TV shows not scanning featurettes and other subdirectories

[Norrin_Radd]

Server Version#: Version 1.29.1.6316 - Synology NAS
Player Version#: Version 4.87.2 - Windows 10 Pro 21H2

According to https://support.plex.tv/articles/local-files-for-tv-show-trailers-and-extras/ if you include special named subdirectories in the main file directory the scanner should pick up those extras, but I have always had zero luck. It doesn’t matter what I name the directories or what the files are named, Plex will never pick those extra files up when it scans. I end up making them either Episode 0 or tacking them on to the end of the episodes by increasing those numbers and naming the files the same as if they were an episode.

That sucks. It sucks because documentation doesn’t work even if you follow it to the letter. Either the docs need to be updated or the scanner code needs to be fixed to match what the docs say. It’s frustrating due to the hours of wasted time trying different naming conventions and moving files around…ugh.

It gets all three seasons just fine, but no mention of the three videos in Featurettes, here is the directory structure:

[dbirch]

Thats because your season folders are not named correctly. Should just be Season #. Fix that, plex dance it and then see what happens.

[Norrin_Radd]

No dice. Did the dance, still only the three seasons showing up. Followed this: The Plex Dance ™

[dbirch]

Did you fix your naming issues?

Edit: can you post your server logs?

[Norrin_Radd]

Yes I renamed the season directories and still not finding the featurettes. Attached log files. Don’t freak about the scrobbles errors, my pihole is blocking that since nobody needs to track what I watch.
Plex Media Server Logs_2022-11-05_15-39-04.zip (577.1 KB)

Also here is the directory to show the renames:

[PunkleJones]

Yeah newer got that to work as described either(as in the old docs). Only thing Plex picks up is “Specials” folder.

[Norrin_Radd]

Hmmm, maybe I’ll try to rename it as Specials then and see…I don’t really care how it gets them up there, I just want to be able to click on them to play them.

FWIW I think this has never really worked in Plex and the devs should spend some quality time fixing the scanner (or updating the docs to not say it will do those things) rather than adding new “beta” features, but that’s just my opinion…

[Norrin_Radd]

HOLY CRAP renaming the directory to Specials did it! One problem is that they now show up UNDER the cast/crew photos so if you don’t know to scroll down you will miss them. That’s bad design right there. But at least they are up there…thanks PJ!

[dbirch]

Ill note that your naming is far from standard:
Nov 05, 2022 14:36:31.938 [0x7f7dc9ed3b38] INFO - Part rename detected [/volume1/PlexMediaServer/Media/AnimatedSeries/GARGOYLES (1994-1997) - Complete Animated TV Series - S01-S03 [480p x264]/Season 1 (1994-95)/Gargoyles - S01 E01 - Awakening, Part 1 (480p - DVDRip).mp4] was renamed [/volume1/PlexMediaServer/Media/AnimatedSeries/GARGOYLES (1994-1997) - Complete Animated TV Series - S01-S03 [480p x264]/Season 1/Gargoyles - S01 E01 - Awakening, Part 1 (480p - DVDRip).mp4]

Should be /volume1/PlexMediaServer/Media/AnimatedSeries/Gargoyles (1994)/Season 1/Gargoyles - S01E01 - Awakening, Part 1 (480p - DVDRip).mp4

Ill also note that line tells me that you didnt follow the plex dance correctly either.

My canned response is to see https://support.plex.tv/articles/naming-and-organizing-your-tv-show-files/ and:

If you want to save yourself a lot of time I would recommend using Download - tinyMediaManager and use:

Episode format:
${showTitle} - S${seasonNr2}E${episodeNr2} - ${title}

Folder format:
${showTitle} (${showYear}) {tvdb-${tvShow.ids.tvdb}}/Season ${seasonNr2}

as the new name format.
(Please note I linked to the v3 which is free to use)

[PunkleJones]

Nice.
I looked through some text files i of series i have moved off the server(for spaace) and had a few “Extras” folders too. But if Specials works i see no point in adding more.
(oh should mention, i do NOT use the Plex agent and newer will. For me its garbage. Same with the "update library BS)

Yeah, they should be listed as a “season” or Inside the season that have the “specials”.

[pshanew]

You can use a Featurettes folder, just as described in the document. From my test system, this:

Gargoyles (1994)/
├── Featurettes
│   ├── Another Fake Featurette.mkv
│   └── Made-up Featurette.mkv
└── Season 01
    └── Gargoyles (1994) - S01E01.mkv

Results in this:

Something to keep in mind is that with extras such as this, a library scan will not pick them up (unless they’re present when the series added). To add extras, you must refresh metadata for the series:

And you must also use the Plex TV Series agent/scanner for the library, the legacy agents do not support this feature.

[Norrin_Radd]

I think it was working after my rename a few posts up and I just didn’t see them added to that screen because the devs put them under the cast/crew section so they weren’t visible without scrolling. I’d love it if they would move UP the videos and put them under the Seasons so they are readily visible.