Where does the TV Episode get it's name from?

General Discussions
1

All of a sudden all new episodes have an extra dash in their name in the Title! At the OS level the file names are correct, Show Name - S##E## - Title.ext. When you look at them in the Edit dialog box or in a Season

The extra dash is not in the xml files for each episode.

2

Log files:
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200250417-Plex-Media-Server-Log-Files
Drag zip to message window and drop it.

IF you are using proper file naming and structuring (Public Enemy #1), Public Enemy #2 is an MP4/M4V file with a bogus name embedded in it’s Title Field. Plex will read this info and prefer it over a perfect file name/structure (we’ll see about that), but you can combat that situation by moving Local Media Assets to the bottom of every agent list you can find. All tabs in TV Show and Movies here:


Just drag LMA to the bottom of the list and drop it.
If you do have embedded metadata this will cure the issue, if you don’t it won’t matter. LMA will do what it has to from the bottom.

Renaming/restructuring is best performed OUTSIDE the library and you’ll need to write a new bundle for the show so The Plex Dance® was invented:

The Plex Dance®:

  1. remove show from library
  2. update library
  3. empty trash
  4. clean bundles
    https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200392106-Library-Actions <— update library, empty trash, clean bundles
  5. bring names and structures into compliance - Move LMA before proceding if necessary
  6. replace corrected show into library
  7. update library

All Steps. In Order. No Shortcuts.

If the above doesn’t apply to you (not using MP4/M4V files) then we’ll have to see what’s up with your logs.

3

IF you are using proper file naming and structuring (Public Enemy #1)
WHY would proper file naming be Public Enemy #1? (Maybe I’m misreading that)
The files are avi (old TV show from the 70’s)
moving LMA to the bottom while you read my logs.
Thanks a lot for the help.

4

I’m soo glad I took a screenshot! I am NOT crazy!

5

You need to turn off Verbose logging to get log files not filled with needless info, but is it better now? Your dash seems to be gone.

AVI files ‘should be’ unaffected’ by Plex’s annoying ability to read and prefer metadata inside MP4/M4V files (unless you move LMA). It probably won’t matter with your AVI files, but it will matter if you ever want to use an MP4/M4V file.

Poor File Naming is the #1 cause for strange, or no, activity in the Plexiverse.

6

Verbose logging is off now.
I’m ■■■■ retentive with my file naming, have been since I first installed Plex.
Looks like the issue is no more but still doesn’t answer the basic question.