Where to find specific Metadata?

[ArdiSpleen 0]

Hello there,

I have a bunch of series that don't have metadata available online, so I edited the metadata for each episode myself, which took a lot of time. Now I would like to move the show's folder, but I am scared that I would have to re-edit every single episode again, because the metadata usually resets once I move stuff around. I have tried to find that specific metadata in the metadata folder, so I could maybe save it manually, but I don't know where to even begin looking for it there, because the subfolders in the metadata folder are not named after the media. 

tldr: how can I find specific metadata in the metadata folder?

[GrimReaper 4740]

Why don't you save NFOs in media folders? It's your safest bet that any metadata/custom edits will be preserved. 

Edited May 13, 2025 by GrimReaper

[ArdiSpleen 0]

2 minutes ago, GrimReaper said:

Why don't you save NFOs in media folders? It's your safest bet that any metadata/custom edits will be preserved. 

 I didn't know what I was doing when I first started the server haha. I am doing that now.

[GrimReaper 4740]

Don't know how many shows/episodes with manually added metadata you do have, but I still reckon selecting Edit Metadata>clicking Save on each item (which'll trigger NFO creation) still beats filling all the metadata again. 

[ArdiSpleen 0]

Ok I just checked, I have 2 Folders in the same library, and one saves the metadata in the media folders while the other saves it in the metadata folder (they are on seperate volumes). This just made me even more confused. Is there a way to transfer all of the metadata in the metadata folder into the media folders ?

[GrimReaper 4740]

3 minutes ago, ArdiSpleen said:

Ok I just checked, I have 2 Folders in the same library, and one saves the metadata in the media folders while the other saves it in the metadata folder (they are on seperate volumes).

Not knowing specifics of your particular setup - do you have write permissions for second volume? 

4 minutes ago, ArdiSpleen said:

Is there a way to transfer all of the metadata in the metadata folder into the media folders ?

There is not; NFOs are either written/saved next to media or not written at all, everything is contained in db only. 

[Happy2Play 9780]

Pretty sure you can enable nfo writing on library and do refresh search for missing to have them written with media. 

Otherwise it is database only and lost when media is moved.

Edited May 13, 2025 by Happy2Play

[ArdiSpleen 0]

20 minutes ago, GrimReaper said:

Not knowing specifics of your particular setup - do you have write permissions for second volume? 

There is not; NFOs are either written/saved next to media or not written at all, everything is contained in db only. 

I have writing permission for both of them. Volume 1 is also where Emby is located, and the metadata is stored in the metadata folder. Volume 2 is a separate one, where metadata is stored in media folders. If it's enabled in the library settings, wouldn't both folders use the same metadata paths?

 

10 minutes ago, Happy2Play said:

Pretty sure you can enable nfo writing on library and do refresh search for missing to have them written with media. 

Otherwise it is database only and lost when media is moved.

I can't seem to find the option to do that. The only one I see is "save artwork into media folder" which is enabled but still doesn't happen.

[GrimReaper 4740]

1 minute ago, ArdiSpleen said:

I can't seem to find the option to do that. The only one I see is "save artwork into media folder" which is enabled but still doesn't happen.

I have a feeling you're mixing metadata and artwork. 

Metadata Savers>NFO option enabled will save a file containing textual metadata next to your media (otherwise it's contained in database only). 

Save artwork into media folders will save images/graphics next to your media, otherwise it'd be saved in server metadata folder. 

Are you concerned about metadata or artwork preservation? 

 

[Happy2Play 9780]

You don't see this in your library settings?

If not would suggest you don't have the NfoMetadata plugin.

But I believe each volume on the Synology has their own permissions.

[ArdiSpleen 0]

i am looking for textual metadata preservation. I was just referencing the "artwork into media folder" option, because it was the only option I saw that said something about saving into the media folder. I have the nfo metadata saver enabled, but it doesn't save any media in my main volume into the media folders unfortunately.

