# Single TV Folder full of multiple shows **URL:** \ **Category:** Dev/API Corner\ **Tags:** scanner-agent-dev\ **Created:** [October 25, 2010, 12:56am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113 "2010-10-25T00:56:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hrcolb0](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/hrcolb0/32/380_2.png) [@hrcolb0](https://forums.plex.tv/u/hrcolb0)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 12:56am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113/1 "2010-10-25T00:56:00Z")
here's you scanner For all of those wishing to have a scanner full of multiple Tv shows, here you go... Currently all episodes must have this format Tv show.SxxExx.format or Tv show.Sxx.Exx.format. This means that your tv shows can be called "The Simpsons" or "the.Simpsons" and it wil put it into pmm. This means that your season/epsiode item can have upper ow lower case "S"'s and "E"'s, and it can either have a dot between Sxx and Exx, or not. I does not matter. I had to zip the file to upload it. unzip the file. Load it into ~Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Scanners/Series. If the "Series" folder does not exist, make one. \*Update: new version below, and it is a ton faster. Also, read above for features.\* ---
**Author:** ![hrcolb0](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/hrcolb0/32/380_2.png) [@hrcolb0](https://forums.plex.tv/u/hrcolb0)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 12:27pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113/2 "2010-10-29T12:27:26Z")
updated version above ---
**Author:** ![mugget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@mugget](https://forums.plex.tv/u/mugget)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 12:35pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113/3 "2010-11-04T12:35:26Z")
This is just what I’ve been looking for - cheers. Just seems like I have a small problem though… I added the file to the Series folder (newly created at the path you specified above), updated the Library in Media Server and loaded Plex, but they’re not showing up? Any ideas? The file names follow the required format (TVshow.SxxExx.moretext.format). Would be great to get this working. ---
**Author:** ![hrcolb0](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/hrcolb0/32/380_2.png) [@hrcolb0](https://forums.plex.tv/u/hrcolb0)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 1:20pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113/4 "2010-11-04T13:20:26Z")
My bad. I thought you could have junk, but you can’t. Try taking the junk out and just go from season episode to format. ---
**Author:** ![GrimSage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@GrimSage](https://forums.plex.tv/u/GrimSage)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 1:51am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113/5 "2010-11-05T01:51:02Z")
I got this to add the video with a name like Modern.Family.S02E07.HDTV.XviD-LOL.avi but then it has an issue with actually playing the file. It gives an error of unknown input format. Would love to use this as it is better for shows I dont want to keep around for more than one watch. ---
**Author:** ![hrcolb0](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/hrcolb0/32/380_2.png) [@hrcolb0](https://forums.plex.tv/u/hrcolb0)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 4:24am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113/6 "2010-11-05T04:24:55Z")
Take out HDTV and xvid ---
**Author:** ![ftzdomino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/898d66/32.png) [@ftzdomino](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ftzdomino)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113/7 "2010-11-06T02:45:03Z")
I ran into an error which required this patch to fix. Patched version is attached.[Single Folder Plex Series Scanner.py.zip](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/4/d/4d47265a6699a2318b57b0edd8d68233e640be51.zip) (3.56 KB) — Single Folder Plex Series Scanner.py.orig 2010-11-05 21:43:20.000000000 -0500 +++ Single Folder Plex Series Scanner.py 2010-11-05 21:42:52.000000000 -0500 @@ -75,7 +75,10 @@ except: pass if showname == ‘’: - ``` (showname, season, episode)=re.findall('_(.+?)\.[Ss]([0-9]+)[Ee]([0-9]+)',file)[0]
``` - ``` try:
``` - ``` (showname, season, episode)=re.findall('_(.+?)\.[Ss]([0-9]+)[Ee]([0-9]+)',file)[0]
``` - ``` except:
``` - ``` continue
file=file.replace("_","")
showname=showname.replace("_",":")
print (showname) ``` ---
**Author:** ![mugget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@mugget](https://forums.plex.tv/u/mugget)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 9:57am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113/8 "2010-11-07T09:57:43Z")
Strange - I still can’t get the single folder to work. I tried removing the extra text, so the filename read as Title.SxxExx.format. That still didn’t pickup individual files in the main media folder. Everything else works fine, it shows anything that I put in a subfolder. This would just be real handy so I don’t have to sort each different show folder by folder… ---
