Adding tmdbid tags in file name where there are multiple versions of a movie

[daleala 0]

Hello!

I'm trying to add the tmdbid tag to movies where there are multiple versions.

I've added the movies into a folder structure per the instructions Movie Naming | Emby Documentation

\Movies\16 Blocks (2006)

 - 16 Blocks (2006)-Normal Ending

 - 16 Blocks (2006)-Alternate Ending

These show up now correctly in Emby as one "movie" (with both accessible under the drop-down list).

But I don't know where to add the tmdbid tag for these. I can add this tag to single movies, and it (appears) to work fine.

I've tried both examples in the screenshots, and I've included what Emby shows me.

Can you please advise how to note the tmdbid tag in movies where there are multiple versions?

 

Also, I've named a movie "The Rag Nymph (1997) [tmdbid=43325].avi" - that one has completely disappeared from Emby, I can't find it anywhere. Am I naming it incorrectly? That one has been a pest to try to identify in Emby.

[Abobader 3463]

Hello daleala,

** This is an auto reply **

Please wait for someone from staff support or our members to reply to you.

It's recommended to provide more info, as it explain in this thread:

Thank you.

Emby Team

[adminExitium 355]

If each movie & all its versions are in a single separate folder, then you can add the ID tag to the folder itself rather than the individual files.

[daleala 0]

50 minutes ago, adminExitium said:

If each movie & all its versions are in a single separate folder, then you can add the ID tag to the folder itself rather than the individual files.

Thanks for the suggestion! 

I tried that, and it's now added the movie in twice into Emby. I've tried with a space between the year and the tmdib tag, and without a space, and neither work.

Can you check if I have labelled them correctly please? There's nothing else in the folder, just those 4 files.

If I remove the tmdbib tag from the folder and rescan the library, it puts them back into just one movie (with both the normal and alternate ending versions selectable).

[adminExitium 355]

I believe you will need the ID in the filename too if you are using the core functionality.

From the docs @ https://emby.media/support/articles/Movie-Naming.html#multi-version-movies:

Quote

Each version must begin with the folder name, followed by " - ".

 

[adminExitium 355]

You may also want to try this plugin since it doesn't require the exact name to match: 

 

[Fweep 11]

Sorry to necro this after 6 months, but it wasn't marked as solved, and I'm having the same issue. I think there's a bug.

First, though, to the OP, @daleala: according to the docs, versions are supposed to have a space on each side of the dash, like the following:

16 Blocks (2006) - Alternate Ending.mp4
16 Blocks (2006) - Normal Ending.mp4

However, getting that nuance of the syntax perfect doesn't really change anything for us. The versions are still only merged as long as the folder name is "16 Blocks (2006)". If the folder name is instead "16 Blocks (2006) [tmdbid=2207]", then they do not merge, and there doesn't seem to be any way to make them merge. This is unexpected behavior which should be treated by the developers as a bug, in my opinion.

(I'd include a screenshot for my actual example, but it would just be the same as your 2nd post.)

Yes, @adminExitium, it is true that the docs imply that the file name has to exactly match the folder name, but I am pretty sure this was not meant to include the metadata provider tags. Normally you would never have to put the tags in the file names. For example, if the folder name is "16 Blocks (2006) [tmdbid=2207]", you are not actually expected to change the file names to "16 Blocks (2006) [tmdbid=2207].mp4", nor something like "16 Blocks (2006) [tmdbid=2207] - Alternate Ending.mp4". —At least I hope not, because not only is it ugly, but it also doesn't work to solve our problem; the mere presence of the ID in the folder name prevents the merge of the versions, even if we include the ID in the file names.

Strangely, I am able to get merging with a provider-tagged folder to work for a TV show. I think it is because episode numbers help determine the match. For example, I have this folder structure, and the two versions of the pilot episode get merged as expected:

\Seinfeld (1989) {tvdb=79169}\Season 1\S01E01
\Seinfeld (1989) {tvdb=79169}\Season 1\S01E01\behind the scenes
\Seinfeld (1989) {tvdb=79169}\Season 1\S01E01\behind the scenes\The Seinfeld Chronicles - Inside Look.mkv
\Seinfeld (1989) {tvdb=79169}\Season 1\S01E01\Seinfeld S01E01 Pilot - Good News Bad News (Syndication Pilot).mkv
\Seinfeld (1989) {tvdb=79169}\Season 1\S01E01\Seinfeld S01E01 Pilot - The Seinfeld Chronicles (Original Pilot).mkv

[Luke 42077]

Quote

the mere presence of the ID in the folder name prevents the merge of the versions, even if we include the ID in the file names.

