TV series uploaded to library not showing up

[Gretchenpup667_gmail_com]

I created a new library separate from my movies library called TV Shows as per Plex standards. I was able to upload all the seasons and episodes of The Office with no problems. Had to use FileBot to get the naming correct but it finally worked. The file tree looks like this: H:\Home Network Movies\TV Shows\The Office\Season 01\The Office (US) - 1x01 - Pilot.MP4. Everything plays fine and I can access thru the plex player with ease. Now im uploading the Big Bang Theory and using the EXACT same process and tools and it is not showing in the library. I created a new library under the TV Shows folder for the big bang theory just as was suggested by the folks in the Plex forums. Can anyone provide assistance as to why this isnt working? It seems i have followed Plex processes to the tee but something is still not right. Thank you.

Bruce Stevens

[tom80H]

Strongly recommend to use the naming schema proposed by Plex. You might get some lucky shots but no consistent positive results.

Naming and Organizing Your TV Show Files | Plex Support

Example:

TV Shows  <- the folder linked to your tv-show library
  The Office (US)
    Season 01
      The Office (US) - s01e01 - Pilot.mp4

  The Big Bang Theory
    Season 01
      The Big Bang Theory - s01e01 - Pilot.mp4
      The Big Bang Theory - s01e02 - The Big Bran Hypothesis.mp4
      The Big Bang Theory - s01e03.mp4
      ...

Also… with mp4 files – always double-check for misleading/conflicting embedded metadata that can throw Plex off if your agents are configured to use Local Media Assets as a source.

[Gretchenpup667_gmail_com]

I configured the library just as Plex did in their post as well as what you show here which is why its confusing me. The Office works perfectly but the Big Bang Theory doesnt and is set up identically to the office. The process i used was also identical. Local Media Assests is set to The TVDB. Here is how the file tree goes in the big bang theory drive location…
H:\Home Network Movies\TV Shows\The Big Bang Theory\Season 03…with the episodes placed in this last folder. I rename them as per the FIleBot convention using The TVDB setting. so they look like this…
The Big Bang Theory - 3x01 - The Electric Can Opener Fluctuation
I appreciate the help!

[JuiceWSA]

Is your TV Show Library Folder inside your Movie Library Directory Structure?

Your TV Show Library Folder MUST be unique.
It can’t be part of a Movie Library - and that’s kinda what is indicated by your file paths…

@Gretchenpup667_gmail_com

H:\Home Network Movies\TV Shows\The Big Bang Theory\Season 03…

H:\TV Shows <----the path you add when you Add Folders - and the ONLY path you add. <— you don’t add each Show Folder.

Also your files are MP4 - and if there is bogus embedded metadata within - Plex will blow it every single time when it prefers your bogus embedded title field - even over a perfect file name and structure.

New Agent:
Edit the Library/Advanced/Disable: Prefer Local Metadata

Old Agents:

The LMA Hack:

Video File Naming

With LMA in priority, Embedded Titles within MP4/M4V files are preferred - even over a perfect file name. Local Media Assets should - AT ALL TIMES - remain enabled (unless specifically instructed to turn it off). Local Media Assets should be ‘Demoted’, to the bottom of the stack of active agents under ALL tabs in Shows and Movies, but should NOT be disabled. Local Media Assets is needed for many things - it doesn’t need to be given Tip-Top-Priority (as Plex has so hatefully placed it as it’s …

[Gretchenpup667_gmail_com]

It is set like this…

H:\Home Network Movies
      \Movies
           \*all my movies*
      \TV Shows
            \The Big Bang Theory
                  \Season 01
                   \Season 02
              \The Office
                    \Season 01
                     \Season 02

Is that correct? Thank you!

Mod-Edit: tagged the example so it’s properly displayed

[JuiceWSA]

Yea, that appears correct.

Do the LMA Hack - for whatever Agent Set you’re using.
Refresh Metadata afterwards should fix it, but if not:

Plex Dance the entire show that’s misbehaving:

The Plex Dance ™

The purpose of this is to remove all cached metadata and xml data for an item that Plex usually keeps. This helps when you want to “start from scratch” for particular item move all files for the media item out of the directory your Library is looking at, so Plex will not “see” it anymore scan the library library (to detect changes) empty trash clean bundles (in menu next to server name, when accessed under ‘More’) double check naming schema and move files back scan the library Support articl…

[Gretchenpup667_gmail_com]

What i typed didnt display correctly. it deleted all the spaces.

[Gretchenpup667_gmail_com]

Ok. I will try this tonight after work and let you know. Thank you very much for the help!

[JuiceWSA]

With file names and structures like yours (perfect) - it can only be MP4/M4Vs and the bogus metadata within causing your suffering… we hope.

[Gretchenpup667_gmail_com]

Ok, tried it over lunch and no bueno still. Im wondering if the library is not set up right. I have a library for each tv series if that makes sense. Is this correct or shouil both series be listed under “TV shows”?

[JuiceWSA]

You don’t add individual Show Folders.
You ONLY add the Library Folder. <—once, for each Library Folder - I have many

H:\Home Network Movies\TV Shows
no trailing slash…

All Library Folders - No Show Folders:

A Library can contain as many Content Folders as you care to maintain - scattered across HDDs. Just add the top folder and the shows are picked up.

[Gretchenpup667_gmail_com]

Boom, that did it. Thank you so much for your help! Have a great day!

[markharro12_yahoo_co_uk]

I have a similar problem - I have separate folders for Films and TV on my PC and these are linked to the same headings on Plex on my PC. Both folders are on the same hard drive on my PC but for some reason Plex does not see any content in the TV folder! I have 3 shows stored there but it shows nothing on Plex. In contrast it “sees” everything in my film folder. I am perplexed as it seems set up right so I have no idea why it fails to see the content? The weird thing is that if I copy and paste one of the shows into my films folder Plex sees it in Films! Why not then in the TV folder? Any ideas what I am doing wrong? thanks

[tom80H]

That’s a super strong / definitive indication that your files are not named in a manner Plex recognizes as tv-shows.

Naming and Organizing Your TV Show Files | Plex Support