Library Scan

[elivick3031 5]

Hi Everyone:

I hit the scan library button on my dashboard in error. All of my movies were already on the media server with metadata. But now all of the metadata was erased and it appears as if the movies are being scanned from scratch and re-added. My question is: Once the media is added to the Emby server, if you select " scan libraries " does it not remember the metadata it had already pulled? The rescan is taking a VERY long time. Is there any way to speed up the rescan? Thanks.

[GrimReaper 4749]

No scan will change/replace/re-download any existing metadata (deliberate Refresh Metadata will) unless something changed in your system. Have you changed drives? Did your drive got disconnected at some point? 

Edited June 20, 2022 by GrimReaper

[elivick3031 5]

so I had my H drive in my movies section and it had already scanned and pulled metadata. within that drive I also had tv shows. However, when I went to add the tv shows folder to the TV shows section I added the entire drive in error. So the movies began scanning again. I removed that drive from the tv shows section and it was still associated with movies. But now the movies are scanning all over again.

[elivick3031 5]

sorry if it's confusing

[elivick3031 5]

should i just remove the H drive from the tv shows section, restart my server, and then re-scan the movies section? will Emby then remember all of the metadata and scan quicker?

[GrimReaper 4749]

Just now, elivick3031 said:

so I had my H drive in my movies section and it had already scanned and pulled metadata. within that drive I also had tv shows. However, when I went to add the tv shows folder to the TV shows section I added the entire drive in error. So the movies began scanning again. I removed that drive from the tv shows section and it was still associated with movies. But now the movies are scanning all over again.

As said:

9 minutes ago, GrimReaper said:

unless something changed in your system

There you have it why it's scanning again: first you told it those are movies, then you told it No, those are TV shows, and then again No, no, they are actually movies. Hence scanning and matching/downloading metadata again, as different item types query providers differently. You'll just have to be patient. 

 

[GrimReaper 4749]

6 minutes ago, elivick3031 said:

should i just remove the H drive from the tv shows section, restart my server, and then re-scan the movies section? will Emby then remember all of the metadata and scan quicker?

Sure it will remember, as long as you're careful about library paths. Initial scan won't be any faster, though, unless you store NFOs/artwork with your media. 

Edited June 20, 2022 by GrimReaper

[Gilgamesh_48 1240]

31 minutes ago, GrimReaper said:

unless you store NFOs/artwork with your media. 

I find that to be the best may to maintain my library. I was dragged, kicking and screaming, into the realization that storing my metadata with my library actually makes maintenance easier and, although the directories "look" cluttered, the support files, even bif files, are quite small and the apparent "clutter" can easily be ignored.

I have had a couple of disk crashes in the last few years and that storage method allowed me to easily see what was missing after the crash. I use DrivePool and I can say that it saved me a lot of trouble but its "duplication" feature was incomplete after the first crash so I actually lost some videos but, having support files stored in the same location allowed me to easily see what was missing and that meant easily finding in my backups the files that were actually missing.

After examining and contemplating my setup I have decided that storing all metadata alongside my media is, by far, the best option for me.

[elivick3031 5]

so just to be clear, once my drive scans and locates all metadata - if I do another scan it should not change anything and not take as long as it will only scan for new media, correct? Or do I have to select some sort of setting for this to occur?

 

[GrimReaper 4749]

4 minutes ago, elivick3031 said:

so just to be clear, once my drive scans and locates all metadata - if I do another scan it should not change anything and not take as long as it will only scan for new media, correct?

Correct.