Are you sure about this? @Happy2Playare you able to reproduce?

[Happy2Play 9780]

3 hours ago, Luke said:

Are you sure about this? @Happy2Playare you able to reproduce?

Technically yes as already mentioned the Core rule is not being followed.

 

On 7/1/2025 at 10:46 PM, Fweep said:

Yes, @adminExitium, it is true that the docs imply that the file name has to exactly match the folder name, but I am pretty sure this was not meant to include the metadata provider tags. Normally you would never have to put the tags in the file names. For example, if the folder name is "16 Blocks (2006) [tmdbid=2207]", you are not actually expected to change the file names to "16 Blocks (2006) [tmdbid=2207].mp4", nor something like "16 Blocks (2006) [tmdbid=2207] - Alternate Ending.mp4". —At least I hope not, because not only is it ugly, but it also doesn't work to solve our problem; the mere presence of the ID in the folder name prevents the merge of the versions, even if we include the ID in the file names.

 

Each version must begin with the folder name, followed by " - ".

Also, you cannot compare Movies naming/structure to TV Naming/structure as mentioned above as they are not parsed the same.

 

Now there will be difference in 4.8 to 4.9 per the new options also.

4.9 option per library

Testing the 4.8 with folder with providerid but not files will be separate but in 4.9 they will be merged per the new core feature.

 

 

[Luke 42077]

@Fweepdoes this help?

[Fweep 11]

No, I don't understand. I will restate the problem.

If one has movie files named like this:

• 16 Blocks (2006) - Alternate Ending.mp4
• 16 Blocks (2006) - Normal Ending.mp4

...and they are in a folder named "16 Blocks (2006)", then they are merged, as expected.

But if you add the provider ID to the folder name, e.g. "16 Blocks (2006) [tmdbid=2207]", then there seems to be no way to get the merge to happen. It does not matter what you name the files. So that's the bug.

When looking for guidance about what should work, I saw the rule about the dash, which implies you'd have to rename the files like this:

• 16 Blocks (2006) [tmdbid=2207] - Alternate Ending.mp4
• 16 Blocks (2006) [tmdbid=2207] - Normal Ending.mp4

But aside from looking weird, this does not work to merge the files either. It also does not match any examples in the wiki, so it does not seem to be what would ever be expected to work. Likewise, it does not seem to be what is expected for TV shows.

Does this help?

 

Edited August 4, 2025 by Fweep

[pwhodges 2012]

I have an example of just that, with the tmdbid in the folder name and also in the file names to match; the two are merged as expected.

I'd be looking a some subtle differences in the parts which are supposed to be identical, such as an extra space somewhere, or different brackets.

Paul

Edited August 4, 2025 by pwhodges

[Happy2Play 9780]

6 hours ago, Fweep said:

But if you add the provider ID to the folder name, e.g. "16 Blocks (2006) [tmdbid=2207]", then there seems to be no way to get the merge to happen. It does not matter what you name the files. So that's the bug.

Sorry but cannot reproduce this not working as long as the server rule is followed in 4.8 folder and filename must be the same followed by - (space before and after dash).

• Movies
  • 16 Blocks (2006) [tmdbid=2207]
    • 16 Blocks (2006) [tmdbid=2207] - Alternate Ending.mp4
    • 16 Blocks (2006) [tmdbid=2207] - Normal Ending.mp4

But as mentioned in 4.9 this rule no longer applies and will use the library setting

So in 4.8 you have three options

Manual grouping items

Following core required structure and naming scheme {Each version must begin with the folder name, followed by " - ".}

Or the community plugin

4.8

 

4.9

Edited August 4, 2025 by Happy2Play

[Luke 42077]

@Fweephas this helped?

[Johnny_B 0]

I have a question to this topic. I am on Emby version 4.9.3.0 with this settings

 

If movie folder / filenames are named like this

 

I get this (as expected)

 

I would like to include TMDB ID in the folder name, however if I do so

 

I get this (not as expected)

 

Is this the way Emby 4.9 should behave? I thought that multi-version detection based only on metadata should not require exact folder/file name matching e.g. including [tmdbid=xxxx] also in the filename (which does work but looks weird)