Switching to NFO files for my movie database

[Eldontyrellcorp 7]

I'm running Emby Server version 4.7.14.0 on DSM 6.2.

I've decided to switch to NFO mode for my video movie library database.

Before I enable it, I wanted to understand a couple of things first:

1. Once I enable NFO mode, will NFO file creation happen automatically?
2. When I enable, where will Emby scrape the data from - my existing database, or will it force a fresh import from my chosen metadata providers such as TMDB? I would prefer it scrapes my existing database, due to some custom metadata edits I have done for some movies.
3. I have just one subfolder in the video library that is already using NFO files for all videos - custom NFO's, made and maintained with Tiny Media Manager. I want to keep all these intact. Will enabling NFOs in Emby server overwrite these existing custom ones or cause any other issues? I want to avoid that.

Thanks.

[Luke 42077]

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Once I enable NFO mode, will NFO file creation happen automatically?

Hi, yes, for future library items that are scanned in. Please see the help text at the top of the library options dialog to learn how to apply settings changes to existing items.

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Will enabling NFOs in Emby server overwrite these existing custom ones or cause any other issues? I want to avoid that.

Hi, yes, they'll get read and updated with changes from Emby Server. Custom tags written by other software that Emby doesn't use will be preserved though.

[Eldontyrellcorp 7]

Thanks for the response. 

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Please see the help text at the top of the library options dialog to learn how to apply settings changes to existing items.

Been looking around, but not sure I have found the answer to the above topic.

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When I enable, where will Emby scrape the data from - my existing database, or will it force a fresh import from my chosen metadata providers such as TMDB? I would prefer it scrapes my existing database, due to some custom metadata edits I have done for some movies.

I'm also not clear on the answer to this question.

[Ugnaughts 53]

just as side note, because i just tested it. if you dont let emby do any metadata scraping from movie db etc. and just have it read nfo files in your media folder. the scan will take almost half the time to scan. 

emby has settings for read nfo and another for write further down. and you can uncheck all the providers for fetching other meta data.

 

[Luke 42077]

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When I enable, where will Emby scrape the data from - my existing database, or will it force a fresh import from my chosen metadata providers such as TMDB? I would prefer it scrapes my existing database, due to some custom metadata edits I have done for some movies.

I don't really know what you mean by this question. There is really no such thing as "scraping from existing database". It's imported based on your library settings, and then later if you refresh metadata, the manner in which that occurs also depends on your library settings.

[Eldontyrellcorp 7]

15 minutes ago, Luke said:

I don't really know what you mean by this question. There is really no such thing as "scraping from existing database". It's imported based on your library settings, and then later if you refresh metadata, the manner in which that occurs also depends on your library settings.

Sorry - I'll explain the reason for the question instead. In my existing library, I have done some custom edits to metadata for some movies. About 30 or 40 of them. Once I ask the system to create NFO's and then refresh metadata, will those custom edits be preserved in the new NFO files, or will I need to do those edits manually in Emby again?

Edited January 3, 2024 by Eldontyrellcorp

[GrimReaper 4739]

4 minutes ago, Eldontyrellcorp said:

Once I ask the system to create NFO's and then refresh metadata, will those custom edits be preserved in the new NFO files, or will I need to do those edits manually in Emby again?

Latter. 

[Luke 42077]

11 hours ago, Eldontyrellcorp said:

Sorry - I'll explain the reason for the question instead. In my existing library, I have done some custom edits to metadata for some movies. About 30 or 40 of them. Once I ask the system to create NFO's and then refresh metadata, will those custom edits be preserved in the new NFO files, or will I need to do those edits manually in Emby again?

Depends. If the fields are also locked, then the values should be preserved.

 But most likely they aren’t. When you edit directly in Emby, it not only edits the value but applies the field lock as well.

Given that, the best way to preserve your values is to enable the option but don’t refresh metadata.

[Eldontyrellcorp 7]

Did the changeover this morning. All went well. Thanks everyone for your help.

[Ugnaughts 53]

On 1/3/2024 at 1:55 PM, Luke said:

Given that, the best way to preserve your values is to enable the option but don’t refresh metadata.

i thought if you select read nfo and not save nfo in emby. then it wont edit the nfo? 

i went ahead and decided to turn off read and save nfo and save artwork. then remove all metadata from my media. then just let emby store in the metadata folder. the scans seem to complete now for larger library's for me now. 

then i just backup the metadata folder with my other backups.  

also i seen the new beta 77 said something about storing artwork in data folder. not sure why we need that since it can store in metadata folder. unless im missing something?

[Ugnaughts 53]

On 1/3/2024 at 2:06 AM, Eldontyrellcorp said:

Sorry - I'll explain the reason for the question instead. In my existing library, I have done some custom edits to metadata for some movies. About 30 or 40 of them. Once I ask the system to create NFO's and then refresh metadata, will those custom edits be preserved in the new NFO files, or will I need to do those edits manually in Emby again?

for you since you have custom nfos. i would say to uncheck everything accept read nfo when you create the library. then run scan. but definitely don't check write to nfo . you might need to select the metadata providers. maybe luke can correct me?

[Luke 42077]

On 1/3/2024 at 2:06 AM, Eldontyrellcorp said:

Sorry - I'll explain the reason for the question instead. In my existing library, I have done some custom edits to metadata for some movies. About 30 or 40 of them. Once I ask the system to create NFO's and then refresh metadata, will those custom edits be preserved in the new NFO files, or will I need to do those edits manually in Emby again?

