Extremely Basic Questions

[Spyderturbo007 19]

Hello.  I stumbled across Emby when looking for a solution to centralize my Kodi database.  I currently have two devices that connect to my unRAID server, a HTPC running Windows 7 and an AppleTV, both running Kodi.

 

Right now, each device has its own database.  I'm going to be adding a third device later this week (Intel NUC running OpenELEC) and have a few questions about Emby.

 

I installed the Docker last night and started the Wizard.  I got to the part about configuring the library and wanted to ask a few questions before I start.  I'm attaching a screenshot of what my directory structure looks like currently.  Will I need to change anything?  Other than not having the year, everything looks good according to the Wiki, except for the trailer.  It looks like the Wiki actually wants the movie name-trailer, but I'm actually using movie-trailer for all of my trailers.  They are all in the specific folder with each movie, but I wanted to make sure that wouldn't be a problem.

 

I'm using Ember Media Manager to manually choose posters, fan art, etc after I add a movie to the server and then having Kodi pull the posters/fan art from the server.  Would I no longer need that program?

 

Would Emby edit any of the existing structure/name/etc of my files / folders when I add them to the library?

 

Is there a way that I can transfer the database from my main Kodi box to Emby?  That's the one that has all of the watched status flags and all of the TV show thumbnails.  I don't use Ember for my TV shows and let Kodi handle all of the TV shows so there is information in that database that isn't on the server.

 

Sorry for such basic questions, but I can't seem to find what I'm looking for through the search.

 

I just don't want to go hosing everything up. 

 

Thanks!

 

[xnappo 1611]

 

 

I installed the Docker last night and started the Wizard.  I got to the part about configuring the library and wanted to ask a few questions before I start.  I'm attaching a screenshot of what my directory structure looks like currently.  Will I need to change anything?  Other than not having the year, everything looks good according to the Wiki, except for the trailer.  It looks like the Wiki actually wants the movie name-trailer, but I'm actually using movie-trailer for all of my trailers.  They are all in the specific folder with each movie, but I wanted to make sure that wouldn't be a problem.

 

 

Looks okay to me - I assume you just have your movies in a flat directory structure above that?  Should work.  Plus just allowing Emby server to scan it won't touch Kodi, so just give it a go and look at what happens through the web interface.

 

I'm using Ember Media Manager to manually choose posters, fan art, etc after I add a movie to the server and then having Kodi pull the posters/fan art from the server.  Would I no longer need that program?

Would Emby edit any of the existing structure/name/etc of my files / folders when I add them to the library?

 

Yeah, you wouldn't need that anymore.  It will just use the images already there.  If you want to be sure it doesn't add any new images/change anything, on the server you can go under Setting->Metadata->Services and turn off all the download services. (leave nfo/xml on though).

 

 

Is there a way that I can transfer the database from my main Kodi box to Emby?  That's the one that has all of the watched status flags and all of the TV show thumbnails.  I don't use Ember for my TV shows and let Kodi handle all of the TV shows so there is information in that database that isn't on the server.

 

Only way to do this right now is to install Trakt for Kodi and sync to Trakt, then install the Emby Trakt and sync it.  Then remove the Trakt addon from Kodi.

 

xnappo

[xnappo 1611]

Just a note - do NOT install the Kodi addon until you are happy with the way the database looks on the server.  The addon requires wiping your existing local Kodi dbs.

Edited December 27, 2016 by xnappo

[Spyderturbo007 19]

Thanks for your reply xnappo.

 

I'm not sure what you mean by "Flat Directory Structure"?

 

As for the transfer from Kodi to Emby, I found a video where someone shows them doing the transfer from within Kodi.  But I think they did everything on a local PC running both Kodi and the Emby server on the same workstation.

 

I'll see if I can dig it up.

 

EDIT->  Well that's weird.  It looks like you did the video. 

 

Edited December 27, 2016 by Spyderturbo007

[xnappo 1611]

That is Kodi syncing the database from Emby, not the other way round.  Only way to migrate watched states is as I mentioned.

Edited December 27, 2016 by xnappo

[Spyderturbo007 19]

I looked through the wiki and couldn't seem to find any detailed information about the library settings, most notably "Save artwork and metadata into media folders". My assumption is that will take the actor thumbnails, posters, etc and add them to the individual movie folder, as opposed to keeping them in the folder where Emby resides?  Also, will it change anything that's in the folders now, or just fill in the information if it happens to be missing, or I add a new movie?

 

How does that setting influence the "Download Images in Advance".  They sound the same to me?  If I'm adding the artwork to the media folders, wouldn't that mean that it's already been downloaded?

 

Is there any information on adding a new movie?  With the software I use now, I have to manually initiate a scan and then go through the process of choosing a background image, movie poster, making sure the studio flags are correct, etc.  I like being able to choose the images I want as opposed to them being automatically assigned when it comes to movies. 

 

When it comes to TV shows, I don't really care what thumbnails are used.  Is there a way to set it up so anytime I add a movie I can manually choose images, but TV shows are processed automatically when they are added?

[Spyderturbo007 19]

I went ahead and added Emby to my Kodi Install and now I have two copies of everything. I have the original Kodi information and now the Emby information.

 

How do I get rid of the Kodi information?

 

It didn't delete the Kodi database.

[bluemonkey07 590]

There is an option in the addons advanced tab to reset the database

[Spyderturbo007 19]

Thanks Vidman.  It looks like that option resets the entire database and you have to re-sync with Emby following the reset.  It looks like everything is correct now.