Will creating a new library with symbolic links to existing items cause issues?

[podonnell 47]

Hi,

I'm working on creating some customized Libraries for users to help them find content. I'd like to toy around with using symbolic links in Windows to have the files be in another physical library location. Would this work?

I know there are plugins like Top Picks which make their own library, so I was wondering if that is how it is handled, or if there is a more graceful way?

Thanks.

[Luke 42078]

HI, this will result in duplicates in your library, including when searching. Top Picks will also result in duplicates.

So if you want to do either, that is the trade-off that you'll have to accept.

[podonnell 47]

1 hour ago, Luke said:

HI, this will result in duplicates in your library, including when searching. Top Picks will also result in duplicates.

So if you want to do either, that is the trade-off that you'll have to accept.

Are the duplicates tracked the same? Or are they treated as different items? For example if someone watches an item does it mark both as watched, or one will be unwatched?

And is this due to the separate library pointed to the same item, or symlinks?

Edited January 16, 2025 by podonnell

[Luke 42078]

1 minute ago, podonnell said:

Are the duplicates tracked the same? Or are they treated as different items? For example if someone watches an item does it mark both as watched, or one will be unwatched?

They will be different items in the database and will show up twice in search results.

User data should still be shared though so long as the metadata retrieval produces the same set of external ids as the existing ones in your library. So you'll want to make sure the library options are the same in that respect. Most likely you'd probably end up with user data being shared for the most part with a smaller number that need to be fixed up manually.

[podonnell 47]

1 hour ago, Luke said:

They will be different items in the database and will show up twice in search results.

User data should still be shared though so long as the metadata retrieval produces the same set of external ids as the existing ones in your library. So you'll want to make sure the library options are the same in that respect. Most likely you'd probably end up with user data being shared for the most part with a smaller number that need to be fixed up manually.

Hmm okay this isn't too bad. Though the library options being the same might be tricky. I wanted to provide a singular new library to each user, but it would have both TV and Movie items in it. Think Mixed Content might be a problem?

Thinking through this... Maybe I could present a Collection instead of a library. But is there any way to make a Collection only visible to a specific user?

[Luke 42078]

Quote

But is there any way to make a Collection only visible to a specific user?

If they have access to the media in the collection, then no. 

[podonnell 47]

11 hours ago, Luke said:

If they have access to the media in the collection, then no. 

Hmm.. I think the duplicates might be the best option then. I am scripting this, so I could write in a check to make sure the new library only allows titles that match existing externally matched IDs.

If I could also later delete the libraries if it doesn't work out, and it would have no effect on the original content, then there should be no harm.

If the worst case scenario here is that the search (which I honestly don't think many use) shows duplicates, that is fine.
Also I'm expecting those duplicates would only be shown for users who have access to both libraries.

One other important question - would 'new' content for an item that exists in both libraries cause a duplicate in 'latest' sections? For example if I add a movie to a library, and it by default can be seen by a user, but I also have a custom library for this user, will they see it twice on the latest movies, or once?

[rbjtech 5284]

The concept on shortlisting/virtual library of items is not new, be it via strm files (links to existing items) or os level symlinks - they both have the duplicate problem (in the same library/search) and are ultimately a 'hack' on functionality.  

Many (including myself) are waiting for the smart playlist feature to create these virtual libraries - this has been marked for release in this beta cycle (4.9)

Unless it's very urgent, I would personally wait for this to see what it can deliver, but there is no ETA unfortunately.

[podonnell 47]

On 1/18/2025 at 5:46 AM, rbjtech said:

The concept on shortlisting/virtual library of items is not new, be it via strm files (links to existing items) or os level symlinks - they both have the duplicate problem (in the same library/search) and are ultimately a 'hack' on functionality.  

Many (including myself) are waiting for the smart playlist feature to create these virtual libraries - this has been marked for release in this beta cycle (4.9)

Unless it's very urgent, I would personally wait for this to see what it can deliver, but there is no ETA unfortunately.

Just had this pop up as a reminder to look back into.

Where might be best to keep an eye on beta releases? Or if there is any other information / thread I could follow.

Thanks!

[Tremas 197]

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