**Author:** ![hrcolb0](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/hrcolb0/32/380_2.png) [@hrcolb0](https://forums.plex.tv/u/hrcolb0)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113/9 "2010-11-07T18:23:20Z")
In PMM delete your single folder section. Add the section back. go to Finder-\>Go Menu -\>Utilities-\>Console.app In left hand sidebar click Console Messages. You should have something like this: ```auto 11/7/10 1:22:27 PM com.plexapp.mediaserver[271] /DVR/CSI_ Miami.S9E5.avi
11/7/10 1:22:27 PM com.plexapp.mediaserver[271] CSI: Miami
11/7/10 1:22:27 PM com.plexapp.mediaserver[271] 9
11/7/10 1:22:27 PM com.plexapp.mediaserver[271] 5
11/7/10 1:22:27 PM com.plexapp.mediaserver[271] huh
11/7/10 1:22:27 PM com.plexapp.mediaserver[271] goodbye ``` ---
**Author:** ![vlotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b782af/32.png) [@vlotty](https://forums.plex.tv/u/vlotty)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113/10 "2010-11-07T20:37:23Z")
Hi all-- first thanks for writing this scanner, I am in the same boat as not wanting to organize my TV shows as I tend to delete after I watch. However, I am not able to play shows that have been added to the library using this scanner, the details are posted here: [Error: Could not determine input format](http://forums.plexapp.com/index.php/topic/19616-error-could-not-determine-input-format/page __view__ findpost __p__ 122873) I can play shows when I add the folder as a source in the Video Plug-ins section, or by choosing “Open with Plex” on the Mac right-click menu. It also plays fine when I use the original, built-in scanner but I have to organize my shows into folders for that scanner to work. When I use this single folder scanner on a show that is in a folder, then Plex pops up a menu asking me to choose what video format to use (MP4 or Unknown). Choosing Unknown gives the same error above, otherwise it plays fine. Is there anything that the scanner is doing that might be causing this? Thanks for any help… ---
**Author:** ![hrcolb0](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/hrcolb0/32/380_2.png) [@hrcolb0](https://forums.plex.tv/u/hrcolb0)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113/11 "2010-11-07T20:46:04Z")
follow directions in post above. does our console messages look like this? ---
**Author:** ![vlotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b782af/32.png) [@vlotty](https://forums.plex.tv/u/vlotty)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113/12 "2010-11-07T20:59:34Z")
> [@](#): > > follow directions in post above. does our console messages look like this? Just followed the instructions above, and the console says: ```auto 11/7/10 3:54:07 PM com.plexapp.mediaserver[394] /Users/vlotty/Movies/TV/Outsourced.S01E05.HDTV.XviD-LOL.avi
11/7/10 3:54:07 PM com.plexapp.mediaserver[394] Outsourced
11/7/10 3:54:07 PM com.plexapp.mediaserver[394] 01
11/7/10 3:54:07 PM com.plexapp.mediaserver[394] 05
11/7/10 3:54:07 PM com.plexapp.mediaserver[394] huh
11/7/10 3:54:07 PM com.plexapp.mediaserver[394] goodbye ``` And at the end it said: ```auto 11/7/10 3:55:52 PM com.plexapp.mediaserver[394] ['/Users/vlotty/Movies/TV/30.Rock.S05E06.HDTV.XviD-LOL.avi', '/Users/vlotty/Movies/TV/American.Dad.S06E01.HDTV.XviD-LOL.avi', '/Users/vlotty/Movies/TV/American.Dad.S06E02.HDTV.XviD-LOL.avi', '/Users/vlotty/Movies/TV/Brothers.and.Sisters.S05E05.HDTV.XviD-LOL.avi', '/Users/vlotty/Movies/TV/Brothers.and.Sisters.S05E06.HDTV.XviD-LOL.avi', '/Users/vlotty/Movies/TV/Chuck.S04E01.HDTV.XviD-LOL.avi', '/Users/vlotty/Movies/TV/Chuck.S04E02.HDTV.XviD-LOL.avi'... ``` Then did another section of: ```auto 11/7/10 3:55:52 PM com.plexapp.mediaserver[394] /Users/vlotty/Movies/TV/The.Simpsons.S21E18.HDTV.XviD-LOL.avi
11/7/10 3:55:52 PM com.plexapp.mediaserver[394] The.Simpsons
11/7/10 3:55:52 PM com.plexapp.mediaserver[394] 21
11/7/10 3:55:52 PM com.plexapp.mediaserver[394] 18
11/7/10 3:55:52 PM com.plexapp.mediaserver[394] huh
11/7/10 3:55:52 PM com.plexapp.mediaserver[394] ***process 394 exceeded 500 log message per second limit - remaining messages this second discarded*** ``` The numbers seem to switch around, are they always supposed to be 01 and 05? ---
**Author:** ![mugget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@mugget](https://forums.plex.tv/u/mugget)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 8:20am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113/13 "2010-11-08T08:20:21Z")
Awesome - that did it. It was using the usual media scanner, and I’m guessing I just had to set it to the Series scanner from the newly added script. Fantastic work, all! This is going to be _very_ handy for me. ---
