Can I put the same folder of movies in 2 different Movie libraries?

[MBSki 1114]

I thought I could put the same folder in 2 different Movie libraries, but the movies from the folder aren't showing up in the library that I just added it to. I've given the user access to the folder, but the movies don't show up. Is there a trick to getting this to work?

[Carlo 4561]

Generally speaking you only want each folder in one library. Weird things can happen when the same folder is available in multiple libs.
This is especially true if the libs have different types.

[MBSki 1114]

10 minutes ago, cayars said:

Generally speaking you only want each folder in one library. Weird things can happen when the same folder is available in multiple libs.
This is especially true if the libs have different types.

Ok, so it doesn't work at all? I just wanted to test it out first before I merged my Movies libraries. I have 1 library for PG-13 and up and another for PG and lower. I was thinking of merging them since my kids now watch some PG-13 material and I can control it all with parental controls. But, I didn't want to move everything if all of my collections, favorites, and watch status were going to disappear. Will all of those "attributes" be retained?

[GrimReaper 4740]

I have it in multiple setups and have had no issues ever. Just make sure they are same-level folders, no nested folder can be a part of another library. 

[MBSki 1114]

4 minutes ago, GrimReaper said:

I have it in multiple setups and have had no issues ever. Just make sure they are same-level folders, no nested folder can be a part of another library. 

Ah, maybe that's the problem I'm having. I tested with a nested folder. I'll test with the full folder soon, but I'm sure it'll take a little while to scan. 

[Happy2Play 9781]

Yes, you may need to go over specific path setup.  But suspect the problem has already been identified by GR.

[Gilgamesh_48 1240]

I do that for a few films and the only problem I have run into is the the watched progress for both libraries is identical. That is OK for what I need. I have seen none of the problems others have reported but I do it on a limited basis and I use none of Emby "fancy" features like theme music, trailers, previews and I do not use any form of automatic playback.

I do not really recommend others do what I do but, for me, it works OK.

Also, I doubt that it would work well for TV show type of libraries.

[rbjtech 5284]

3 minutes ago, Gilgamesh_48 said:

I do that for a few films and the only problem I have run into is the the watched progress for both libraries is identical. That is OK for what I need.

I think that's ok full stop - the watched status is per user per media item, so if you've watched half a film, it doesn't matter which library you watched it from - you have still watched half of it .. 

[MBSki 1114]

5 minutes ago, rbjtech said:

I think that's ok full stop - the watched status is per user per media item, so if you've watched half a film, it doesn't matter which library you watched it from - you have still watched half of it .. 

Agrees, thanks all. This seems to work for me. I just merged the libraries and it seems to work really well. I do have theme music enabled so we'll see if that gets screwy, but watched status makes sense to me that they show up in both. I may just end up getting rid of the second library. I just have to fix up the metadata so it's easy to filter out all the real little kid movies.

[MBSki 1114]

I just realized that I can view by the same folders to filter out the real little kid movies.  

I think I've got everything covered now. 

[Carlo 4561]

Just make sure you use the same library type when doing this.. The downside as already mentioned is that the same movie can show up multiple times in lists of continue, next up, searches, collections, etc.

I myself do this as well for Christmas movies.  I keep all Christmas movies in their own folder structure which is part of my normal Movies library but around Thanksgiving or month before Christmas I add a Christmas Movies Library to help people find those movies easier.

[qazwsx10 7]

On 9/19/2021 at 5:06 AM, Carlo said:

Just make sure you use the same library type when doing this.. The downside as already mentioned is that the same movie can show up multiple times in lists of continue, next up, searches, collections, etc.

I myself do this as well for Christmas movies.  I keep all Christmas movies in their own folder structure which is part of my normal Movies library but around Thanksgiving or month before Christmas I add a Christmas Movies Library to help people find those movies easier.

Sorry to bring back an old thread, but I was just about to do the EXACT same thing and then I had an idea. What if during the holidays you unhide the "Christmas Movies Library", but also remove the Christmas movies folder from the normal "Movies" library? This way if you stop during the middle of the movie, it should only appear once since it is only captured under one library. Right? Or maybe I'm not thinking fully thinking it through...

[Luke 42080]

3 hours ago, qazwsx10 said:

Sorry to bring back an old thread, but I was just about to do the EXACT same thing and then I had an idea. What if during the holidays you unhide the "Christmas Movies Library", but also remove the Christmas movies folder from the normal "Movies" library? This way if you stop during the middle of the movie, it should only appear once since it is only captured under one library. Right? Or maybe I'm not thinking fully thinking it through...

