Any Update on Watched Status from Kodi to Emby?

[Sky12016 3]

Hello,

 

I am going to export all my database to multiple files from kodi building nfo files alongside my media folders/files and then point Emby server to these files.

As I am ready to move all my data on my new home file server I would like to know two things:

 

1) Is there any alternative other than trakt.tv in order to import the "watched status" info of a video file to Emby from Kodi database?

I have been reading a lot about it and the last update I found, said that reading "watched status" from nfo files is no longer functioning.

Is there any other (automatic) way to get this info besides trakt.tv? I read something about a secret switch.

Please clarify because it is rather a serious issue; especially for large databases.

 

2) How does Emby handle the following scenario:

A folder "Moviename (1992)" contains only the following file: "Moviename.1992.dvdrip.xvid.avi".

The OS is CentOS (Linux-btrfs filesystem) and the movie is properly added and showing to Emby server.

Then the file is replaced by file: "Moviename.1992.Bluray.720p.x264.mkv" and library scanned again.

What happens to the respective entry in the library? Does the movie show up twice? Does the movie come up as recently added? Do I need to change a specific timestamp on the new file so as to avoid putting it to recently added? Or is there some setting to handle this?

 

Thanks in advance.

Regards.

[dcrdev 255]

1) I don't believe Emby ever was able to retrive watched status from nfo files as every time I've done a migration, I've had to manually do the watched status. Trakt is the only method I'm aware of - although don't use it myself.

 

2) The movie wont show up twice, provided in both instances they have been correctly tagged. Any settings you apply to the file will persist through renaming - provided it has the same imdb/tmdb id.

 

Also btrfs? I hope you're not using the stock kernel - especially if your doing raid.

Edited January 10, 2018 by dcrdev

[ebr 16184]

1) I don't believe Emby ever was able to retrive watched status from nfo files as every time I've done a migration, I've had to manually do the watched status. Trakt is the only method I'm aware of - although don't use it myself.

 

We used to read the same value that we write now (if configured) but it caused way too many problems with 3rd party modifications of the nfo then causing people's watched status to get wiped out.

[samplerico 0]

Think twice before migrating to Emby, if you have a big database and you use smart palylists, widgets, movie sets, TV shows in diferent folders in Kodi it will be a nightmare for you. And prepare yourself for a long scraping process. Emby is not mature engouh for Kodi migration. The implementatiopn and compatibility of features is kinda crappy and botched.

Edited January 10, 2018 by samplerico

[Luke 42078]

Think twice before migrating to Emby, if you have a big database and you use smart palylists, widgets, movie sets, TV shows in diferent folders in Kodi it will be a nightmare for you. And prepare yourself for a long scraping process. Emby is not mature engouh for Kodi migration. The implementatiopn and compatibility of features is kinda crappy and botched.

 

@@samplerico can you provide a little more information about what you think doesn't work well? thanks.

[Sky12016 3]

So basically to sum up:

 

1) There is NO way other than trakt.tv in order to import watched status from Kodi database. This feels like a deal-breaker

 

2) If a file has been added to library correctly from Emby and keeps the same IMDB/TMDB id it will remain in the library despite renaming.

And what if the file has been added to library from nfo files that were created from Kodi? And then renamed?

 

My database is rather big but not overly complicated. Two folders basically, (Movies & Series) and into them separate folders for each movie, tv show, seasons etc.

 

PS
Which file date in linux does emby use for assigning date added? (if set to use creation date from UI)

[Luke 42078]

PS

Which file date in linux does emby use for assigning date added? (if set to use creation date from UI)

date created timestamp.

[samplerico 0]

@@samplerico can you provide a little more information about what you think doesn't work well? thanks.

Well, the whole philosophy of Emby Kodi add-on. When you are new to a neighborhood people expect you to adapt to the lifestyle of that neighborhood no the other way around. Emby is relatively new to this world of backends and frontends of movie librarys. Ther is a lot of people already using Kody or Plex or both, with long-term and personally constructed databases. But somehow Emby wants you to wipe everything you have been building since years, start from scratch and use an inferior less deep and less open environment and invest hours and hours to implement it. How do you expect to be worth to people who already has big Kodi databases? I'ts not. I have invested several hours in trying to implement Kodi+Emby environment and its a lot of work and you encounter a lots of problems.

