Details on Metadata Locations and Settings

[dlaffin1012 1]

So I have searched around and I am confused on the settings and locations of metadata and images for my media. I currently run a stable and beta server within portainer/docker in OpenMediaVault. I want to remove my libraries and redo them with the metadata and images stored in the media folders. This then makes it a lot faster and easier to run updates for emby in docker. 

There is an overall metadata location setting under advanced in the library section. This is for all metadata to be stored in for all media correct?

Under individual libraries the only option is save artwork into media locations. This is only artwork such as the cover images correct?

Nfo is a different file format than the standard, it also requires a plugin to work correct? 

Difference between metadata reader, metadata downloader, and metadata saver?

 

There used to be a save metadata in media folders option. I see that is gone and is replaced by entire library metadata storage. Does this mean you can only store metadata for the entire media collection to one folder and not have it save into the individual folder for each piece of media?

 

[dlaffin1012 1]

Never mind, I guess one of the settings seems to save all of it in the media folders. Do they still require the NFO plugin though?

[Luke 42078]

Hi, that depends. Do you want nfo metadata files saved in your media directories?

[dlaffin1012 1]

I want anything and everything relating to the media, stored with the media.

I update the servers by resetting the docker image but I leave my media and config untouched. Sometimes it is nice to clear the config and restore from the backup configuration plugin if I have issues. So it would be nice to have everything related to media stay with the media so that it rescans faster and it doesn't hammer the databases that I get the info from every time I do it.

 

Is nfo metadata different than standard metadata or is it just a different style of storing metadata?

[Happy2Play 9780]

2 hours ago, dlaffin1012 said:

Is nfo metadata different than standard metadata or is it just a different style of storing metadata?

Metadata is written to file or database only when you get it.  So if you rebuild or something happens to that database metadata is gone if database only.  Ideally it is preferred to write nfo files so that metadata can be reimported instead of downloaded and you maintain any customizations.

 

[dlaffin1012 1]

Alright so setting it to nfo will save it as an nfo file rather than a database file and will automatically save it to the media folders? Artwork is then a separate setting. 

 

What is the nfo metadata plugin actually used for if Emby is currently reading my data already and it is saved as nfo files?

[Happy2Play 9780]

4 minutes ago, dlaffin1012 said:

Alright so setting it to nfo will save it as an nfo file rather than a database file and will automatically save it to the media folders? Artwork is then a separate setting. 

 

What is the nfo metadata plugin actually used for if Emby is currently reading my data already and it is saved as nfo files?

Well it does both as Emby reads/reimports nfo files if they exist when adding media and write into Emby's Database.  Now a item that does not have metadata, Emby gets metadata from online provider writes to file and database.  But after initial import Emby just reads the database unless files change.

The nfo plugin allows Emby to Write nfo files.  So if it is uninstalled you will have no Metadata saver option.

[dlaffin1012 1]

Ah. Alright. I get most of it now.

 

My only other question is when you set a custom folder for metadata in the Advanced tab, does that change where the nfo files are saved or where the database file is saved?

I think I remember you can set parameters for the folders inside the config folder for storing them elsewhere but that's the entire library folder not just the database file.

[Luke 42078]

On 2/26/2021 at 7:02 PM, dlaffin1012 said:

Ah. Alright. I get most of it now.

 

My only other question is when you set a custom folder for metadata in the Advanced tab, does that change where the nfo files are saved or where the database file is saved?

I think I remember you can set parameters for the folders inside the config folder for storing them elsewhere but that's the entire library folder not just the database file.

Hi, no, the server metadata folder is for things that can't be stored in local media folders, so when you change the location to that, that's what you're changing.

[dlaffin1012 1]

So is it good to set a custom location for that as well or better to leave it as the original location. I remember seeing a post about storing metadata in the media folders so that it is easier on the places we get it from when we rebuild a server/update so we don't have to download it all again. Does that apply to that server metadata folder under the advanced tab?

[Luke 42078]

That's your decision. It's not better or worse either way.

[dlaffin1012 1]

Thank You. I will probably just leave that one and just put artwork and NFO into the media folders and leave it at that.