Tutorial: Change Library Content type on existing library

[Raldes 2]

I tried to change the Content Type of an existing library on Emby server installed on Synology. I followed the guide here: https://emby.media/community/index.php?/topic/99927-how-to-change-the-content-type-for-a-library/, but Synology stores libraries in an SQL database, so the process is not as straightforward. Therefore, I’m sharing the procedure that worked for me. I hope that it hepls someone.

- Turn off the Emby server

- Connect to NAS by SSH

- Navigate to the directory:   

cd /var/packages/EmbyServer/var/data

- Set correct permissions:    

sudo chmod 664 library.db
sudo chmod 775 /var/packages/EmbyServer/var/data/

- Create a backup of the database:

cp library.db library.db.bak

- Open the database tool:    

sudo sqlite3 library.db

- List the tables:

  .tables

- Libraries are stored in the table `MediaItems`.

- Get the column names for the library table:    

PRAGMA table_info(MediaItems);

- Select data based on the name of the desired library (focus on entries with an existing `Path`):  

SELECT Id, Name, Path FROM MediaItems WHERE Name = 'LIBRARY_NAME';

- From the selected record, take the ID.

- Select additional settings for the library based on the ID: 

SELECT * FROM ItemExtradata WHERE ItemId = ID;

- It will show that one column contains JSON data with settings, including the `ContentType` value.

- Valid `ContentType` values:  
  - Audio books: `"ContentType":"audiobooks"`  
  - Camera Uploads: `"ContentType":"homevideos"`  
  - Collections: `"ContentType":"boxsets"`  
  - Home videos & photos: `"ContentType":"homevideos"`  
  - Movies: `"ContentType":"movies"`  
  - Music: `"ContentType":"music"`  
  - Music Videos: `"ContentType":"musicvideos"`  
  - Playlists: `"ContentType":"playlists"`  
  - TV shows: `"ContentType":"tvshows"`  
  - Mixed content: `EMPTY` (no `ContentType` key)

- Update the `ContentType` to Mixed content (original value is `ORIGINAL_CONTENT_TYPE`): 

  UPDATE ItemExtradata SET Value = REPLACE(Value, '"ContentType":"ORIGINAL_CONTENT_TYPE",', '') WHERE ItemId = ID;

- Alternatively, update `ContentType` to a new value (`NEW_CONTENT_TYPE`) (original value is `ORIGINAL_CONTENT_TYPE`):  
  

UPDATE ItemExtradata SET Value = REPLACE(Value, '"ContentType":"ORIGINAL_CONTENT_TYPE"', '"ContentType":"NEW_CONTENT_TYPE"') WHERE ItemId = ID;

- Exit the database tool: 

 .exit

- Delete the database backup: 

sudo rm library.db.bak

- Start the Emby server

- Run the "Scan media library" task

Edited December 18, 2024 by Raldes

[Luke 40021]

HI, thanks for sharing.

[Happy2Play 9437]

Yes this was a change in 4.8 moving to db only information making existing Emby-Server\programdata\root\default obsolete and new installs will not have this location.

But you could have done the same thing via the api by Get /Library/VirtualFolders/Query to get the library payload

Then make your changes then POST /Library/VirtualFolders/LibraryOptions the payload

Steps somewhat covered here.

https://emby.media/community/index.php?/topic/127031-createrestore-collections-library-on-new-install

 

But either method you will need to go to the library setup afterwards and verify setting as the entire template will change per changing the content type.  So you have to verify the entire library setup options.

 

 

[simonmason 17]

This seems like it should be much easier.  Though the UI perhaps?

[Luke 40021]

42 minutes ago, simonmason said:

This seems like it should be much easier.  Though the UI perhaps?

Hi, yes that’s something we should look at.