Hi everybody,
I have two episodes of a tv show that are merged in one file, basically like a longer episode. I was able to make Plex recognize the two parts by naming the file S06E01-02.mkv. The problem is that the two episodes are exactly the same file that starts from the beginning, no matter which one I play.
Is there a way to tell the second episode to start from a certain point or to set Plex so that it shows only one episode called Episodes 1-2?
Thank you
No, this is not possible.
The best way is to actually split the file into 2 halves.
Actually I believe that the “best” way to handle files like that is just to name them after one episode and not even have the missing one. That is you can have either s06e01.mkv or s06e02.mkv. Plex will just ignore the nonexistence of the missing one. That is, depending on which name you choose, Plex will play s06e01 and skip 02 and then play 03 or Plex will skip 01 and play s06eo2 and then 03.
Either way the episode gets played correctly and does not get repeat played and plays everything in order.
The only drawbacks is that both episodes do play as one and the metadata is only automatically included for the one named. I do not see any problem with the first issue and the second can be fixed by editing the metadata for the episode involved and manually adding what is missing.
I just don’t worry about that as I do not bother to read the metadata 98% of the time anyway.
Of course what is “best” for me may not be “best” for others but I believe STRONGLY in the KISS principal and what I suggest is about as simple as it gets.
@Elijah_Baley said:
Actually I believe that the “best” way to handle files like that is just to name them after one episode and not even have the missing one.
This makes totally sense if we are talking about ‘double-episodes’ which have a contiguous plot.
But if it is just a file with 2 episodes which only happen to be in one file because the ripper software wasn’t able to split at the episode boundary, then I think my method is more appropriate.
I have done both on occasion - to be determined when the situation arises. When I use Elijah’s method I just go to TVDB and grab the second description, adding to the first so if the second description is needed, it’s there.
That’s just two of those user skills that come in handy at times 'cause you never know what kind of convoluted-crap is going to show up in your library from time to time.
@OttoKerner said:
@Elijah_Baley said:
Actually I believe that the “best” way to handle files like that is just to name them after one episode and not even have the missing one.This makes totally sense if we are talking about ‘double-episodes’ which have a contiguous plot.
But if it is just a file with 2 episodes which only happen to be in one file because the ripper software wasn’t able to split at the episode boundary, then I think my method is more appropriate.
What you say makes sense but I have about 20000 TV episodes contained in over 350 TV series and I have never run into the issue of unrelated episodes in one file. The episodes are all ripped from DVDs or copied from old VHS tapes or directly recorded from broadcasts.
Of course most of the shows are older TV shows and I have not bought a DVD for TV shows in a VERY long time. It is entirely possible that the more modern DVDs when ripped produce wonky files like you describe.
Also I really see no disadvantage to having two consecutive episodes that have no relationship to each other in the same file. If you do not want to play the second right away simply stop it after the first plays then Plex will start where you left off when you next play it.
But there are many ways to skin a mongoose (three actually) and that is one of the things that makes Plex so good. It is adaptable to many individual tastes and flexible enough for almost everyone. It is not perfect but it works and works well. At least for me.