 

First off Emby expects you to wipe your kodi build, and rebuild the database form scratch using the new Emby conventions. that means, your movie sets go away, with some widgets along. Your shows must now be in the same folder, if not you will have problems. I have seen posts advising people to use simlynk and joints to fix that. Really? Your smart playlists simply cannot work anymore. Emby abstracts source path so you cannot access the direct file from Kodi. All this makes some Kodi addons useless. Ther is no separation between scrapped collection and source files, making very difficutl to detect how many and which files are not being scraped. etc etc etc.

 

Emby could at least make the migration from Kodi's SQLite to Emby db automatic from the add-on. But not even that.

 

Again, if you are new to the neigborhood and you open a new coffee shop, you could make an offer, a 2x1, open sundays... something.

Edited January 10, 2018 by samplerico

[Angelblue05 4132]

Wow, first of, @@samplerico

I've never seen you post in the Kodi forums for help with Emby for Kodi.

2. It's a completely free project. No one is getting paid for this. This is not a project by the Emby team, but by Emby users who wanted to continue to use Kodi.

3. You say all this, I'm setup 100% and it's working. I have my libraries separated. Everything is tagged so I can easily create smart playlists, my movie sets are imported like they are in Emby.

It seems your major complaint is that, you don't want to lose what's already in Kodi to put in Emby and gain a complete echo system. Sorry the add-on is not there to build your Emby server for you, that'd be impossible, Emby has a more complete metadata support.

Anyway, you don't see people complaining they have to set things up again when changing software, so what gives?

The only thing I agree with you is importing watched status is a pain the first time, because it's really limited to trakt.


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Edited January 10, 2018 by Angelblue05

[samplerico 0]

Wow, first of, @@samplerico

 

I've never seen you post in the Kodi forums for help with Emby for Kodi.

 

2. It's a completely free project. No one is getting paid for this. This is not a project by the Emby team, but by Emby users who wanted to continue to use Kodi.

 

3. You say all this, I'm setup 100% and it's working. I have my libraries separated. Everything is tagged so I can easily create smart playlists, my movie sets are imported like they are in Emby.

 

It seems your major complaint is that, you don't want to lose what's already in Kodi to put in Emby and gain a complete echo system. Sorry the add-on is not there to build your Emby server for you, that'd be impossible, Emby has a more complete metadata support.

 

Anyway, you don't see people complaining they have to set things up again when changing software, so what gives?

 

The only thing I agree with you is importing watched status is a pain the first time, because it's really limited to trakt.

 

 

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I'm not complaining, im geting back to Kodi so i have no problem with that. I'm just saying that Kodi+Emby pholosophy is wrong if u really want new users to come and use Emby. Everything in Kodi+Emby environment is a pain in the ass if u come from an already extensive Kodi database local or not. 

 

1. Emby is asking you to rebuild the whole database. No automated process whatsoever.

2. He does so, using a really slower scraper, and you have no way to change the source for scraping.

3. All previous smart playlists are useless.

4. All previous Movie Sets are useless.

5. All previous widgets based on smart playlists are useless.

6. No direct path view from Kodi, all abstracted and controlled by Emby so some addons are useless in Kodi now. 

7. In adition, the user doesn't really have control over Emby. its all done over a weak Web UI. some options in it doesn't work, and you don't have lots of them.

8. You don't have separate views for Collections and Raw file system, so looking for defectuous scraped movies is a pain in the ass. And this is likely to happen if u come from a big Kodi Database.

9. Forget about watched status if u haven't used trakt before.

10. Naming conventions are diferent, so a lot of previous Kodi conventionally named files doesn't really work on Emby. 3D movies or TV shows folder structure to name two examples.

 

At the end Emby is asking the user to invest serious hours into the migration, not making easy the process at all, not automating any workload, and making all previous collection features from Kodi virtually useless. Forcing the user to build them again in Emby.

 

All that if the user is lucky enough to have some previous knowledge about what he is doing, with a poor wiki, virtually any real help form the community because the backend is bad to start off, and the available info on the internet is poor.

 

I'm really not complaining. I understand is free and i can't really complain. But you cannot deny its really a pain in the ass to make the migration to Emby if u come from a several years old Kodi database.

 

If Emby owners wants one of the biggest communitys out there (Kodi) to come to Emby they need to really really improve their add-on for Kodi. Until then its miles better to jsut stick with Kodi and MySql, or even UPnP.

Edited January 11, 2018 by samplerico

[Angelblue05 4132]

1. Of course. As any other software would require of you.

2. Not correct, you can change that under Library > metadata. You can also add more specific support via server plugins.

3. Why? You just have to add the tag of the name of the library to get the same grouping of items.

4. Yeah, you gotta reset that, but there is this server plugin called auto boxset that helps speed up that initial creation process.

