Metadata cleanup?

[K22R8CT 25]

I run two emby instances (standard and beta) with beta mostly for testing. Same libraries, settings, etc.

I notice the metadata folder size on my standard instance is about twice that of the beta.

Maybe that's explained by some download-and-save-on-demand logic, because the beta sees much less activity, but I suspect there's unused/outdated metadata in the standard instance.

If there is, any way to confirm and/or clean it up?

[GrimReaper 4739]

5 minutes ago, K22R8CT said:

but I suspect there's unused/outdated metadata in the standard instance.

There actually shouldn't (emphasis on shouldn't) be any. 

6 minutes ago, K22R8CT said:

Maybe that's explained by some download-and-save-on-demand logic, because the beta sees much less activity

Are settings 1:1 between stable and beta instances? For example, download images in advance will amass considerable difference over time on the server that has more activity, let alone if it's disabled on beta. Video preview thumbnails, 10s bifs vs. chapter markers etc. 

[Luke 42077]

Quote

Maybe that's explained by some download-and-save-on-demand logic,

Yes there is and it depends on what features are enabled on each library.

[K22R8CT 25]

Well I have "Download images in advance" enabled on all libraries in both, so maybe download-on-demand doesn't explain it?

Re: thumbnails, the two instances point to the same files with the main (standard) instance responsible for bif creation, etc. in the media file folders.

4 hours ago, GrimReaper said:

There actually shouldn't (emphasis on shouldn't)

Lol, if only. Is there any way to know?

I'm sure in the past I've deleted some media folders directly and not through emby.

[Happy2Play 9780]

And what folder within /metadata is a different size?

 

[K22R8CT 25]

Library and people are both about twice the size.

Under people I see folders in the larger one (stable) not present in beta but in library the names seem to be hashes (or some other non-obvious mapping):

[erwer 0]

Has the `bif` file option been removed in the latest release? Could you bring the toggle back and let each user decide whether to store the file on the server? The old approach was far more convenient: it cut down on the number of images the server had to generate, and when you migrated to a new machine you could simply point the scanner at the folder—no second-generation step required. Ideally the setting should stay available so users can choose where those files live.

Edited October 21, 2025 by erwer

[GrimReaper 4739]

19 minutes ago, erwer said:

Has the `bif` file option been removed in the latest release?

Why are you under the impression it has been removed? 

[erwer 0]

So, under the new release, how do I actually get the video-preview thumbnails saved into the same folder as the movie? I need the .bif files sitting right next to the corresponding video files—what’s the current way to do that?

[GrimReaper 4739]

Change "Thumbnail images interval" to '10 seconds' instead of 'Chapter markers', toggle "Save video preview thumbnails into media folders" on or off, as desired. 

Edited October 21, 2025 by GrimReaper

[K22R8CT 25]

So no way to clean it?

I'd think something like: scan existing libraries, compile list of files that might be downloaded (if on demand) then scan actual files and if not present in list delete.

The alternative, because there will always be edge cases, is ever-growing metadata.

[Luke 42077]

Quote

I suspect there's unused/outdated metadata in the standard instance.

When records are deleted from the database, any folders corresponding to that record are cleaned out of the metadata folder.

Is it possible that some old version of the server had a defect where this didn't happen? Sure, I suppose so, but we don't currently have any features to go and check for this.

[K22R8CT 25]

But wouldn't manually deleting media (not through emby) leave the metadata in place?

That's pretty common.

[GrimReaper 4739]

1 minute ago, K22R8CT said:

But wouldn't manually deleting media (not through emby) leave the metadata in place?

After first media library scan afterwards - no, it shouldn't.

[K22R8CT 25]

Then I really don't know how to explain that despite the same media and settings one is twice the size. Oh well.