Transfer Metadata from One Library to Another

Plex Media Server Metadata & Adding Files
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I’ve got the PMS on my Desktop PC. I have a number of videos in one library. It’s come to the point where it is bloated, and I want to hive off into a second library, but retain the existing metadata.

I tried the whole “copy the videos into a new folder” thing. But as I understand it, this really only lets you move the videos and retain metadata within the same library.

Because when I try adding a video into the new library, it has a different number associated with it on the address bar of my browser. The original has one number, the new one has a separate number.

They are in no way associated, so Plex doesn’t seem to understand to copy the metadata from one to the other.

I’m starting to think this isn’t possible, which seems like it should be a basic feature of Plex.

Does anyone know how to help me achieve this? The only way I can think of at the moment would be to just completely recreate the new library, add the videos, and then painstakingly copy/download all metadata to repair it.

Which is a hassle in and of itself.

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It’s not without painstakingly editing the database directly. You might as well get rid of your shampoo.

Not really. Each library has it’s own metadata. Could it share… I guess it could, but you would run into issues and undesirable results. Let’s say you deleted an item in the 1st library. Will that also hose the item in the 2nd library? What if you wanted two separate posters. Not really possible if you are sharing metadata.

If it was only posters then you could-of done it super simple. I would keep custom artwork with the movie(or series, or episode) itself. That way your desired poster will be chosen if you add that movie(or series, or episode) to another library.

You may be able to use ExportTools. It can export your items with posters which may make the process a hell of a lot easier for you.

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