6. Again, nothing stops you from adding that extra filter to the smart playlist.

7. Use native playback mode. It's for max compatibility with Kodi. That means, no abstracts. Making other addons work as they would normally.

7. For example? Plus this community is always here to help, if something doesn't work, we always try to make it right.

8. I can't really say anything except if you have a feature request and enough people want it, it will be looking into.

9. Yes I agree, importing watched status the first time is not the best case.

 

Again I disagree with your assessments. You didn't post in Emby for Kodi, therefore, your post didn't reach the right audience.

 

And not at all. You mistake the intention of this. The real goal was and always will be to bring Emby to Kodi. If it happens that people want to have an alternative to using the mysql system, while having an abundance of other apps they can use for a complete experience, then it's available. Kodi is not end game. Emby is a media server, not a media player.

 

We will have to agree to disagree

 

 

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Edited January 11, 2018 by Angelblue05

[samplerico 0]

1. Of course. As any other software would require of you.

2. Not correct, you can change that under Library > metadata. You can also add more specific support via server plugins.

3. Why? You just have to add the tag of the name of the library to get the same grouping of items.

4. Yeah, you gotta reset that, but there is this server plugin called auto boxset that helps speed up that initial creation process.

6. Again, nothing stops you from adding that extra filter to the smart playlist.

7. Use native playback mode. It's for max compatibility with Kodi. That means, no abstracts. Making other addons work as they would normally.

7. For example? Plus this community is always here to help, if something doesn't work, we always try to make it right.

8. I can't really say anything except if you have a feature request and enough people want it, it will be looking into.

9. Yes I agree, importing watched status the first time is not the best case.

 

Again I disagree with your assessments. You didn't post in Emby for Kodi, therefore, your post didn't reach the right audience.

 

And not at all. You mistake the intention of this. The real goal was and always will be to bring Emby to Kodi. If it happens that people want to have an alternative to using the mysql system, while having an abundance of other apps they can use for a complete experience, then it's available. Kodi is not end game. Emby is a media server, not a media player.

 

We will have to agree to disagree

 

 

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You can disguise the fact that:

 

1. It is a pain in the ass to implement.

2. You have to rebuild everything from scratch

3. And you don't have any real support anywhere, because wiki is poor, community is small, and the overall internet info is scarce

 

But it doesn't really change that these three key facts exists. It needs a serious investment in time and effort from the users, where they could easily implement a much more compatible and Kodi friendly automated add-on.

 

Emby to Kodi, Kodi to Emby, still beating around the bush doesn't change the reality. At the end if u use Emby, Kodi just goes into slave mode with lot less options, more complicated, less explained, and less control. The only real benefit for veteran Kodi users is the hybrid Local/Centralized database sync. But you are losing and investing lot more in the way.

 

Again 'im not denying it could work in some way at the end. But you cannot disagree with me in those three points. And those three points are key if Emby wants to grow his userbase.

Edited January 11, 2018 by samplerico

[Angelblue05 4132]

I'm not going to debate this with you, I already stated my counter arguments, and shown you ways to help with the situation. Use Kodi if it suits you. Build your own solution. Whatever will make you happy.

 

If you are not willing to put in the work... it all depends on what you want to setup, if it's not worth it to you, I'm not gonna waste more time here. Emby for Kodi is just one of the many solutions to view your Emby library. And never was an official app in any way. Just a solution that a few users including myself came up with.

 

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Edited January 11, 2018 by Angelblue05

[samplerico 0]

I'm not going to debate this with you, I already stated my counter arguments, and shown you ways to help with the situation. Use Kodi if it suits you. Build your own solution. Whatever will make you happy.

 

If you are not willing to put in the work... it all depends on what you want to setup, if it's not worth it to you, I'm not gonna waste more time here. Emby for Kodi is just one of the many solutions to view your Emby library. And never was an official app in any way. Just a solution that a few users including myself came up with.

 

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Your counterarguments kinda prooves me right. I will do. Thank you .

[Luke 42078]

At the end of the day Emby is Emby and Kodi is Kodi. We have invested a significant effort to make things easy for Kodi users, but ultimately there are still going to be some differences. If we wanted to just a kodi server, then we probably would have called ourselves that and focused on that from the start. I would describe it along the lines of if you can bend a little and accept that some things will be different, then you will be able to enjoy the benefits more than you would otherwise.

