Manually changing folder names but retain metadata

[DigitalRebel 0]

Hello all!

I'm new to Emby and really impressed with everything.  I've used similar software like UMS, Plex, and Jellyfin but I must say that Emby is quickly becoming my favorite.

I have a question that I think might be relatively easy for a seasoned user.

I have a collection of movies and I have scanned them and made some modifications to some of them whether it was helping Emby identify it or modifying some metadata manually.  I normally add something to my folder names to indicate to me that I still have to clean up the metadata for my library.  (Ex:  "c:\Movies\(2021) Some Movie (new)")  Now that I am cleaning up the metadata and happy with things, I want to remove the "(new)" from the folder name.

Options I see I could do:

1. Manually edit the folder name via the operating system, rescan the directory, re-edit any metadata.  (Emby will likely treat this as a new folder and metadata changes would be lost.  Not great as redo-ing some metadata could be time consuming)
2. Enable the option to store the metadata and images as hidden files, rename the folder, rescan the directory ... metadata changes should then be retained.
   1. Issue here is that I don't see a way to force this option to write out this information for all directories at one time.  Looks like I would have to enable that option then make a change to something to trigger writing out the hidden files.
3. Is there any way to initiate the folder name change (manual is ok) in Emby so that it maintains the metadata properly.

Maybe I am making this too complicated, but I figured it didn't hurt to ask.

Mike

[Abobader 3471]

Hello DigitalRebel,

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Please wait for someone from staff support or our members to reply to you.

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Emby Team

[Carlo 4561]

Hi Mike, can you explain more what you're doing with the "(new)" in the name?

That's not really a good thing to do with a media server as you usually want to do ALL pre-processing before adding the media into Emby so once scanned won't change.

[DigitalRebel 0]

Yes, of course cayars!  PS. Love the Rush avatar.

It is really just an artifact of how I originally had organized my folders (pre-Emby) which let me know that I had to "groom" that content's metadata and thumbnails.  Eventually, I will remove the "(new)" from the directly name once I have everything into Emby.  The reality is that I should have just removed the "(new)" from all of my folders before starting with Emby [like you said] , but I am here now and just trying to minimize the amount of rework I might have to do.  I will not be using "(new)" as part of the directory naming moving forward if I continue to use Emby.

Hope that makes sense.

Edited May 12, 2021 by DigitalRebel

[Guest]

My question would stem from. Is the metadata in question been entered into EMBY or just into the files and files within the folder?

If you have on 'Real-time Monitoring' for the Library and your metadata is all within the files themselves.. ( embedded with accompanying images ).. a batch rename tool can rename the folders ( which I am guessing is the only thing that needs renaming ).. but a renaming tool can make quick work of it and all you have to do is wait for EMBY to do its thing..

And as @cayars suggests.. even using another folder or share for pre-processing and metadata to do the work and then copying or moving those folders and files over is the best way to go about this. This is what I do with all of my media before it goes to the archive... I sometimes do make changes to metadata.. but mine are at the file level without altering EMBY data.. I leave that up to EMBY's automation and file monitoring system.. I do not use .NFO nor .XML files for this purpose.

[Carlo 4561]

Yes there are a few utils that would make quick work of renaming media files and/or folder names.

[Guest]

 Guess I could have listed some of them... AdvancedRenamer ....

My batch renamer is old but I like it because it can be launched with items selected from the context menu.. CFi Shell Toys version 6.4 x64... Hard to find anymore and is no longer developed ( Free Registered Program.. ) .. takes special setting to get it to run right..  with it I can select folder and tell it to remove "(new)" for example.. initiate the program and it's done.. but it hates "."'s and characters from other languages (  )...

Need to find something as robust as this tool though...

[DigitalRebel 0]

Thank you @cayars and @Hxemby001 for all the feedback.