Hi,
What happens when you unmatch an item in your library? And what is it for?
Does unmatch constitute a manual change on that item?
Why does the option exist? I mean, why have unmatched items in your library?
What is the point of that? I think Fix Match would be a better option.
So… What I am asking is, what does the command unmatch actually do? And how does it help the users of Plex?
Thanks
In the latest Plexweb there’s only Fix Match and Unmatch. If an item is unmatched (for some reason) there is probably a Match option. Seems logical, but can’t recall at the moment and can’t check 'cause I don’t have any unmatched items - that I know of.
For me, Unmatch is used when the unbelievable happens and a Match doesn’t work right and provides a bogus match with perfectly named and structured Movies or TV Shows and I want to give Plex and that database one more crack at it. In rare cases that does work. if not, Fix Match is employed.
Of the 10s of thousands of items in my libraries I’ve had to Fix Match maybe 8 times.
Well, how 'bout that… I wasn’t brave enough to unmatch one of my items, but you’re a trail-blazer, ain’t ya?
lol
So, does unmatch constitute a manual change on that item thus locking it from any modifications?
@NewPlaza said:
So, does unmatch constitute a manual change on that item thus locking it from any modifications?
No, it removes all metadata until you refresh it, or do a scan of the library, or anything that would make Plex look for and attempt to match it.
@NewPlaza said:
So, does unmatch constitute a manual change on that item thus locking it from any modifications?
No. It simply brings it into a state as if it were freshly added. Plex will make an attempt at ‘matching’ it upon next library update.
If you want to bring an item into a ‘fixed’ state, you need to do this after an ‘Unmatch’:
Match - ‘Auto-Match’ - “Personal Media”
@OttoKerner said:
No. It simply brings it into a state as if it were freshly added. Plex will make an attempt at ‘matching’ it upon next library update.
I don’t believe that is entirely true. It may remove all pictures or whatnot but doesn’t remove all, such as the name/title. This may be the reason it doesn’t work all that well. It is not deleting all metadata relating to said item.
example…
added a bs movie knowing it would not match.
Now… Let’s manually match this movie…
Now, let’s unmatch the movie.
As you can see the artwork is gone but the name still exists.
Only AFTER a library update does it go back to a freshly added file.
I can’t see the name of the file you added.
I can’t also see if it’s a mp4 file with an embedded title tag.
The name I was referring to…
It is a MP4 file but has no embedded data.
@OttoKerner
Also. I don’t understand the concept of the command.
I mean, If Plex matched the movie the first time then why would you think it’s going to match it correctly the second time around, or 3rd, or 4th, or 5th, etc…? Plex believed it found a match. It’s going to do the same thing every time. Match it incorrectly.
From my experience, the unmatch command will unmatch an item and will not try to match again from library updates.
Perhaps it just like @trumpy81 suggested. Just seems like an unneeded step if you ask me. Unless it gets flagged as a manual change thus locking the file.
If it’s wrong, use Fix Match .
Thank you for your input. I myself am not having matching issues. I was only trying to understand a option that Plex has and the uses for said option.
I have use FileBot before and I can’t say anything bad about it but I am very an#l in my naming and prefer to do it myself, manually. That and a few programs I made to help.
While this topic is at a close I just wanted to ask one last time, to anyone, to all.
Does unmatch constitute a manual change on that item thus locking the file?
Okay. First off. Thank you for answering my question, again.
Secondly, I do follow the naming guidelines and don’t have any issues on how to name files. It’s quite easy to follow. I have no f@#$ups that require me to blame Plex.
I’m sure you were aware the above examples were just that. Examples. I don’t have Avatar 4 and I’m not having an issue matching the movie.
I only wonder what the heck the unmatch option was for. That’s it. And I gave examples to show my line of thinking. I often explore the depths of options sooner or later with the programs I use. And that option doesn’t seemed to be used all that much. Some won’t in fear it will f@#$ something up.
