TV shows episodes mixed

[Daisuke]

Hi,

I added a new TV series to Plex 1.19.4.2935, The episodes are displayed properly into TVDB. However, in Plex, they are all mangled. I tried to re-match and clear the metadata, delete the directory and re-create it again, same issue.

[BigWheel]

what folder do you have set for your library?

[tom80H]

Rules of Plex:

1. Stick with the naming conventions
2. Stick with the naming conventions
3. Stick with the naming conventions

Naming and Organizing Your TV Show Files | Plex Support

Naming should be like this:

TV Shows   <- the folder linked by your Plex tv show library
  Warrior Nun
    Season 01
      Warrior Nun - s01e01 - Psalm 465.mkv
      Warrior Nun - s01e02 - Proverbs 3125.mkv
      Warrior Nun - s01e03.mkv   <- the episode names are not really necessary for Plex to pick the files up
      Warrior Nun - s01e04.mkv
      ...
      Warrior Nun - s01e10 - Revelation 210.mkv

As Plex is already “aware” of those files and has cached some fingerprint you might need to perform a “Plex Dance” for the fixed file names to take effect:

1. move the files outside the folder of monitored by Plex
   in Finder
2. scan library files
   from the Plex library context menu: ... > Scan Library Files
3. empty trash
   from the Plex library context menu: ... > Manage Library > Empty Trash
4. Clean bundles
   from the Plex Settings: Settings > [Server Name] > Manage > Troubleshooting > Clean Bundles
5. return the files with their fixed names/organization
   in Finder
6. scan library files
   same as #2

[Daisuke]

I run Plex on my FreeNAS 11, all other TV series and movies are properly listed. This is the only show it gives me trouble.

[BigWheel]

As @tom80H mentioned above which i am blind and didn’t notice, the naming is very off. the two sets of numbers in the file names is probably giving it trouble since it does not have the expected. SXXEXX like in the example he shows

[BigWheel]

like your Proverbs one. it probably thinks is season 31episode 25

[Daisuke]

Hi @tom80H that’s where I have linked the TV Shows directory. I’m going to try your suggestions but I do not plan to rename my episodes from current structure I posted above, I’ve been using them like that for years with zero issues. This is the first time I see this happening.

TV Shows > Warrior Nun (2020) > Season 01 > 01. Psalm 465.mkv

Edit: It might be what @BigWheel said? ^^

That sucks, I have to rename every show.

[tom80H]

That’s your call.
That being said… without fixing your file names you won’t see any result / fix to your situation.

[BigWheel]

shooting a gun straight in the air and being lucky does not mean you will never get hit.

[BigWheel]

@Daisuke

TV Shows > Warrior Nun (2020) > Season 01 > 01. Psalm 465.mkv

at minimum stick the proper notation at the beginning of the file names for season and episode. such as S01E01 Psalm 465.mkv

[Daisuke]

Will do, I will let you guys know if it fixed the issue. Thank you!

[Daisuke]

@BigWheel @tom80H renaming the file with this format fixed the issue:

TV Shows > Warrior Nun (2020) > Season 01 > S01E01. Psalm 465.mkv

Thank you for the tip. BTW, I use tinyMediaManager to automatically rename everything, including new shows. Is a great product.

[tom80H]

Great that it’s working for you
If you want to be 100% compliant, add a ${showTitle} before the sXXeYY pattern… but if it’s already working, that might be optional for now

[Daisuke]

I’ll stick with the current pattern, as it works. Honestly, I never had any problems until now, do to the weird episode numbers.

My naming convention explained:

TV SHOWS
Folder name:

${showTitleSortable} (${showYear})

I want to be able to sort the shows, like Plex. Plex removes automatically the The part. For example, the above naming convention will set title to Americans, The (2013) and Plex will always find it.

Filename:

S${seasonNr2}E${episodeNr2}. ${title}

I had cases where the same episode is split in 2 parts, for example House S06E01. Broken.mkv and S06E02. Broken, Part 2.mkv. The TVDB database could not see the two episodes and would rename them both the same name. Because I had the title inserted, it would rename the first episode and second would leave it untouched. So then I would be able to see which episode is which.

MOVIES
Folder name:

${titleSortable} (${year})

Same logic, I want the titles sortable.

Filename:

${title} (${year})

The file name however, I want it to contain the original movie title.

Hope this helps someone, been doing this naming convention for over 10 years.

[JuiceWSA]

You need to tell your naming program to do it like Plex does it - 'cause your ‘system’ is dead wrong…

Then you need to do this - if Plex Sorting bunches up your panties:

How to not ignore words like "the" when sorting?

There is now a hidden server preference where you can remove the default The, A etc from the ‘ignore’ list (or add your own prefixes for your local language). ArticleStrings

Then do the old Plex Dance - 'cause the above only works with ‘new’ items:

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…

… and yes - it’s always easier doing it right the first time - but if that’s no longer an option - do it right the second time… at least.