Request for Emby to report problems with Library paths, specifically when they overlap. Or make it work

[NormanCates 3]

I have a problem with a Library not showing the files that should be there. I did a bunch of Google searches and found a couple of pages that indicated that the paths we choose for Libraries can;t overlap. ie. one library path cannot contain another.

 /path/video/movies

/path/video/ TV shows

------------------------

The above two are fine. 

 

/path/video/

/path/video/movies

--------------

The above two are not working because /path/video overlaps with /path/video/movies

When this happens, there are no errors indicated. At no point does the UI indicate there may be be a problem.

This overlap is extremely easy to detect and pop up an indicator that there may be a problem. This would prevent some very bad user experiences.

It seems like it would also work to just let overlaps happen, since we can set the Library type. Although that would need a couple of extra Library types like Photos.

[Luke 42078]

Hi, yes we are working on improving this. Thanks for the feedback.

[Gilgamesh_48 1240]

14 hours ago, NormanCates said:

I have a problem with a Library not showing the files that should be there. I did a bunch of Google searches and found a couple of pages that indicated that the paths we choose for Libraries can;t overlap. ie. one library path cannot contain another.

 /path/video/movies

/path/video/ TV shows

------------------------

The above two are fine. 

 

/path/video/

/path/video/movies

--------------

The above two are not working because /path/video overlaps with /path/video/movies

When this happens, there are no errors indicated. At no point does the UI indicate there may be be a problem.

This overlap is extremely easy to detect and pop up an indicator that there may be a problem. This would prevent some very bad user experiences.

It seems like it would also work to just let overlaps happen, since we can set the Library type. Although that would need a couple of extra Library types like Photos.

So you want Emby to fix something that is not broken just to protect you from doing something wrong?
I see that @Lukebelieves this is an Emby problem but i believe it is user error when things like this happen and user errors are NOT something Emby should try to fix or even provide workarounds. Users wanting to use Emby should follow Emby's structure and naming rules and, if they don't, then the problems are their fault, not Emby's.

Emby has no responsibility to protect users from their own stupidity. Also they have no responsibility to warn users that they are behaving stupidly except for the minimal "The paths overlap with..." and refuse to create any library with an overlapping path to another library or even if two paths to the same library overlap. And that should only be done to reduce the noise in support forums.

[NormanCates 3]

7 hours ago, Gilgamesh_48 said:

Emby has no responsibility to protect users from their own stupidity. Also they have no responsibility to warn users that they are behaving stupidly except for the minimal "The paths overlap with..." and refuse to create any library with an overlapping path to another library or even if two paths to the same library overlap. And that should only be done to reduce the noise in support forums.

You will notice that the primary thing I asked for was a pop up notification that I am trying to create Libraries with overlapping paths. And yes, it could also refuse to allow a path to be added to a Library since that is a known problem. It does neither of these things at the moment.

And sure, the ability to have paths that overlap would be helpful. Since in many cases people will have existing folders of files in any number of structures. 

Its totally reasonable for Emby (and other tools like Plex or Jellyfin) to require specific folder and file naming for Movies, TV Shows, Music where Emby has to go and get metadata from various services. If people like me already have a set of folders for Movies etc that we are using with another application like Plex or Jellyfin, then we're all set. And that should be the majority of people who already have such collections.

There will be and are people like myself who have sets of folders that are differently structured. Perhaps for other sets of software. For instance I have a folder for Lightroom imports where all the folders are by date, and mix videos and stills in there. I CANNOT rearrange those directories. 

If Emby can simply never allow overlapping folders due to core data structures, I get it. Then we just need a good warning. 

@Luke Especially with Plex going insane and destroying their initial and primary competency of letting us stream our own files in a useful app.

Many people are going to be looking for an alternative. Emby is VERY well placed in my opinion. So making the switchover as frictionless as possible is always going to be helpful.

[NormanCates 3]

7 hours ago, Gilgamesh_48 said:

So you want Emby to fix something that is not broken just to protect you from doing something wrong?
I see that @Lukebelieves this is an Emby problem but i believe it is user error when things like this happen and user errors are NOT something Emby should try to fix or even provide workarounds. Users wanting to use Emby should follow Emby's structure and naming rules and, if they don't, then the problems are their fault, not Emby's.

Emby has no responsibility to protect users from their own stupidity. Also they have no responsibility to warn users that they are behaving stupidly except for the minimal "The paths overlap with..." and refuse to create any library with an overlapping path to another library or even if two paths to the same library overlap. And that should only be done to reduce the noise in support forums.

@Gilgamesh_48Clearly you are a passionate supporter of Emby. And happily not an employee.

Because your reply is condescending and dismissive as I'm sure you know. 

You're not helping Emby by being nasty to any user seeking information or making suggestions.