 

If it's any consolation - we are planning on adopting the kodi smart playlists format.

[Angelblue05 4132]

All I see is a bit of work, which is normal when changing software to manage your media, but I'm not afraid of it. I got the setup I want, that I could have never achieved using Kodi only.

 

 

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[VladTepz 47]

If it's any consolation - we are planning on adopting the kodi smart playlists format.

 

Yay!   

[Sky12016 3]

After exporting database from Kodi; a typical folder containing one movie contains the actual video file (eg mkv), a folder named .actors, an .nfo file and a couple of picture files (jpg) for fanart.

 

Since I am still in the process of building my server I have not yet had the chance to experiment with Emby.

But from investigating, reading, and watching guides I see there are two tick-box selections named: 

- Download artwork and metadata from the Internet

- Save artwork and metadata into media folders

 

Emby is going to overwrite the metadata files no matter the above selections when scanning?

[hstamas 179]

Your counterarguments kinda prooves me right. I will do. Thank you .

I never saw Emby for Kodi as a migration tool and I dont think it has ever been presented as such? You seem to be upset that you want it to do something that it was never intended to do? 

 

What it does do, it does wonderfully!

[dcrdev 255]

Your counterarguments kinda prooves me right. I will do. Thank you  .

 

I fail to see where using Emby for Kodi limits Kodi functionality - I haven't observed that in any way. Granted not using native paths can cause incompatibilities with some addons, but that is only going to affect you if you plan on using Kodi remotely; something you would have previously been unable to do with Kodi by itself.

 

People always make the mistake of comparing Emby/Plex to Kodi, but they are infact entirely different types of product. Kodi = Media Player, Emby/Plex = Media Server.

 

Setting it up is not difficult - 

1) Add the external share path to the substitution bit under each library in Emby.

2) Install the addon in Kodi, enter your server url, username, password; maybe select a few options.

3) Wait for it to sync.

 

That's it - 3 steps; how precisely could that be improved upon?

 

In regards to having to reset your local database - well yes, that's the price you pay for direct library integration. The ability to modify the existing database to match Emby's would be a very difficult and error prone thing to do; if it were possible at all.

 

3. And you don't have any real support anywhere, because wiki is poor, community is small, and the overall internet info is scarce

 

The Kodi addon people almost always answer any queries.

 

The watched status thing is only a problem initially, once you get over migrating to Emby - watched status, playback progress both sync extremely well.

 

Overall the Kodi addon works extremely well - better in fact than most other Emby apps. So thanks @@Angelblue05 and the rest of the Kodi addon devs, you've done a terrific job.

 

@@samplerico you've complained a lot, but not really given any suggestion as to how YOU would do it better. Or perhaps maybe it's your understanding that needs to improve?

[Sky12016 3]

People always make the mistake of comparing Emby/Plex to Kodi, but they are infact entirely different types of product. Kodi = Media Player, Emby/Plex = Media Server.

 

In regards to having to reset your local database - well yes, that's the price you pay for direct library integration.

 

Kodi alongside SQL count for a centralised database so I guess that is why the comparison to Emby sounds sensible.

 

And the resetting of the database I guess answers my question:

- Download artwork and metadata from the Internet

- Save artwork and metadata into media folders

 

Emby is going to overwrite the metadata files no matter the above selections when scanning?

 

But will Emby create new metadata and use those or will it erase anything it finds?

[dcrdev 255]

Kodi alongside SQL count for a centralised database so I guess that is why the comparison to Emby sounds sensible.

 

And the resetting of the database I guess answers my question:

 

But will Emby create new metadata and use those or will it erase anything it finds?

 

It wont erase any metadata - if the existing metadata is named in convention it understands, it will use it. If it is not, Emby will simply create new metadata alongside the existing files.

[Sky12016 3]

It wont erase any metadata - if the existing metadata is named in convention it understands, it will use it. If it is not, Emby will simply create new metadata alongside the existing files.

OK. And what happens if both check-boxes (download metadata from internet & save metadata into media folders) are unchecked/disabled?

[dcrdev 255]

OK. And what happens if both check-boxes (download metadata from internet & save metadata into media folders) are unchecked/disabled?

 

I don't understand what you mean?

 

If either of those boxes are ticked/unticked - the above still apples.

[Sky12016 3]

Yeas right, I got that.

I am curious as to how does it handle new files without any metadata whatsoever and with those options off/unticked.