It would be extremely helpful if the web UI would show the source of metadata and matches. Currently it shows the Title and a badge with a number (I’m guessing that this reflects the "certainty of a match).
It would be extremely beneficial if the UI would also show where it got this match and/or data. This way when faced with multiple choices a human can make a decision based off of the source with the most complete/accurate data. It would also help if that source was “local cache” or “local metadata” as that would allow for either selecting a new match/source or cleaning of the local file’s metadata.
I suppose you’re referring to the dialog where you can manually match movies (or fix an existing match). The dialog is using the library agent as its default source… if you use the advanced search within this dialog you have an option to manually select the agent/source you want to apply.
In an ideal world, users should not need to bother about the source that is being used… just make sure you properly name the files so Plex can automatically match them (without much intervention on your end – or ideally none at all).
Actually I was just talking about on the Edit screen for a particular piece of media.
As an example:
Space Force, yes the files and folders are named per the guidance from Plex, Plex keeps matching it (100 number next to the badge) with The Movie Database (for some reason). Yet that yields zero tags, and no metadata (don’t know why). However when finding it on The TVDB (69 number next to the badge) I get full metadata and tags. It took way too much manual intervention and guess work on my part to get this accomplished.
It would have been nice to see which source it was pulling from so that I could pick a different source easily. Instead I had to find the Plex blog post on search tips. Find the listing on each and every site and then copy the key identifier. Then go to Fix Match, Search Options, copy the identifier into the search option… Too much. It would have been so much quicker to go “Edit Metadata. Oh I see this is all coming from The Movie DataBase. Let me try TVDB.” Or, maybe “Wow this is coming from the MP4 metadata. I better figure out how to clean the metadata out of this file.”
In its current state, there’s a lot of guesswork, shooting blindly, and doing the Plex Dance.
Would you mind sharing a screenshot of that “badge” you’re talking about?
I’m currently more confused than before.
Unless you start tinkering with every single item, Plex is using the agent configured for that library – from the library context menu: ... > Manage Library > Edit... -> Advanced > Agent.
I’m aware there’s an option to manually match a movie/show (or to fix a bad match). I’m also ware there’s a handful of items that Plex fails to match despite good file naming… with all that in mind – I’ve never had to use that in my own library.
I see your point about e.g. wanting to know if the (some) metadata is derived from embedded tags in your files. Then again… that seems like messing around on the symptoms instead of fixing the cause of your issue.
I agree that for most of my stuff it works just fine. However, I’m new to Plex and in the process of bringing over my whole collection of TV, Movies and Music. I am finding it difficult with some of the more “esoteric” TV shows in my collection.
I have not looked those shows, but some of those may be SEASONS instead of separate shows.
when in doubt, search the TVDB for the show and see how the episodes are layed out, that is how you must organize your media if you want plex to match and pull correct metadata.
I would name them…
Are You Being Served (1972)
Are You Being Served Again! (1992)
Still Game (1999)
Corner Gas (2004)
Absolutely Fabulous (1992)
Only When I Laugh (1979)
Seems like someone added a duplicate…
both series will point to the same IMDB page.
But you’re right. Grace & Favour(the original title) seems to have much more metadata associated with it.
Still, I would add metadata to Are You Being Served? Again! just because I would like to keep it in the name it aired. And honestly, if thetvdb finds Grace & Favour as a dup then it’s likely they will delete it(Let’s hope they merge it!!).
That is exactly how they are named, as far as Files/Folders go. Doesn’t seem to help The Movie Database agent and/or the TV DB agent. They still have issues with finding them. Sometimes I have to go to one, sometimes the other. Otherwise I get crazy results, like “First Aired” dates of 1900-01-01.
It should also be noted, that I’m on a crummy satellite internet link (one of the reasons I’m switching to Plex). And maybe some of the weird issues are due to incomplete downloads of the metadata. But, that is where seeing that the metadata came from “Incomplete download” or “Error during download” would help in determining root cause of metadata issues.
I really need this. I’ve got a mystery artist showing up for a directory of a bunch of mp3 files that do not have this artist’s name in any of their file names, and none of the superior directories’ names mention this artist’s name, and none of the standard mp3 tags mention this artist. Total crazy mystery why this artist’s name is showing up! I’ve been spending hours tracking this down, along with tracking down the myriad ways Plex might be getting this artist’s name from. What a waste of time!