**Author:** ![vlotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b782af/32.png) [@vlotty](https://forums.plex.tv/u/vlotty)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113/14 "2010-11-08T21:42:15Z")
Also when I tried removing the extra text (HDTV, XviD etc) and do a rescan, in some cases, it doesn’t get picked up by the scanner at all, and in others (when there is an episode name), the scanner picks it up but we still get the “Error: Could not determine input format”. More detail provided in the other thread: [Error: Could not determine input format](http://forums.plexapp.com/index.php/topic/19616-error-could-not-determine-input-format/page __view__ findpost __p__ 123318) ---
**Author:** ![hrcolb0](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/hrcolb0/32/380_2.png) [@hrcolb0](https://forums.plex.tv/u/hrcolb0)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:14pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113/15 "2010-11-08T22:14:51Z")
When you do a rescan you need to wipe the folder from media manager and start over. Is this what you have been doing? ---
**Author:** ![vlotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b782af/32.png) [@vlotty](https://forums.plex.tv/u/vlotty)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113/16 "2010-11-08T23:04:06Z")
> [@](#): > > When you do a rescan you need to wipe the folder from media manager and start over. Is this what you have been doing? Yes, here is what I just tried (again to make sure): 1) Remove the entire section (TV shows) from the Library Sections area on the left 2) Add the section back, choosing the Single Folder Plex Series Scanner - I am using the patched version from post #7, not the one attached to post #1. If I try to use the one attached to post #1, nothing shows up, even if it's in a folder, or if extra text (HDTV.XviD-LOL etc) is removed Also tried this with a reboot in the middle. And also with quitting PMS in the middle, before adding back. Am I missing some important step? Using the patched Single Folder scanner, it identifies the shows and pulls the right metadata, but then gives the "Error: Could not determine input format" when I try to play the show. If I remove the extra text from the file name, it disappears--the scanner no longer sees it when identifying shows. When I place the items in folders, it gives me a menu to choose a codec (SD MPEG4 in this case). Thanks for any help! ---
**Author:** ![hrcolb0](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/hrcolb0/32/380_2.png) [@hrcolb0](https://forums.plex.tv/u/hrcolb0)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 11:37pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113/17 "2010-11-08T23:37:46Z")
First off the code in post 7 will make it so its possible not to get a showname, season and episode number. It skips files. Second off I find it odd that it scans your folder once, and tags a single episode with two codecs. Think the problem is that the scanner you’re using doesn’t work for you. Check mine a whirl. In reference to your log files. The numbers corresponds to season and episode numbers. Also, “goodbye” is only posted after a file has been added. ---
**Author:** ![vlotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b782af/32.png) [@vlotty](https://forums.plex.tv/u/vlotty)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113/18 "2010-11-09T00:48:07Z")
> [@](#): > > First off the code in post 7 will make it so its possible not to get a showname, season and episode number. It skips files. > > Second off I find it odd that it scans your folder once, and tags a single episode with two codecs. Think the problem is that the scanner you're using doesn't work for you. Check mine a whirl. > > In reference to your log files. The numbers corresponds to season and episode numbers. Also, "goodbye" is only posted after a file has been added. Harley just want to thank you for spending time helping me figure out what's wrong-- I appreciate it. So when I try your original scanner in #1, it doesn't find anything, even if the filename is showname.exx.sxx.format. (junk is removed)... so I can't test if it plays files... (although it does say it is scanning something, just ends up with "No TV Shows") ---
**Author:** ![hrcolb0](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/hrcolb0/32/380_2.png) [@hrcolb0](https://forums.plex.tv/u/hrcolb0)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 12:57am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113/19 "2010-11-09T00:57:44Z")
Go to the chatroom ---
**Author:** ![hrcolb0](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/hrcolb0/32/380_2.png) [@hrcolb0](https://forums.plex.tv/u/hrcolb0)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 1:13am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113/20 "2010-11-09T01:13:50Z")
vlotto…try this and get back to the chatroom. [Next page](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-tv-folder-full-of-multiple-shows/6113.md?page=2)