Are the fields locked in the metadata editor? Or did you do the edits outside of Emby?

[Eldontyrellcorp 7]

5 hours ago, Luke said:

Are the fields locked in the metadata editor? Or did you do the edits outside of Emby?

The fields were not locked, but the data transferred over unchanged to the new NFO files regardless.

[podonnell 47]

On 1/3/2024 at 10:03 PM, Eldontyrellcorp said:

Did the changeover this morning. All went well. Thanks everyone for your help.

Looking to do this myself -- I just enabled NFO on my movie and series libraries -- previously I only had it for a personal library.

The bit that I'm having trouble with is how to go and update all existing items I already have. The info at the top of the library section seems to indicate you need to 'refresh metadata', but I'm worried that's going to overwrite any manual changes I already had put there. I don't know if I even had done many (or any), but I'm trying to basically preserve what custom changes I already have on all my items, and write those to NFO files.

Would you be able to share what you did on your side?

Thanks!

[Luke 42077]

2 hours ago, podonnell said:

Looking to do this myself -- I just enabled NFO on my movie and series libraries -- previously I only had it for a personal library.

The bit that I'm having trouble with is how to go and update all existing items I already have. The info at the top of the library section seems to indicate you need to 'refresh metadata', but I'm worried that's going to overwrite any manual changes I already had put there. I don't know if I even had done many (or any), but I'm trying to basically preserve what custom changes I already have on all my items, and write those to NFO files.

Would you be able to share what you did on your side?

Thanks!

If it's only a few items you're concerned about, then you could just open the metadata editor and click save. That will get the nfo written.

[podonnell 47]

11 minutes ago, Luke said:

If it's only a few items you're concerned about, then you could just open the metadata editor and click save. That will get the nfo written.

Hmm probably closer to a hundred or so for movies. For series, do I need to edit each episode like this, or the series itself?

Not ruling out spending the time going into each to do this, but let me know if there's any better way to automate them all.

[Luke 42077]

On 11/7/2024 at 3:24 PM, podonnell said:

Hmm probably closer to a hundred or so for movies. For series, do I need to edit each episode like this, or the series itself?

Not ruling out spending the time going into each to do this, but let me know if there's any better way to automate them all.

Hi, both actually.

[podonnell 47]

5 hours ago, Luke said:

Hi, both actually.

Got it. So individually 'edit metadata' on series itself, and each episode.

Any way to do a mass select on all items and change a value like an irrelevant field perhaps? I could set something on every item in my library and then delete it after, which could generate the NFO in the process.

[Carlo 4560]

Check the Plugin Catalog for Bulky - Bulk meta data editing tool.
It should be in the Metadata section.

This might do what you want.  Do a test or two using just a few items to start.

[podonnell 47]

On 11/11/2024 at 10:03 AM, Carlo said:

Check the Plugin Catalog for Bulky - Bulk meta data editing tool.
It should be in the Metadata section.

This might do what you want.  Do a test or two using just a few items to start.

Yeah this was perfect. Scary to play with but if I highlight all and then 'save' with no changes, it seems to just 'touch' the file which creates the NFO.

[podonnell 47]

On 11/11/2024 at 10:03 AM, Carlo said:

Check the Plugin Catalog for Bulky - Bulk meta data editing tool.
It should be in the Metadata section.

This might do what you want.  Do a test or two using just a few items to start.

Hmm.. Actually 50% of the way there. It creates NFO files just fine. However I am not seeing any of the posters and artwork save.

I've even gone into the media itself and the only way I get artwork to save is by adding a NEW artwork. Then, only that artwork saves.
Even without the bulky tool, what is needed to get the artwork that I already have to save to file?

[podonnell 47]

Might have a way, but wanted to vocalize it here to make sure I don't blow up my library -- 

If I 'refresh metadata' and ensure that 'replace existing images' is checked off...

1) Will metadata that I have edited myself be preserved? Or is this going to ignore what I have in my NFO files, update based on priority, and then re-write data to my NFO files?

2) Will existing photos that I've replaced be deleted, and then the highest rated photos will be downloaded only?

If either of the above are true, what can to do to preserve these custom changes?

[Carlo 4560]

I'd think it will overwrite your current graphics since that's basically what you would be telling it to do.

You could try enabling additional items fetched then try a refresh metadata finding missing items.
I don't know if this would only save the new items to the content folder or all of them.

I'd create a test library with a few movies and try it that way vs your actual movie library.

Do you have a bunch of custom graphics?

[Luke 42077]

7 hours ago, podonnell said:

 

1) Will metadata that I have edited myself be preserved? Or is this going to ignore what I have in my NFO files, update based on priority, and then re-write data to my NFO files?

 

It will be preserved if it is locked. When you use the metadata editor, fields that you edit get locked automatically.

[podonnell 47]

9 hours ago, Carlo said:

I'd think it will overwrite your current graphics since that's basically what you would be telling it to do.

You could try enabling additional items fetched then try a refresh metadata finding missing items.
I don't know if this would only save the new items to the content folder or all of them.

I'd create a test library with a few movies and try it that way vs your actual movie library.

Do you have a bunch of custom graphics?

I like this idea. It actually seems like there's a bug though -- I had enabled most of these and did a 'refresh metadata' and chose 'search for missing'. I saw a particular title download new artwork, and that artwork was not added to the folder either. So it didn't add old metadata as we'd hope, but it doesn't seem to even be following the 'save artwork' for some reason.

It works if I chose 'replace existing images' though, but trying that would likely remove all existing images I've chosen.