There are no items in this folder problem

[gedonis]

Server Version#: Version 1.21.1.3830
Player Version#: 1.25.0.1511-47afccd4

I got “There are no items in this folder” problem. I have uploaded several videos (series from the serial) to a folder on my QNAP NAS from my Windows PC. For example, “The Queens Gambit - S01E01 - Openings.mkv” in the “Ход королевы (The Queen’s Gambit) (2020) USA” folder. But Plex is showing no files in my folder. I checked from Plax app on Iphone and Plex from my Windows PC and from QNAP’s Plex - and there is no mu videos nowhere.

On the other hand, if I rename file to 1.mkv, i can see it. If I rename back to “The Queens Gambit - S01E01 - Openings.mkv”, file is not shown again.

So, it is not due to any rights or privileges. Obviously, it is a bug of Plex.

I tried to Optimize database (via Plex troubleshooting) and rescan Library files - no results.

Are there any solutions?

[ChuckPa]

no, not an obvious bug in Plex – yet.

Are you using the Multimedia share with QNAP Codex Pack plug-in ? If so, it’s known to cause all kinds of problems.

May I see the Debug log files which capture this?

FYI - renaming the file, once scanned, always causes problems. (hence the Plex Dance)

[gedonis]

What do you mean my Debug log? I downloaded logs from Plex and now have Plex Media Server Logs_2021-01-03_03-59-48.zip on my disk. Should I upload it here?

Codexpack is installed on my QNAP NAS, version 4.7.0.2 dated 2019/11/08

[ChuckPa]

Yes please. That ZIP file contains what I need to see. (it has a limited capacity so we might need to scan files again)

[gedonis]

Log file attached

(I deleted log file for safety)

[ChuckPa]

there are many problems here.

I cannot see why they are occurring (you turned off DEBUG logging)
DEBUG ON = default. Log files are Fixed Size. You save nothing by turning DEBUG off. Please turn it back on and leave that way.

Your database is badly fragmented.

Jan 03, 2021 02:11:48.774 [0x7f70296fb700] WARN - Took too long (0.180000 seconds) to start a transaction on ../Library/MetadataItem.cpp:1079
Jan 03, 2021 02:11:48.775 [0x7f70296fb700] WARN - Transaction that was running was started on thread 0x7f70296fb700 at ../Library/MetadataItem.cpp:6871
Jan 03, 2021 02:11:50.176 [0x7f6fcf735700] ERROR - Error parsing XML: Empty or non-existant file..
Jan 03, 2021 02:11:51.046 [0x7f6fcd9e9700] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 270.000000 ms to retrieve 22 items.
Jan 03, 2021 02:11:51.534 [0x7f6fc6e6b700] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 270.000000 ms to retrieve 17 items.
Jan 03, 2021 02:11:51.581 [0x7f6fcdfc5700] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 950.000000 ms to retrieve 60 items.
Jan 03, 2021 02:11:52.797 [0x7f6fcdfc5700] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 280.000000 ms to retrieve 29 items.
Jan 03, 2021 02:11:52.827 [0x7f6fcd9e9700] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 210.000000 ms to retrieve 18 items.
Jan 03, 2021 02:11:53.369 [0x7f6fae88f700] WARN - Took too long (0.150000 seconds) to start a transaction on ../Library/MetadataItem.cpp:6871
Jan 03, 2021 02:11:53.369 [0x7f6fae88f700] WARN - Transaction that was running was started on thread 0x7f6faee6b700 at ../Library/MetadataItem.cpp:1079
Jan 03, 2021 02:11:53.535 [0x7f7028855700] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 210.000000 ms to retrieve 1 items.
Jan 03, 2021 02:11:54.366 [0x7f6fcdfc5700] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 240.000000 ms to retrieve 19 items.
Jan 03, 2021 02:11:55.181 [0x7f6fcdfc5700] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 270.000000 ms to retrieve 18 items.
Jan 03, 2021 02:11:55.492 [0x7f6faee6b700] ERROR - Error parsing XML: Empty or non-existant file..
Jan 03, 2021 02:11:55.499 [0x7f6fafd11700] ERROR - Error parsing XML: Empty or non-existant file..
Jan 03, 2021 02:11:55.505 [0x7f6fafd11700] ERROR - Error parsing XML: Empty or non-existant file..
Jan 03, 2021 02:11:55.508 [0x7f70296fb700] ERROR - Error parsing XML: Empty or non-existant file..
Jan 03, 2021 02:11:55.536 [0x7f6fcffff700] ERROR - Error parsing XML: Empty or non-existant file..
Jan 03, 2021 02:11:55.546 [0x7f70296fb700] ERROR - Error parsing XML: Empty or non-existant file..
Jan 03, 2021 02:11:55.548 [0x7f6fc4e31700] ERROR - Error parsing XML: Empty or non-existant file..

