Read this entire post before you do anything.
Jun 19, 2017 09:09:15.709 [1580] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: \
as\Multimedia\BoxSets\Video\BBCBD0238\ORPHAN_BLACK_DISC_1.Title3.mp4
Jun 19, 2017 09:09:15.709 [1580] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner:
as\Multimedia\BoxSets\Video\BBCBD0238\ORPHAN_BLACK_DISC_2.Title3.mp4
Jun 19, 2017 09:09:15.709 [1580] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner:
as\Multimedia\BoxSets\Video\BBCBD0238\ORPHAN_BLACK_DISC_3.Title3.mp4
Ok - that simply won’t work:
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/categories/200028098-Media-Preparation
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200220687-Naming-Series-Season-Based-TV-Shows <— of particular importance
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200381023-Naming-Movie-files
The above guides aren’t just casual reading material. You do have some ‘wiggle room’ in Movie Libraries, but you DO NOT have ANY ‘wiggle room’ for TV Show Libraries. There are strict guidelines for naming and structuring TV Shows that, if not adhered to, will result in invisible files - you discovered that bit already.
Taking Orphan Black as our example…:
First, go to TVDB and find your show - so you’ll know how to name it:
http://thetvdb.com/
http://thetvdb.com/?tab=series&id=260315&lid=7 <— Orphan Black at TVDB
A TV Show Library/ ← make a new folder off the root of a drive that can be a TV Show Library. Aim the library at it.
…Orphan Black/ <— the name as it appears at TVDB (caveats do exist - you’ll be back - we’ll cover that then)
…Season 01/
…Orphan Black - S01E01 - Episode Name Optional.mp4 <— we’ll talk about MP4/M4V files in a moment.
…Orphan Black - S01E02.mp4 <— compliant file name without an Episode Title.
The structure and file names above are valid and compliant. Non-Compliancy breeds bitter disappointment - when shows are mismatched or are invisible.
FileBot (link in my signature) can handle that for you automatically or manually in seconds.
What FileBot can’t do is remove possible embedded metadata in the Title Field of MP4/M4V files. Plex will read this info and prefer it over a perfect file name/structure (you don’t have any of those yet), but you can combat that situation by moving Local Media Assets to the bottom of every agent list you can find. All tabs in TV Show and Movies here:
Just drag LMA to the bottom of the list and drop it. If you do have embedded metadata this will cure the issue, if you don’t it won’t matter. LMA will do what it has to from the bottom. This only affects MP4/M4V files, but you seem to have a lot of them so you absolutely want to head off this disaster before it happens.
Renaming/restructuring is best performed OUTSIDE the library (BEFORE you add them preferably), and you’ll need to write a new bundle for the show that’s already a bogus bundle so The Plex Dance® was invented:
The Plex Dance®:
- remove show from library - all of them - just make a new library. Let’s start over.
- update library
- empty trash
- clean bundles
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200392106-Library-Actions <— update library, empty trash, clean bundles - bring names and structures into compliance/move LMA, fiddle around, check, double check, etc
- replace corrected show into library
- update library
All Steps. In Order. No Shortcuts.
The Plex Dance you’ll want to commit to memory because you’ll need to do it if you flub up and need to rename/restructure an existing show, but for our purposes we’re going to start over:
Roll your mouse over your existing TV Show Library in Plexweb, click the dots, Edit, Delete. Your files are still there, but your Library is gone. That’s what we want.
Now Update libraries, empty trash and clean bundles.
Plex has a blank slate now with no bogus bundles so we can start fresh with all compliant material and things will go a lot smoother this time.
DO NOT copy those bogus TV Shows into your brand, spanking new TV Show Library!
Start putting compliant TV Shows in.
Take it nice and slow.
Use FileBot for perfect naming - instantly - or take your time and lay these things out properly BEFORE they go into the library.
Before long you’ll be an expert - like me - but I use FileBot every day, many times a day. I type 120WPM. I’m fast. FileBot makes me look like a grandmother in a wheelchair. Ain’t nobody as fast as FileBot. It’s the #1 Plex Companion for a reason.
