Emby makes DVR libraries breaking its own rules

[pwhodges 2014]

Since I started using Emby, I've given no thought to the fact that it created a library for DVR recordings automatically.  Why would I?  

However, during a big rearrangement of my disk storage yesterday I decided while moving the Recordings library to a different drive that I would add separate paths within the library for movies and series, so that instead of just the default path of F:\Recordings there are now paths specified for movies and series which are F:\Recordings\Movies and F:\Recordings\Series.   I did this, and moved all the existing content into the subfolders appropriately; the library then rebuilt and looked exactly as I wanted - entering the library shows me two folders - Movies and Series - and entering each in turn shows the corresponding contents.  Last night's recording also went into the specified place and appeared in the library as expected.

However, when I finally returned to the library list, I found that I now had three additional libraries - "Recorded Movies", "Recorded Shows", and "Recorded Shows".  And yes, it creates the Recorded Shows library twice...  These libraries point at the subfolders which are already part of the "Recordings" library, which breaks Emby's own rules.  They are empty, presumably because the contents are already listed in the original library.  So I delete them.  But later Emby recreates them (including the extra duplicate), and I can't stop it.  That's right - I can't prevent Emby from breaking its own rules...

Perhaps Emby should have a check that prevents it making a library with a folder which is already a subfolder (or superfolder, I guess) of another previously existing library.  Not only would this let me arrange recordings "my way", it would also help prevent a moderately common cause of problems for users who are unaware of the restriction. 

Alternatively (or additionally), perhaps it could record that it has performed the library creation it wants, to prevent it repeating the task if I delete the library in order to arrange things differently.

Paul

Edited October 24, 2020 by pwhodges

[Sammy 790]

I notice this behavior too.

I just hid the extra library in the settings for the client but other users might be confused. I have LiveTV disabled for most users though. 

[Q-Droid 989]

Almost the same thing happened to me recently. I deleted the extra libraries and they haven't come back.

What was worse for me is that I had originally added the DVR recording path to one of my series media libraries. During my reorg I removed the default path from DVR settings and like you added the optional Series and Movies paths. The result was that it removed the series library with multiple paths and automatically created the extra recordings libraries. Not cool!

I got it sorted but wasn't expecting Emby to clobber a static library just because a path was included though not exclusive.

[pwhodges 2014]

I deleted the extra libraries when I first saw them yesterday, but this morning they were back.  I've deleted them again, and so far they haven't come back, but I'll not be confident until a full day has passed, and maybe a couple of recordings as well without their reappearance.

Paul

[Carlo 4561]

It's not breaking it's own rules.  You enabled an option to use different paths.

So you ALSO need to go modify the Recording library and take the one mount point out and put the mount points for movies and shows in to make them unique.

[pwhodges 2014]

(1) I did not create the extra libraries which conflicted with an existing library - Emby did; so I did not break the rules - Emby did.

(2) The original library, pointing at F:\Recordings has the appearance I want, displaying movies and series separately, but without having to have two libraries.  Pointing the library at the two subfolders causes their display to be merged, which is exactly what I had wanted to change away from.

My change did exactly what I wanted and expected - Emby then made additional changes which I did not ask for.

Paul

[Carlo 4561]

You broke the rules when you intentionally set a recording path that's under another library already on the system.

Emby just did what it always does and assume the user set things up correctly.

What exactly are you trying to do?

[pwhodges 2014]

I set a recording path; I did not create a new library, because the Recordings library was already where I wanted it.

I had a recordings library; it worked.  I decided to tell the DVR process to store the recordings a little differently; I did not ask it to change the library path or create new libraries.  My change worked as I expected; but then Emby started creating new libraries - which have had no ill effect (so far) other than being there when I didn't want them.

Paul

[Carlo 4561]

Understood, but you can avoid the duplicate recording library thing.  Doesn't matter at this point for you.

Are you able to remove the other recording libraries you don't need?

[pwhodges 2014]

I can remove them, but it seems that from time to time they get recreated.  It may be that if I leave things untouched for long enough that will no longer happen - I'll try that.

Paul