That missing file:

PMS is trying to find it through the Multimedia share.
The file is not named correctly.

Jan 03, 2021 03:54:55.645 [0x7f70393f2700] ERROR - Unknown metadata type: folder
Jan 03, 2021 03:54:55.797 [0x7f70393f2700] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 290.000000 ms to retrieve 1 items.
Jan 03, 2021 03:54:55.807 [0x7f70393f2700] ERROR - Unknown metadata type: folder
Jan 03, 2021 03:54:55.827 [0x7f6fcee6b700] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 370.000000 ms to retrieve 0 items.
Jan 03, 2021 03:54:56.347 [0x7f7039738700] ERROR - Error opening file '"/share/CACHEDEV1_DATA/Multimedia/VIDEO/Видео - Фильмы/Сериалы/Ход королевы (The Queen's Gambit) (2020) USA/1.mkv"' - No such file or directory (2)
Jan 03, 2021 03:54:56.403 [0x7f70299e9700] ERROR - Error opening file '"/share/CACHEDEV1_DATA/Multimedia/VIDEO/Видео - Фильмы/Сериалы/Ход королевы (The Queen's Gambit) (2020) USA/1.mkv"' - No such file or directory (2)
Jan 03, 2021 03:54:57.544 [0x7f7039738700] ERROR - Error opening file '"/share/CACHEDEV1_DATA/Multimedia/VIDEO/Видео - Фильмы/Сериалы/Ход королевы (The Queen's Gambit) (2020) USA/1.mkv"' - No such file or directory (2)
Jan 03, 2021 03:54:58.655 [0x7f70299e9700] ERROR - Unknown metadata type: folder
Jan 03, 2021 03:54:58.783 [0x7f70393f2700] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 250.000000 ms to retrieve 51 items.
Jan 03, 2021 03:54:58.787 [0x7f70299e9700] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 320.000000 ms to retrieve 1 items.
Jan 03, 2021 03:54:58.789 [0x7f70299e9700] ERROR - Unknown metadata type: folder
Jan 03, 2021 03:54:58.792 [0x7f70384d4700] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 220.000000 ms to retrieve 0 items.
Jan 03, 2021 03:55:00.902 [0x7f70384d4700] ERROR - Unknown metadata type: folder
Jan 03, 2021 03:55:01.122 [0x7f70384d4700] WARN - SLOW QUERY: It took 470.000000 ms to retrieve 0 items.
Jan 03, 2021 03:55:01.138 [0x7f70384d4700] ERROR - Unknown metadata type: folder

https://support.plex.tv/articles/naming-and-organizing-your-tv-show-files/
https://support.plex.tv/articles/naming-and-organizing-your-movie-media-files/

After all files are properly renamed, then

1. Scan files
2. Empty Trash
3. Clean Bundles
4. Optimize Database

We always tell everyone to NOT use the Multimedia share.

Qnap faq.....read me first!

Welcome to Plex QNAP FAQ: This post will try and answer some common questions related to the combination of QNAP and Plex Media Server For more general Tips & Tricks, see this First of all, we urge you to look @ our support site on the NAS Guide page Questions: Q01: I installed the latest version, or? Q02: Which version do I need, Intel or Arm? Q03: You say Arm CPU, but is all Arm devices supported? Q04: Will my QNAP be powerful enough to support client X? Q05: How do I install a downloa…

To remedy the database — Optimize it then restart Plex.

Your scheduled tasks should have it set to optimize every few days. If you’ve disabled it, turn it back on.

[gedonis]

Thanks, I will read your response carefully, need more time to understand.
At the same time, I enabled Debug again. It was switched off. An I am attaching new log file.
(I deleted log file for safety)

[ChuckPa]

Here is an example of how I point Plex at my media.

I point it directly. I never rely on Multimedia. I have Multimedia Console disabled.