Hi, this sounds like it should work but without seeing your library setup in detail it's hard to say for sure.

[qazwsx10 7]

18 hours ago, Luke said:

Hi, this sounds like it should work but without seeing your library setup in detail it's hard to say for sure.

Good question! This is what I'm thinking:

• Two folders for movies:
  • K:\Movies (*This contains all NON-Christmas Movies)
  • K:\Christmas Movies (*This contains ONLY Christmas Movies)
• Libraries would look like this:
  • Movies:
    • K:\Movies
    • K:\Christmas Movies
  • Christmas Movies:
    • K:\Christmas Movies
• During the non-Holiday Season, under "Users"->"Access", I would uncheck "Christmas Movies" and check everything under "Movies". Like the following:
  • Movies:
    • [CHECK] K:\Movies
    • [CHECK] K:\Christmas Movies
  • Christmas Movies:
    • [UNCHECK] K:\Christmas Movies
• During the Holiday Season, under "Users"->"Access", I would check "Christmas Movies" and uncheck "K:\Christmas Movies" under "Movies". Like the following:
  • Movies:
    • [CHECK] K:\Movies
    • [UNCHECK] K:\Christmas Movies
  • Christmas Movies:
    • [CHECK] K:\Christmas Movies

Edited December 3, 2023 by qazwsx10

[Luke 42080]

OK yes in theory that should work.

[qazwsx10 7]

On 12/3/2023 at 10:47 AM, Luke said:

OK yes in theory that should work.

Just wanted to report back, I went through and re-did my set-up to match above, EXCEPT I checked both "K:\Christmas Movies" under the "Movies" and "Christmas Movies" libraries to test it out. Interestingly, when I played a movie and stopped a few minutes in, it only showed up once in the continue to watch section. Which simplifies things a bit.

[Luke 42080]

Right I guess the point that I was trying to make is that some features might be a little quirky when you use the same folder in multiple libraries.

For example, library settings, any server settings that are based on picking libraries (e.g. user access) - if a library has two sets of options then which one will be used?

The answer is you might as well consider it random because that's what it will feel like, so I would suggest either keeping them in sync or just not doing it at all.

[eduardopventura 0]

Guys, I don't know if I need to start another topic or use something other than this one, tell me if I need to move on to another topic.

I have a movie library that contains all my movie folders and files.

Most of my users use emby web, so I created a library called releases and there I put movie folders only for the latest movies, but instead of movie files, I use strm files to save space.

I did this to have a row on the main screen just for recent movies, I know that for emby apps there is an option for recent movies, but most of my users use the web.

the problem is that when I search for any movie that is in the release library they show up double because they are also in the movie library and I know that's how emby works, I just want to know if there is a better way to do what I did or group the films together or make the release library not a source for searching or something similar so the moveis dont show up duplicate.

 

[qazwsx10 7]

If I understand your question correctly, @eduardopventurathen I would recommend doing what I did above. This results in the movie appearing only once while searching but retains the ability to create its own row of movies.

[Luke 42080]

15 minutes ago, eduardopventura said:

Guys, I don't know if I need to start another topic or use something other than this one, tell me if I need to move on to another topic.

I have a movie library that contains all my movie folders and files.

Most of my users use emby web, so I created a library called releases and there I put movie folders only for the latest movies, but instead of movie files, I use strm files to save space.

I did this to have a row on the main screen just for recent movies, I know that for emby apps there is an option for recent movies, but most of my users use the web.

the problem is that when I search for any movie that is in the release library they show up double because they are also in the movie library and I know that's how emby works, I just want to know if there is a better way to do what I did or group the films together or make the release library not a source for searching or something similar so the moveis dont show up duplicate.

 

I wouldn't recommend this approach. The upcoming 4.8 server release has added an optional New Releases home screen section that users can add as a home screen section. That would be the suggested way of doing this.

[eduardopventura 0]

11 minutes ago, Luke said:

I wouldn't recommend this approach. The upcoming 4.8 server release has added an optional New Releases home screen section that users can add as a home screen section. That would be the suggested way of doing this.

OOOh so in the 4.8 server version there will be the new releases home screen like in the apps for the web clients? thats great, really solve my mess hahaha.
Any date for release the 4.8 version?

[Luke 42080]

Hopefully soon.