[SOLVED] Cannot delete or replace Movie Extras

Plex Media Server Metadata & Adding Files
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Server Version: 1.22.3.4392 - But been happening for some months / versions…
Server OS: Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard
Server Hardware: HP ProLiant ML350 G6 - Dual Xeon X5675

If you try to replace a set of movie extras with newer versions, say for example that have been converted, PMS does not recognise the changed files.

The replaced files will have exactly the same filenames, with exactly the same directory structure.

I don’t use inline extras, I always use sub directories under the given movie, so…

D:\Movies\My Movie (2021)\My.Movie.2021.1080p.DTS_5.1.10Bit.x265.mkv
D:\Movies\My Movie (2021)\Behind the Scenes\Some Extra.mkv
D:\Movies\My Movie (2021)\Deleted Scenes\Deleted Scenes.mkv

PMS does not seem to rescan the changed files, even if you manually try Refresh Data, or Analyze.

When you then try to play the extras, PMS chokes with a message such as “File not found” or the equivalent.

In fact even if you were to try to delete the extras, because you wanted to, PMS again does not actually recognise this, and it still shows that the extras are still there, however if you were to try playing one of the extras, PMS again chokes with a “File not found” type error.

The only way that I have been able to actually get PMS to genuinely see the changed content is like this…

  1. Move the Extras dirs out of the location.
  2. Quickly add an extra back into the location that has a different name, such as Others.
  3. Allow PMS to scan for the changes - All extras have now gone except for the Others.
  4. Do exactly the reverse, but with the actual newer converted extras.

This problem actually has other knock-on effects, such as when you try to move the entire movie to a different drive, which is included in the folder list for that given library.

No, I haven’t tried the Plex Dance, as I obviously don’t want the given movie to show up on Recently Added on the home screen, because it’s not recently added!

2

I noticed a few minutes ago I had a Plex Trailer for a movie - and those ‘Features’ are disabled.

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I’ve not seen that yet, but I thought it about time I reported this, as I’m getting bored with all the messing around!

Became especially tiresome tonight as I want to start moving some content to a new RAID array, and trying to do that with content that has extras is proving really frustrating!

So glad I have a good backup strategy so I could put things back where they were for the time being…

4

I added a Doc and lo and behold, there’s a trailer I didn’t add.

The Controls are Off…:

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image943×530 61.4 KB

… and right there UNDER those unwanted Reviews (the LAST place I’d want an Extra if I wanted any):

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image943×530 106 KB

Go Figure.

5

A freebie, just some love from PLEX :wink:

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That’s just a little bit rubbish! :roll_eyes:

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@JuiceWSA - Do you have Enable Cinema Trailers ticked in your Advanced settings for that library?

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Didn’t use to have, but that was turned on… it’s now back off and the trailer goes away.

thx

Now, they’re all over 6500+ Movies - and another round of Library Strength Refresh Metadata will be required to remove them.

Cool (not).

1 Like
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No worries… Now just need to get some attention on the original post !!

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  1. Remove the old extras.
  2. Refresh Metadata of the movie
  3. add the new extras
  4. Refresh Metadata of the movie
  5. if you’re using the web app, reload the app in your browser for safety, because there is a bug which makes the line with the extras vanish after you play one of them
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Thanks Otto… I’m pretty sure I have tried this, although I may not have reloaded / closed my browser after removing the items.

I’m in the middle of a full system backup at the moment, so will try this a little later and will report back :+1:

12

OK, so there are 3 different scenarios that I can think of…

  1. Delete Extras - Just because you might not want them anymore!
  2. Replace Extras with different versions - Same names, maybe higher quality or converted for space reasons.
  3. Move the movie and its Extras to a different drive - Shuffling content around for space reasons

I have just gone through Scenarios 1 & 2, and unfortunately the process @OttoKerner has highlighted earlier doesn’t work…

Scenario 1 - Delete Extras - Performed on localhost Web App:

  1. Remove old Extras by moving the Behind the Scenes folder out of the location.
  2. Refresh metadata - Still there.
  3. Analyze - Still there.
  4. Close / reopen browser - Still there.
  5. Switch browser from Chrome to new Edge - Still there.
  6. Scan Library Files - Still there.
  7. Empty Trash - Still there.
  8. Clean Bundles - Still there.
  9. Optimize Database - Still there.
  10. Check on a different client (Shield 2019 Pro) - Still there.

So it is not currently possible to delete local movie Extras, as PMS just doesn’t recognize they have gone.

Scenario 2 - Replace Extras for different versions (EG: Converted)

The only thing I have found that triggers a change in PMS, is to put in place an extra of a different type, such as Others, so…

  1. Remove old Extras by moving the Behind the Scenes folder out of the location.
  2. Move into place a different extras item, such as Others.
  3. Allow a moment for PMS to scan the folder - Old extras go, and Others item appears.
  4. Scan Library Files > Empty Trash > Clean Bundles > Optimize Database - Just for good measure!
  5. Move new converted Behind the Scenes folder into the location.
  6. Remove the Others folder.
  7. Allow a moment for PMS to scan the folder - Replaced extras appear and Others go.
  8. Scan Library Files > Empty Trash > Clean Bundles > Optimize Database - Just for good measure!

This process works, but is obviously grief. It shouldn’t have to be this hard!

Scenario 3 - Move the movie and its Extras to a different drive - For space reasons:

I have yet to find a reliable method, hence this topic!

I want to start spreading some content around onto a new 16TB RAID array.

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@OttoKerner - Any thoughts on the above ?? ^^^

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Just gonna bump it right here, as I need the ability to reliably move select content to another drive!

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Um… I’m starting to feel a little left out in the cold here! :cold_face:

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Hi @OttoKerner - Is there any way you could please come back to me on this issue, as it’s now been 5 days since your initial response.

Thanks.

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Avoid doing that. Change the file names subtly. Plex doesn’t compute a hash for extras, so it doesn’t notice that the file has changed if you replace it with a new version which uses the same file name.

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Thanks for getting back to me, however this wouldn’t actually be an issue if it was actually possible to delete them.

Therefore it we can successfully delete the extras, we can simply add the replaced content as if it was new extras.

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Sorry, I don’t follow.

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If scenario 1 was possible (the ability to delete) then everything else would not be an issue. Does that make more sence?