This always works best on QNAP

[ChuckPa]

Thank you for the updated logs.

In the interest of ease and time, It might be better to delete your existing sections and start again.

1. Have easy library type point to the shared folder directly (e.g. /share/CACHEDEV1_DATA/tv)

2. Turn off Multimedia Console and remove Codex Pack unless youre using it for QNAP Video Station.

[gedonis]

Thanks. What is the easiest way to repair my database if I have scanned files and optimized database already? reinstall Plex server or not required?

[ChuckPa]

Reinstalling the server is not required.

As you saw with the naming I pointed out, some of it is not correct. You must fix these type problems first.

Jan 03, 2021 03:54:56.403 [0x7f70299e9700] ERROR - Error opening file ‘“/share/CACHEDEV1_DATA/Multimedia/VIDEO/Видео - Фильмы/Сериалы/Ход королевы (The Queen’s Gambit) (2020) USA/1.mkv”’ - No such file or directory (2)

There is no 1.mkv in Plex’s naming rules.

May I suggest a tool, like FileBot, to help you get all your media renamed properly?
Once you do, you will see a profound difference.

I will help you with the renaming rules I use if you would like.

From my Linux computer: /qnap/tv/{n}/Season {s.pad(2)}/{n}.{s00e00}.{t}

{n} = name of the series
{s.pad(2)} = Season number, padded to 2 digits
{s00e00} = Season+Episode naming code SxxExx
{t} = the title of the episode.

What this gives me looks like this:

[chuck@lizum Star Trek Picard.512]$ ls -laR
.:
total 16
drwxrwxr-x  3 chuck chuck 4096 Aug 13 10:20 ./
drwxr-xr-x 39 chuck chuck 4096 Dec 23 11:20 ../
drwxrwxr-x  2 chuck chuck 4096 Aug 13 10:23 Season 01/

./Season 01:
total 24694232
drwxrwxr-x 2 chuck chuck       4096 Aug 13 10:23 ./
drwxrwxr-x 3 chuck chuck       4096 Aug 13 10:20 ../
-rw-r--r-- 1 chuck chuck 3108017080 Mar 12  2020 Star Trek Picard.S01E01.Remembrance.mkv
-rw-r--r-- 1 chuck chuck 3054811831 Mar 12  2020 Star Trek Picard.S01E02.Maps and Legends.mkv
-rw-r--r-- 1 chuck chuck 2906237168 Mar 12  2020 Star Trek Picard.S01E03.The End is the Beginning.mkv
-rw-r--r-- 1 chuck chuck 3170488823 Mar 12  2020 Star Trek Picard.S01E04.Absolute Candor.mkv
-rw-r--r-- 1 chuck chuck 1551966647 Feb 20  2020 Star Trek Picard.S01E05.Stardust City Rag.mkv
-rw-r--r-- 1 chuck chuck 1867194314 Feb 27  2020 Star Trek Picard.S01E06.The Impossible Box.mkv
-rw-r--r-- 1 chuck chuck 4198092991 Mar 12  2020 Star Trek Picard.S01E07.Nepenthe.mkv
-rw-r--r-- 1 chuck chuck 1911747518 Mar 12  2020 Star Trek Picard.S01E08.Broken Pieces.mkv
-rw-r--r-- 1 chuck chuck 1549542673 Mar 19  2020 Star Trek Picard.S01E09.Et in Arcadia Ego (1).mkv
-rw-r--r-- 1 chuck chuck 1968715386 Mar 26  2020 Star Trek Picard.S01E10.Et in Arcadia Ego (2).mkv
[chuck@lizum Star Trek Picard.513]$

Once all the names are correct,
And Plex looks at each shared folder directly,
It will sort itself out.

[gedonis]

Hi all I found initial reason of my problem. I think Plex developers will call it feature, but from my point of view it was a problem with uncertain reasons. So, lets the show begins…

The reason was I pit TV series in one folder with movies. Plex requires movies and shows should be completely separated.

I googled also about Plex scanners and agents. it is very important feature, and there were no scanners when I installed plex initially several years ago. Plex has not informed me about such important feature. I think it is a strong drawback of Plex attitude to customers - not informing about important updates.

Thanks all who have replied to my post, but the database problems or Codex Pack or wrong metadata do not relate to my case. Renaming any files was not required, I just needed to move files in correct folders. I did not receive solution by this forum. I found it by myself.