Web app | Save artwork into media folders top level issue

[Keylonta 0]

I have a library set to "Save artwork and metadata into media folders".

 

When I use the web app to add primary images or backdrops to the top level of the library, they are not being put into the root library folder. Where are they?

 

And when I readd the library, the top level primary image and backdrop no longer exist.

 

No issues with images being put in the lower level folders. It's just the top level.

Edited March 26, 2017 by Keylonta

[Luke 37022]

Hi, I am having a hard time visualizing what you are asking. can you please walk me through it, e.g. diagram what happened, what you expected to happen, etc.

 

Additionally, please be explicit about what you mean by root folder paths. thanks.

[Happy2Play 8250]

I assume you mean your Library folders.  Emby saves uploaded library images at "C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\root\default\libraryname".

[Keylonta 0]

Sorry, I'm not sure of the correct terminology to use to explain things correctly.

 

Yes, by "root folder", I mean the Library folders.

 

I set all my libraries to "Save artwork and metadata into media folders", so I can easily migrate to a new PC, if need be.

 

I've been learning how to use the web app to manage images and metadata; instead of manually managing images and metadata at the folder level.

 

When I use the web app to edit the images of the sub levels within a library folder, the images get saved into their corresponding library subfolders in Windows Explorer.

 

But when I use the web app to edit the images of the top level library folders, the images are not being saved into their corresponding root library folders in Windows Explorer.

 

Why are the top level library images not being saved to their corresponding folders in Windows Explorer; when I have the libraries set to "Save artwork and metadata into media folders"?

[Happy2Play 8250]

Library folder images are stored in the location I posted in posts 3.  Emby saves the library folder (root folder) images with library configs.

 

[Keylonta 0]

 

Library folder images are stored in the location I posted in posts 3.  Emby saves the library folder (root folder) images with library configs.

 

But I have the libraries set to "Save artwork and metadata into media folders". Shouldn't this setting make Emby save all the artwork into the corresponding media folders?

 

Isn't the point of that setting so that the library retains all the artwork and metadata, so that if I build a new PC, all I have to do is install Emby, and point it to my library folders that contain all the artwork and metadata?

[Luke 37022]

@@Keylonta, the root folders are different. they have their own rules. remember that you can assign multiple folders to each root folder, so how would Emby know which folder to put the images in, and if mulitple existed, how would it know which ones to use. So that is part of the reason why they are kept internally.

 

In any event, you do not need to mess with folders at all. Use the web interface, go to library setup, then click the 3-dot menu of a library -> edit images.

 

You can use that to upload backdrops. My suggestion is just to do that.

[Keylonta 0]

 

In any event, you do not need to mess with folders at all. Use the web interface, go to library setup, then click the 3-dot menu of a library -> edit images.

 

Yes, that's what I've started doing. Looks like I'll have to remember to manually add the images to the root folders, otherwise, how would I move my Emby libraries to a new PC so that I don't lose the top level library images and metadata?

 

 

@Keylonta, the root folders are different. they have their own rules. remember that you can assign multiple folders to each root folder, so how would Emby know which folder to put the images in, and if mulitple existed, how would it know which ones to use. So that is part of the reason why they are kept internally.

 

That doesn't make sense to me because Emby knows all the folder paths. In the case of a Library that contains 2 or more folders with multiple video files, then the image would be added to all the folders or just one.

 

Maybe there's something I'm missing cause I've never assigned multiple folders to a Library, I'm trying to imagine how it would work, and Emby would just use the first image it finds in any of the folders. And when editing the top level library image in the web app, it would store the image in either the first folder that was added to the Library, or all the folders.

 

Also, maybe Emby could detect if a Library has multiple folders assigned to it, and if it only has the one, and the "Save artwork and metadata into media folders" is set, then the image could be stored externally.

[Keylonta 0]

 

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\root\default\libraryname

 

When moving to a new PC, would I have to copy this across? Would that restore the top level library images and metadata?

 

Maybe I should just save all the images and metadata internally. So everything's in one spot. That's what I thought I was doing when I set "Save artwork and metadata into media folders".

 

In My Movies, all you do is export the database, then when you need to restore to a new PC, all you do is import it. How do I do that with Emby? Would it be best not to use the "Save artwork and metadata into media folders", and just copy the AppData across?

[Happy2Play 8250]

No, if you don't "Save artwork and metadata into media folders" the server will have to download everything during a rebuild/restore.  As posted in other topics the metadata/library is rebuild with new itemids on every server build so central metadata becomes useless on a rebuild/restore.  If metadata is with media the server can re-read the existing metadata and image for a faster rebuild.
 
The Server Configuration Backup plugin does save the library folders from path listed above and can be restored.
 

 

You will have to explain exact what you are trying to accomplish since you mention moving to a new pc.  Are you looking for manual backup procedures?

[Keylonta 0]

 

You will have to explain exact what you are trying to accomplish since you mention moving to a new pc.  Are you looking for manual backup procedures?

 

You know how I mentioned, in My Movies, how you export the Library database, then, no matter what the circumstance is (for example, moving to a new PC), you simply import the database, and hay presto, everything is restored (no missing top level images etc.). How do I accomplish this with Emby?

 

Are you saying that I would have to use the Server Configuration Backup plugin to restore the Libraries, plus, the libraries would have previously had to of been set to "Save artwork and metadata into media folders" so that all the artwork and metadata (minus the top level) is in the folders? Would that restore my Libraries, including the top level artwork?

 

Is there a permanent solution for restoring Emby libraries, no matter what the situation is? The same as My Movies does?

Edited April 2, 2017 by Keylonta

[Luke 37022]

We are always looking to improve the backup plugin. If you have a specific request you'd like to make for it, we'd love to hear about it. just open a new topic in the feature requests section. thanks !

[Keylonta 0]

 

We are always looking to improve the backup plugin. If you have a specific request you'd like to make for it, we'd love to hear about it. just open a new topic in the feature requests section. thanks !

 

Are you saying that Emby doesn't have a Library database backup/restore option, and that I should request that option in the features requests section for the Backup plugin?

 

I haven't used the backup plugin so I don't know its exact function but I'm going to try it. From memory though, it only backs up the server settings.

 

Sorry to ask this again, but I'd really like to know, so I can come up with a workaround if need be. Is there a permanent solution for restoring Emby libraries, no matter what the situation is? The same as My Movies does? A Library database backup/restore option?

[Happy2Play 8250]

There is no database backup/restore.  The database is rebuilt with every clean install. 

 

These items are backed up and restorable.  The library definitions is where your top level images are stored, not actually in the library folder.

 

Edited April 3, 2017 by Happy2Play

[Keylonta 0]

 

There is no database backup/restore.  The database is rebuilt with every clean install.

 

I understand now, how to backup/restore the Libraries. You have to use the Server Configuration Backup plugin, in combination with, all the Libraries previously set to "Save artwork and metadata into media folders". Then when you restore the Library Definition and scan the Libraries, everything is fully restored, the same as exporting/importing the My Movies database.

 

Also worth mentioning, the "User Playstate, Favorites, Resume, etc." plugin item, stores the View settings for the WMC client.

 

I'm just going to manually add the images for the top level Libraries, at the folder level, so I don't lose the top level artwork, if for some reason I re-add any of the Libraries. This eliminates the need to restore from the Server Configuration Backup plugin.

 

Thanks for the support everyone.