[GrimReaper 4740]

Just now, ArdiSpleen said:

I have the nfo metadata saver enabled, but it doesn't save any media in my main volume into the media folders unfortunately.

Which would indicate permission issues most likely - logs would show that, so you can post server log for any errors to be seen. 

How to Report a Problem

 

[ArdiSpleen 0]

embyserver(1).txt

 

is this correct?

[GrimReaper 4740]

Quote

2025-05-14 00:37:07.491 Error ProviderManager: Error in metadata saver *** Error Report *** Version: 4.8.11.0 Command line: /Volume1/@apps/emby/emby-server/system/EmbyServer.dll -programdata /Volume1/Emby -ffdetect /Volume1/@apps/emby/emby-server/bin/ffdetect -ffmpeg /Volume1/@apps/emby/emby-server/bin/ffmpeg -ffprobe /Volume1/@apps/emby/emby-server/bin/ffprobe -defaultdirectory /mnt/public -updatepackage emby_TOS5_APP_{version}_x86_64.tpk Operating system: Linux version 5.15.59 (root@0f5bb0a9182d) (x86_64-tnas-linux-gnu-gcc.br_real (Buildroot 2022.02-rc1-1-g115ad9c548-dirty) 11.2.0, GNU ld (GNU Binutils) Framework: .NET 6.0.36 OS/Process: x64/x64 Runtime: Volume1/@apps/emby/emby-server/system/System.Private.CoreLib.dll Processor count: 2 Data path: /Volume1/Emby Application path: /Volume1/@apps/emby/emby-server/system System.UnauthorizedAccessException: System.UnauthorizedAccessException: Access to the path '/home/Ardi41/MOVIES/Trash/Bagman.nfo' is denied.

 

Edited May 13, 2025 by GrimReaper

[ArdiSpleen 0]

this is rather strange. I have just checked permissions and they are all active. I don't have any other issues relating to permission other than metadata saving.

[ArdiSpleen 0]

also another thing that's weird: I have 2 main libraries. One for Movies one for TV Shows. Both have two folders each, one on Vol 1 and one on Vol 2. However, the only folder that saves nfo into the media folder is the movie folder on volume 2. the other three are using the metadata folder. This includes the TV shows folder that is also located on volume 2.

Their settings are identical. Nfo saver is also enabled for both libraries. So if it was a permission problem, wouldn't the whole volume be affected by it?

Edited May 13, 2025 by ArdiSpleen

[Luke 42078]

@ArdiSpleenthe answer is specific to your personal environment. How have you set the permissions?

[ArdiSpleen 0]

I have a Terramaster NAS setup and the write permissions for all volumes are granted. If it is a permission issue, then how come one folder on the volume is able to write nfo metadata while another one with the same settings, on the same volume, isn't?

[Happy2Play 9780]

Honestly happens all the time as it will be about how the folder got there as I will bet if you compared permission for folders that work and folders that do not they will be different.  Forcing one to reset permissions recursively on the path.

[ArdiSpleen 0]

1 hour ago, Happy2Play said:

Honestly happens all the time as it will be about how the folder got there as I will bet if you compared permission for folders that work and folders that do not they will be different.  Forcing one to reset permissions recursively on the path.

Yes,  but as you can see here, all the permissions have been granted. Inside the "Movies" folder that you can see below, is one folder that saves nfo metadata into media folders while the others don't.

 

edit: do I maybe need to clear the metadata path in the advanced tab of the library?

Edited May 14, 2025 by ArdiSpleen

[Luke 42078]

@ArdiSpleenare you still having an issue with this?

[ArdiSpleen 0]

1 hour ago, Luke said:

@ArdiSpleenare you still having an issue with this?

yes. all the permissions are granted, but only one subfolder saves nfo metadata into itself

[Luke 42078]

On 5/26/2025 at 2:40 PM, ArdiSpleen said:

yes. all the permissions are granted, but only one subfolder saves nfo metadata into itself

Are you sure the permissions are set recursively? Perhaps there are some folders overriding it at lower levels?