# TV shows naming issue **URL:** \ **Category:** Metadata & Adding Files\ **Tags:** server-synology, library-management\ **Created:** [December 10, 2022, 10:04am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/tv-shows-naming-issue/822135 "2022-12-10T10:04:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ivkosky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bb73d2/32.png) [@Ivkosky](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Ivkosky)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2022, 10:04am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/tv-shows-naming-issue/822135/1 "2022-12-10T10:04:25Z")
Server Version#: Latest, running on Synology NAS Player Version#: Web Hi all, I have been trying to fix my TV show library. I understand that I need to name the folders and files in certain way. As per the Plex convention, the following should work (copied from the official Plex help article): ```auto /TV Shows /Doctor Who (1963) {tvdb-76107} /Season 01 S01e01 - An Unearthly Child (1).mp4 S01e02 - The Cave of Skulls (2).mp4 ``` My folder and file structure is slightly different, using the example from the above, it would be: ```auto /TV Shows /SCIENCE FICTION /Doctor Who {tvdb-76107} /01. season (EN, 1080p, 1963) S01E01. An Unearthly Child.mp4 S01E02. The Cave of Skulls.mp4 ``` So, I do have the TVDB number in the correct format, but I have the season subfolder named slightly differently (with additional information), although the word “season” is in there and I understand that this is the most important thing. I also have the files named without the numbers at the end in brackets (1), (2), whose purpose I really did not understand from the example on the official website. Yet, Plex is not able to recognize the TV shows properly. It only recognizes few, and then adds crazy number of seasons to those few TV shows to include all the files in the library, although obviously, wrongly, as it takes these fake seasons from other folders of different TV shows. I suppose, my question is, do I need to religiously follow the prescribed naming, including the format of the season folder names and the file names (including the silly numbers at the end), or what should I do to make this work, please? ---
**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2022, 10:36am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/tv-shows-naming-issue/822135/2 "2022-12-10T10:36:01Z")
> [@Ivkosky](#): > > I suppose, my question is, do I need to religiously follow the prescribed naming, including the format of the season folder names and the file names (including the silly numbers at the end) The short answer is „yes“. In your example… - make sure your library is pointing at the `SCIENCE FICTION` folder, so there’s no additional layers of folders - the season folder should always be `Season XX`, where `XX` is the actual season number. IIRC Plex will ignore text after that pattern, so you could keep some extra information along - the episode name/title in the file name is not used by Plex, so it doesn’t matter if you keep or drop the numbers in brackets. Make sure the episodes have a `sXXeYY` pattern, with `XX` being the season and `YY` being the episode number. # General rule of thumb: Going with the official schema might take some effort to prepare your files but it’ll save you a ton of trouble down the road. ---
**Author:** ![JaysPlex](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/jaysplex/32/281767_2.png) [@JaysPlex](https://forums.plex.tv/u/JaysPlex)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2022, 4:53pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/tv-shows-naming-issue/822135/3 "2022-12-10T16:53:14Z")
If you name your shows using the TVDB show order this is a good renaming program It’s free and very simple to use > **[Rename My TV Series 2](https://www.tweaking4all.com/home-theatre/rename-my-tv-series-v2/)** > > A tool to quickly and easily rename silly named TV Show episodes file name to a format that makes sense and is to your liking (Windows, MacOS and Linux). This is good for either TVDB or TMDB and also does movies. It takes a little more configuration for initial setup but works well once you do > **[Download](https://www.tinymediamanager.org/download/release-v3/)** > > A multi OS Media Manager ---
**Author:** ![Volts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a5b964/32.png) [@Volts](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Volts)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2022, 5:02pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/tv-shows-naming-issue/822135/4 "2022-12-10T17:02:19Z")
> [@](#): > > I also have the files named without the numbers at the end in brackets (1), (2), whose purpose I really did not understand from the example on the official website. They have no purpose, and you don’t need those. I think it’s confusing that they’re in the first example. Plex isn’t using the `(1)` and `(2)`. The three bullets @tom80H mentioned are the important parts. No extra nesting, name season folders _exactly_ `Season XX`, and episodes should include `sXXeYY`. ---
**Author:** ![FabulousFadz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/fabulousfadz/32/298066_2.png) [@FabulousFadz](https://forums.plex.tv/u/FabulousFadz)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 9:38am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/tv-shows-naming-issue/822135/5 "2023-01-08T09:38:43Z")
> [@Ivkosky](#): > > I also have the files named without the numbers at the end in brackets (1), (2), whose purpose I really did not understand from the example on the official website. It’s unfortunate those numbers show up in the only two episodes in their example but when I saw it the first time I assumed that it was for 2 part episodes. What I mean is that for some episodic shows the matter reaches its conclusion at the end of the episode; in some cases however, one episode ends in a cliff hanger and you’ll have to wait for the conclusion for a week. Those tend to have 1 & 2 at the end. In some cases they have the same episode name and a different number, but in others the names are different but the number is present to let you know that the two are connected. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/a/7/8/a78031046d6282119505b485a327148724cfc07f.jpeg) `The first two episodes of Star Trek TNG are 2 parts of the same story. Same name but the number denotes it's a second part` ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/4/3/7/4375de31b365af34a83df679153e2777ca63d1ec.jpeg) `In this example from Castle, Pandora and Linchpin are two parts of the same story. The name is different but the number indicates they are connected. Episode 14 is there to show the number isn't always present` ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2023, 9:38am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/tv-shows-naming-issue/822135/6 "2023-04-08T09:38:48Z")
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