Creating collection based on folder structures. Has anyone done it?

[rookies 12]

I have a very clean folder structure, and have placed content into specific folder configurations base on how I want them presented.

example:

Any folder ending with the word Collection is simply a container for 2 or more movies I would like grouped in a specific way.  This folder contains the collection thumbnail and background I would like to present when accessing the collection.

Now I know I could go through and manually create a collection, set the images and add the content I would like it to contain.  However there are about 100+ of these folders.   

Has anyone automated something like this?  or is there a way to accomplish this in an automated fashion using existing functionality, plugins or scripts?
If not I see there are API's available that I could likely use to script this.  It would be great if someone has already done something similar to this and could share some pointers, information or scripts.

[Neminem 1518]

I would just do it this way

Folder layout:

Library layout :

Collections :

[rookies 12]

I looked at doing that, but a lot of my collections are not the same as what the metadata provider assumes.  It would get me about 80% there, but isn't exactly what I want based on my testing.

[Neminem 1518]

Well lets look at that.

Why do you feel it wrong ?

If I feel its wrong I just manually add what I want to the collection.

Or do create a collection manually.

But as fare as I know this might give you issues down the line.

 

Nested folders are atm not supported.

[rookies 12]

Thanks for the response!

It's not wrong per say,  it just doesn't always make the same grouping decisions that I or members of my family have requested be made.  I am attempting to migrate from plex to emby with as little change as possible for my family.  it's already going to be a new interface.  If necessary to get the initial collection configuration I should be able to use the api and write a script to create/maintain this.

hmmm,  nesting folders is not supported?    That is interesting.  It does in fact pickup the movies and art with my current nested structure.

Is this nested folder support for movies an official stance or documented anywhere.  The documents don't say you can, but they also don't say you can't or shouldn't either.  Based on your experience, what kind of issues would you think might surface from this?   

[Neminem 1518]

Well if you feel, you are right, go ahead

But you have been warned

[Happy2Play 9780]

14 minutes ago, rookies said:

hmmm,  nesting folders is not supported?    That is interesting.  It does in fact pickup the movies and art with my current nested structure.

Technically this will only apply to folder view as Emby stopped supporting nested Collections folders a long time ago.  So that folder level is never read except for folder view presenting the actual folder levels.  Want to say that was a change back in 4.6 or 4.7.

Collections are virtual items now and are created from the <set> node in individual movie metadata, or is you do not write nfo files then same node written in database.  The library option are primarily for getting the info from TMDB otherwise it is a manual process.  Emby will always honor the <set> not in any items metadata.

Folder structure will not create a Collection per se (just folder view).

Edited September 20, 2025 by Happy2Play

[rookies 12]

3 minutes ago, Happy2Play said:

Technically this will only apply to folder view as Emby stopped supporting nested Collections folders a long time ago.  So that folder level is never read except for folder view presenting the actual folder levels.  Want to say that was a change back in 4.6 or 4.7.

Collections are virtual items now and are created from the <set> node in individual movie metadata, or is you do not write nfo files then same node written in database.  The library option are primarily for getting the info from TMDB otherwise it is a manual process.  Emby will always honor the <set> not in any items metadata.

Oh I see,  so currently I don't see either 300 movie in folder view.  or presumably any movie in a nested collections folders.  Not great.   This is exactly what I needed to know.  Thanks!

[Luke 42077]

2 hours ago, rookies said:

Oh I see,  so currently I don't see either 300 movie in folder view.  or presumably any movie in a nested collections folders.  Not great.   This is exactly what I needed to know.  Thanks!

Should they be there?

[rookies 12]

Yes, I found them, they were in a different folder.

[rookies 12]

3 hours ago, Luke said:

Should they be there?

It is indicated in this thread that nesting folders in a movie library is unacceptable behavior.   You have any additional thoughts on that? 

[Luke 42077]

2 hours ago, rookies said:

It is indicated in this thread that nesting folders in a movie library is unacceptable behavior.   You have any additional thoughts on that? 

You can nest movie folders as much as you like. They should show up in the folder view just how you’ve laid them out. 
 

its just that the folders don’t have any correlation with the collections feature. Does that help?

[rookies 12]

5 minutes ago, Luke said:

You can nest movie folders as much as you like. They should show up in the folder view just how you’ve laid them out. 
 

its just that the folders don’t have any correlation with the collections feature. Does that help?

Absolutely, the folder structure is for my sanity and for recreating collections within emby/plex should the need ever arise.  As both rightly disconnect collections from the filesystems.

I also create the folder structure because I have scripting to export all the art to that folder from plex currently, and likely emby if it's not being exported for me already.  So I have a backup.

thanks for the reply.