Lock custom markers on metadata refresh

[AngelSing 64]

Hi,

I would like to suggest an option to protect custom intro/credit markers when refreshing metadata.

Right now, when markers are added manually using Chapter API, for example:

IntroStart
IntroEnd
CreditsStart

they work correctly in playback. The Skip Intro button and the credits / next episode button can appear as expected.

The problem is that if I later refresh metadata for that episode, season, show, or library, those manually added markers are removed. Emby then reloads the normal embedded chapters from the media file, but the custom markers added through Chapter API are lost.

This is a problem especially for TV shows and anime, where intro and credit markers are very useful. Sometimes we need to refresh metadata because posters, images, titles, descriptions, or other metadata changed. But refreshing metadata should not necessarily mean losing manually created playback markers.

My suggestion is to add an option to lock or preserve custom chapter markers.

For example:

Lock custom chapter markers
Preserve IntroStart / IntroEnd / CreditsStart markers on metadata refresh
Do not delete manually added markers during metadata refresh

This could be available at item level, season level, show level, or library level.

A useful workflow would be:

1. User adds or edits markers manually with Chapter API.
2. User locks those markers.
3. User can refresh metadata later.
4. Emby updates posters, titles, descriptions, images, etc.
5. Emby keeps the existing custom markers.

This would be very useful for people who manually fix intro and credit markers, or for users waiting for plugins that import markers from embedded MKV chapters or external databases.

A second possible option would be to allow Emby to back up and restore these hidden markers from NFO or a local JSON file, so they are not tied only to the internal database.

The main request is simple:

Please add a way to preserve or lock manually added Chapter API markers so they are not deleted when refreshing metadata.

[Luke 42595]

Hi, yes this is something we are planning on adding. Thanks.