How to move a TV Season to new folder without losing metadata

[khodges747 55]

I want to move a TV Series from one folder to another in my library (for hard drive organizational reasons). The series is old and the metadata scraped from the web was not very good, so I modified many things like the Overview and the Cast and Crew for most of the episodes.

 

Since MB doesn't use XML files for metadata any more, if I just move the files in Windows I'll lose all the custom metadata. Is there a way to move the files and not disturb the modified metadata?

 

Any help would be appreciated.

[Happy2Play 9783]

Emby does read xml files you just have install the plugin and adjust order of presidence per content type.  I use xml for almost all my metadata.   If metadata is stored with media you should be fine.

 

I would test with something small to see if it fits your need.

[Luke 42083]

If you have nfo files in the directory then you'll be fine. If not, then turn on nfo saving and go click save on the edit screen for each season and episode. Then you'll have nfo files.

[khodges747 55]

@Happy2Play: There are no XML files (or NFO files) for this part of the library. I have the XML plugin 3.1.5.0 installed, but there are no settings and I have never seen that it does anything.

 

@Luke: I did like you suggested. I can not find the NFO files anywhere. Windows is set to view hidden and system files, I have checked in the folder with the media, in the metadata folder, everywhere I know to look. I have also restarted the server after making changes, and even made actual changes to the metadata (not just click on Save). No NFO files to be found.

 

I'm sure there's something frustratingly stupid that I'm not doing. Can you help?

[ebr 16187]

Do you have the option to save metadata with the media selected (in the settings for the library in question)?

[khodges747 55]

Yup.

[ebr 16187]

And you went into the metadata editor for each season and episode and clicked the "Save" button...?

[khodges747 55]

Yes - well, not for each and every season and episode, but for a few episodes in season 1, as a test. And just to be sure, I also changed a word in the Overview, so there would be an actual change to save.

 

This is weird isn't it?

[ebr 16187]

By any chance is there an error in your log trying to save the file?

[khodges747 55]

There's only one error in the current log, and it doesn't appear to be media file related:

 

2017-11-09 08:18:40.644 Error HttpServer: Error processing request
    *** Error Report ***
    Version: 3.2.36.0
    Command line: C:\Users\Keith\AppData\Roaming\MediaBrowser-Server\System\MediaBrowser.ServerApplication.exe C:\Users\Keith\AppData\Roaming\MediaBrowser-Server\System\MediaBrowser.ServerApplication.exe C:\Users\Keith\AppData\Roaming\MediaBrowser-Server\System\MediaBrowser.ServerApplication.exe C:\Users\Keith\AppData\Roaming\MediaBrowser-Server\System\MediaBrowser.ServerApplication.exe C:\Users\Keith\AppData\Roaming\MediaBrowser-Server\System\MediaBrowser.ServerApplication.exe
    Operating system: Microsoft Windows NT 6.2.9200.0
    64-Bit OS: True
    64-Bit Process: True
    User Interactive: True
    Processor count: 8
    Program data path: C:\Users\Keith\AppData\Roaming\MediaBrowser-Server
    Application directory: C:\Users\Keith\AppData\Roaming\MediaBrowser-Server\System
    System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
     at Emby.Server.Connect.ConnectManager.IsAuthorizationTokenValid(String token)
     at Emby.Server.Implementations.HttpServer.Security.AuthService.ValidateUser(IRequest request, IAuthenticationAttributes authAttribtues)
     at Emby.Server.Implementations.HttpServer.HttpListenerHost.ApplyRequestFilters(IRequest req, IResponse res, Object requestDto)
     at Emby.Server.Implementations.Services.ServiceHandler.<ProcessRequestAsync>d__15.MoveNext()
    --- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
     at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
     at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
     at Emby.Server.Implementations.HttpServer.HttpListenerHost.<RequestHandler>d__72.MoveNext()
    System.NullReferenceException
     at Emby.Server.Connect.ConnectManager.IsAuthorizationTokenValid(String token)
     at Emby.Server.Implementations.HttpServer.Security.AuthService.ValidateUser(IRequest request, IAuthenticationAttributes authAttribtues)
     at Emby.Server.Implementations.HttpServer.HttpListenerHost.ApplyRequestFilters(IRequest req, IResponse res, Object requestDto)
     at Emby.Server.Implementations.Services.ServiceHandler.<ProcessRequestAsync>d__15.MoveNext()
    --- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
     at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
     at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
     at Emby.Server.Implementations.HttpServer.HttpListenerHost.<RequestHandler>d__72.MoveNext()

 

I also tried editing and saving the metadata from within Emby Theater, also without success for generating an NFO file.

[ebr 16187]

How about the metadata settings for Seasons and Episodes - did you disable the nfo saver?

[khodges747 55]

Bingo! I knew this would be something silly.

Thanks for your help.

BTW, there are way too many settings and menus for metadata.

[ebr 16187]

BTW, there are way too many settings and menus for metadata.

 

I agree and this is why we try to only add options that are extremely beneficial to a large percentage of users.

 

The next time someone asks us to "just add [it] as an option".  Please support us!

[khodges747 55]

Sure thing.

I guess that means I shouldn't request a setting to save Primary image files with the name folder.jpg instead of poster.jpg?

Cuz in Windows, a file named folder.jpg will be used as artwork in Icon view, whereas a file named poster.jpg is just another file to Windows. And Emby treats folder.jpg and poster.jpg exactly the same, I guess for legacy reasons.

I think millions of your users would benefit from this.

[Luke 42083]

Just make sure that both nfo is enabled as well as the library option to save metadata to local media folders.