I mean, Here is the FAQ -> https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/201101586-Unmatch-an-Item
The way I read it is it prepares the item for manual details to be entered.
@trumpy81 said:
You also run into issues with Movies that were released under different names in different countries or when the original title of the Movie was changed.EG:
Circus World (1964)
Original Title was - The Magnificent Showman (1964)
Here’s one of those deals where forcing Plex Movie (IMDB) to the top across all your Movie Agents reveals an epic in bad decision making.
Circus World (1964) as it resides at TMDB:
TMDB is getting better every day due in no small part to it’s contributors (like myself) that ‘sometimes’ actually do a bit of research or discover shortcomings in listings and take the time to add a bit that’s missing. Do also note the ‘Release Information’ field. If it released somewhere on a different date it’s likely going to be there. If it isn’t, it will be when I’m done with it.
If I also find out Eleanor Farquar, the adorable bit player shown for 41 frames and ‘Uncredited’ (those BASTIDS!) she will find her place in celluloid history, if I have anything to say about it.
It is a rare occasion when TMDB doesn’t come up with the goods when FileBot does the initial discovery, but if FileBot is having trouble it’s going to offer an alternate, or throw in an option that may bear fruit. Having said that I recently had an issue with a Movie (name totally gone from memory now) where nothing could be made of it - even though I was looking right at the dam thing at TMDB and IMDB! I didn’t feel good about what was going to happen with Fix Match, having visions of manually editing this thing and dropping that poster I was looking at along side the item, but Fix Match immediately came up with the correct name when FileBot, or the normal Plex indexing procedure lay in a ball sobbing. Still trying to figure that one out.
@NewPlaza said:
I have use FileBot before and I can’t say anything bad about it but I am very an#l in my naming and prefer to do it myself, manually.
I recall those very words sneaking out between these Lucky Strike Stained Teeth (originals and/or purchased separately), but the fact of the matter is FileBot is better and faster than I am even at my 120wpm. I have a LOT going on in those initial phases: stripping metadata, stripping unnecessary subs, finding and adding forced subs if necessary, converting audio tracks to Direct Playable formats, possibly shuffling audio tracks into Direct Playable positions, normalizing audio tracks (so I can hear the dialog - one of my little quirks) and anything else that should happen BEFORE something hits the library. FileBot’s actions remove all guesswork and instantly takes care of an important task so I don’t have to worry about it, leaving me to take care of the other things I do worry about.
Silly me - replying to a removed post…
I swear I think that’s a name I heard listing to Firesign Theatre about 150 years ago, but all my friends use the name ‘Farquar’ in various descriptive situations… I guess it’s about this time I should offer the standard Persons Fictitious Disclaimer:
The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.
I do like this one from The Three Stooges’ ‘You Nazty Spy’:
Any resemblance between the characters in this picture and any persons, living or dead, is a miracle.
I’ll end with the ‘500 Days of Summer’ disclaimer - one of my favs:
Any resemblance to people living or dead is purely coincidental ... Especially you, Jenny Beckman ... ■■■■■.
@OttoKerner said:
@NewPlaza said:
So, does unmatch constitute a manual change on that item thus locking it from any modifications?No. It simply brings it into a state as if it were freshly added. Plex will make an attempt at ‘matching’ it upon next library update.
We might need to talk to the dev’s on this one. It does no such thing. It sits, unmatched…
Also, If it did “reset” the state then we would have no real use for the Plex Dance.
Just unmatch and sit back to watch the magic of Plex matching the freshly added file, again.
Well… I unmatched another movie on July 24 and It’s August 19. The movie is still unmatched after dozens of updates and dozens of daily maintenance tasks.
Well… It’s been a couple of months and the movie has not matched. I’m going to say this topic is done.
My conclusion is that Plex does not, will not try to rematch an item if you unmatch it. And in a logical sense, it shouldn’t. What would be the point to command Plex to unmatch something only to have Plex match it again behind your back. The option at that point would be futile.
So, I say unmatch constitutes a manual change and the status of the item becomes “locked”.
