted them scanned:

New Media (continuing series) v:\TV (smallest directory)
Ended Media - not fully complete v:\Old_TV
Ended Media - Fully complete x:\Ended_Tv_Series (largest directory)

After updating from version 1.14.1.5488, the directories are now listed in reverse order (x:… first) instead of the order I had created them. If I roll back to 1.14.1.5488, the scan happens in the original order, so I know it is still preserved in the database.

Before I manually move and reorg 100 tb of media, is this new scan order intentional, a bug, or something I need to edit on my Plex server?

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Where? What list, specifically?

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This is a screenshot of the edit library.

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I had added then in the reverse order and until I updated from 1.14.1.548, they were listed in and scanned in the original order.

I don’t mind recreating new libraries for the individual directories, but the on-deck list doesn’t seem to be preserved to the new libraries.

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Changing the order of that list - may not do what you want. I’ll defer to anyone with the straight poop.

I will share this - there is no way on God’s Green Earth I’m going to restructure my Plexiverse AGAIN to change the order of this list (yes, it goes way down another page - or two):

A Long List-1
A Long List-1897×557 66.2 KB

I simply do not care - show me the way, Grasshoppah. Tell me why it’s important.

Are you including those libraries that don’t have an On Deck - in the Dashboard?
Edit Library/Advanced/First Option

I would assume it would on by default - but that would be foolish.

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I don’t subdivide as much as you have. The “v:\tv” is my most current folder and new/ongoing shows go to that folder. With previous versions of plex, I could start a scan and let it run for a few minutes to get the changes and the stop the scan. In the current version, the oldest/largest/less frequently changed folder is scanning first which is a time waste.

Yes, when I tried the multiple separate libraries, I had the “include in dashboard” checked, but it didn’t help.

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Ok.

I only scan for new material - automatically - with no periodic scan - so only the new stuff is scanned in any library.

I can do that tho… all my storage is local.
Maybe you can’t.

I’ll defer again to someone that has more experience with your environment.

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I just created a new folder to see what it would do for the folder list.

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You can see it put it at the top instead of the bottom. I really think this is a bug.

BTW: my storage is in a NAS and with over 100 TB, the scans take a while.

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What we really should do is ask the Alpha Canine why the server can’t automatically update - just the new stuff?

Got a minute, @ChuckPa ?

In the meantime: have you ever tried that setting?

Scanner Settings-1
Scanner Settings-1930×538 123 KB

(Scan Automatically and Run Partial Scan)

Don’t enable Empty Trash Automatically (unless you already have and know what it does).

Don’t forget to follow the green arrow and Save - if you make any changes on this page. <—probably wouldn’t hurt to restart the server as well.

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If

  1. Scan my library automatically
  2. Run a partial scan when changes are detected

are both checked, PMS will only scan those directories with a date/time stamp which have a different date/time stamp newer than the last date/time things were scanned.

Automatic uses inotify.
Partial is just that. Partial. It only does what’s needed.

As for scan order, it better be scanning the top-level named in order.

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scan automatically does not work across network connection does it ?

it appears the user has a windows server separate from nas with media ?

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That depends. It might work with a Windows file server. It might fail with a SAMBA server (which is what virtually all NAS devices use).

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