which version is which file?

[justinrh 260]

For this TV show episode I have both a TS file and an MP4 file.  Now, which is which from the version list?  (This is in the web app.)

Sure, I could select one then see what the metadata updates to, but that's silly.

The problem is compounded by the fact that I can't even really tell which one is selected in the list.  So it's guessing at this point.

[pwhodges 2012]

Append "- TS" and "- MP4" to the file names (before the extension, which remains).  Emby will then use just the part of the names which are different in that dropdown.

Paul

Edited September 10, 2023 by pwhodges

[justinrh 260]

That's useful, pw, so I can use that as a workaround.  Emby can and should do better.

[pwhodges 2012]

It's not really a workaround - it's how Emby's actually designed to do this.

Paul

[justinrh 260]

I understand what you are saying, but it doesn't work for the user by default.  Why should users have to monkey around with filenames?  (Computers and software should be able to do what you said automatically.)  There are easy ways to give a good UX by default.

Emby could at least entertain an improvement here.

[pwhodges 2012]

But how often are multiple versions of a video distinguished only by extension?  I would have thought it was more common to have multiple encodes with different resolutions or bitrates, whose filenames would naturally include a summary description; or maybe theatrical and director's cuts, which again the filenames would naturally include.  The extension alone tells you (in general - obviously in your system you know) nothing about the reason for having two versions.

Why is making a filename sufficiently descriptive "monkeying around" rather than sensible curation?

Paul