# Shows disappearing while merging
**URL:** https://forums.plex.tv/t/shows-disappearing-while-merging/372775
**Category:** General Discussions
**Created:** [February 7, 2019, 7:55pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/shows-disappearing-while-merging/372775 "2019-02-07T19:55:51Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Khazit](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Khazit)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2019, 7:55pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/shows-disappearing-while-merging/372775/1 "2019-02-07T19:55:52Z")
When I sync my library it does show all the files originally but say I have two TV shows which are the same name for example:
**Jojo 2012 - season 1 - 26 episodes**
**Jojo 2014 - season 1 - 24 episodes**
it will merge these two together but the total episodes wont add up to 50 it will always be less and say there is a third it will do the same with even less episodes. Is there a way I can stop files like this merging together automatically?
It does it both on PC and on Android.
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### Author:  [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2019, 7:59pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/shows-disappearing-while-merging/372775/2 "2019-02-07T19:59:05Z")
You are merging two instances of ‘Season 01’. If there are identical episode numbers in both seasons, these episodes will be merged as well.
Please show your file names and the folder organization.
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### Author:  [@Khazit](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Khazit)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2019, 8:11pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/shows-disappearing-while-merging/372775/3 "2019-02-07T20:11:57Z")
I think that is what it is doing but both the files are named differently. I should have mentioned that at the start.
**Jojo 2012 “some other name” - season 1**
**Jojo 2014 “different name” - season 1**
Did you want my files shown on Plex or on the PC?
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### Author:  [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2019, 8:17pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/shows-disappearing-while-merging/372775/4 "2019-02-07T20:17:31Z")
> [@Khazit](#):
>
> Jojo 2012 “some other name”
> Jojo 2014 “different name”
Doesn’t matter at all if you are merging them into a single show.
> [@Khazit](#):
>
> Did you want my files shown on Plex or on the PC?
How they look in the file system.
Please do also give some details about what your use case is and why you are trying to merge them in the first place.
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### Author:  [@Khazit](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Khazit)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2019, 8:54pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/shows-disappearing-while-merging/372775/5 "2019-02-07T20:54:03Z")
> [@OttoKerner](#):
>
> Please do also give some details about what your use case is and why you are trying to merge them in the first place.
I’m trying to do the opposite, I am trying to stop them from merging, I want them to show in individual files if possible. It is two shows which are a couple years a part and I just want to get them working.
 
This is what they look like in my file system.
I guess I can just make separate playlist for each but this might not be the only show it will do it for
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### Author:  [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2019, 10:25pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/shows-disappearing-while-merging/372775/6 "2019-02-07T22:25:34Z")
I think I have understood your issue.
# handling tv shows in Plex
## preparation
Go to
- Settings - Server - Agents - Shows - TheTVDB
In there, grab the line ‘Local Media Assets’ with your mouse and drag it downwards, so it ends up being at the bottom of the stack of active agents.
Repeat the same under
- Settings - Server - Agents - Shows - TheMovieDatabase
- Settings - Server - Agents - Movies - Plex Movie
- Settings - Server - Agents - Movies - TheMovieDatabase
## doing it right
1. Look up your show on [TheTVDB](http://thetvdb.com/ "TheTVDB")
2. Take the title as it is used on TheTVDB. If there is something in parentheses, take that too. If the title contains invalid characters (depends on your file system), like `§ : % *`, simply leave them out.
3. Check the [naming and the folder structure](https://support.plex.tv/articles/200220687-naming-series-season-based-tv-shows/ "naming and the folder structure") of your show. Name the top folder of the show exactly after the title on TheTVDB. No abbreviations. No additional subfolders. No aliases. Add the (year) in parentheses of when episode 1 of season 1 of this show was aired.
4. Name the episode files according to the above linked naming guide. Use the same title as for the top folder. `Show's Title (year) - s01e01 - additional info.ext` (’- additional info’ can be left out)
5. After you corrected the naming and folder structure, perform the [Plex Dance](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-incorrectly-identifying-tv-episodes/100265/4 "Plex Dance") with all files for this show.
There is software out there which can make all those file name changes and subfolder creating for you.
[Filebot](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-naming-schemes-for-filebot/121538/1 "Filebot") is probably one of the most powerful of these.
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### Author:  [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)
#### Post date: [May 8, 2019, 10:25pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/shows-disappearing-while-merging/372775/7 "2019-05-08T22:25:38Z")
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