Official Kodi Wiki - User contributions [en]

NFO files/Episodes

2025-08-22T18:25:48Z

78andyp:

{{NFO_content}}
{{mininav|[[NFO files]]}}

__TOC__

= Introduction =
'''Episodes must abide by the standard filenaming conventions even when using nfo files. {{kodi}} determines the season and episode numbering ''(S01E01)'' from the episode filename, not from the NFO file.'''

One nfo file for '''each''' episode is required. This file holds information specific to that episode.

Most metadata contained in a {{kodi}} exported NFO file is metadata inherited from the TV Show or are not used which is why the episode NFO template is relatively small.

= nfo Name and Location =
'''{{resize|1.2em|Regardless of what settings you have set for the source and scraper, {{Kodi}} will always search for and scan the nfo file first where available.}}'''

The episode nfo file is placed alongside each episode video file. The episode nfo filename is the same as the video filename but with the ''.nfo'' extension. See image below for examples.

<gallery mode="packed" widths="1000px" heights="562px">
File:LocalEpisodeArtwork01.jpg|'''''Episode Artwork and nfo files'''''
</gallery>

= nfo Tags =
The following table lists the available XML tags in the episode nfo file. <ref>https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc/blob/master/xbmc/video/VideoInfoTag.cpp</ref>

''Yes'' in the Inherited column indicates a tag that uses data from the parent TV Show. These tags are created in the exported nfo file but are ignored on import so it is not possible to change this data at the episode level.

Three XML tags are required and are indicated in the table below. All other tags are optional. Of course the less tags used, the less information scanned into the library.

{|class="prettytable"
! NFO (xml) Tag || Required || Multiple || Inherited || Notes
|-
|<episodedetails></episodedetails> || {{Yes}} || No/Yes || || The top level parent tag for the nfo file. All other tags must be contained within these two tags 
Yes - When creating multi-episode nfo files. See next section. 
No - In all other cases, a single instance is used.
|-
|<title></title> || {{Yes}} || No || || The title for the episode
|-
|<originaltitle></originaltitle> || No || No || Yes || Inherited from TV show
|-
|<showtitle></showtitle> || No || No || Yes || Inherited from TV show
|-
|<syntaxhighlight lang="xml">
<ratings>
<rating name="" max="10" default="">
<value></value>
<votes></votes>
</rating>
</ratings>
</syntaxhighlight>
|| No || No || || ''default="true"'' ''default="false"'' 
::Only one rating can be set as ''default="true"'', additional ratings must be set as ''default="false"'' or ommitted 

''name="identifier"''. Do not use "default". Examples of identifier include... 
::''<rating name="imdb" max="10">'' 
::''<rating name="trakt" max="10">'' 
::''<rating name="tvmaze" max="10">'' 
::''<rating name="metacritic" max="10">'' 
::''<rating name="tomatometerallcritics" max="10">'' 
::''<rating name="tomatometerallaudience" max="10">'' 

Example of complete entry...
::''<rating name="themoviedb" max="10" default="true">'' 
::''<rating name="imdb" max="10" default="false"> or <rating name="themoviedb" max="10">'' 
|-
|<userrating></userrating> || No || No || || Personal rating set by the user
|-
|<top250></top250> || No || No || || Not used
|-
|<season></season> || No || No/Yes || || Season number is read from filename in all cases 
Not required for single nfo files 
Required for multi-episode nfo files to match the metadata to the correct episode. See next section
|-
|<episode></episode> || No || No/Yes || || Episode number is read from filename in all cases 
Not required for single nfo files 
Required for multi-episode nfo files to match the metadata to the correct episode. See next section
|-
|<displayepisode></displayepisode> || No || No || || Used to place Specials episodes in the correct episode order
|-
|<displayseason></displayseason> || No || No || || Used to place Specials episodes in the correct season
|-
|<outline></outline> || No || No || || Not used
|-
|<plot></plot> || No || No || || A description of the episode
|-
|<tagline></tagline> || No || No || || Short slogan of the episode. No skins use this.
|-
|<runtime></runtime> || No || No || || Minutes only. If ommitted, {{kodi}} will add runtime upon scanning of the video file
|-
|<thumb aspect="thumb" preview=""></thumb> || No || Yes || || Path to episode artwork. Not needed when using local artwork
|-
|<mpaa></mpaa> || No || No || Yes || Inherited from TV show
|-
|<playcount></playcount> || No || No || || Number of times episode has been played. See... [[Import-export_library/Video#Watched.2C_PlayCount.2C_ResumePoints|Import-Export]]
|-
|<lastplayed></lastplayed> || No || No || || Date last played 
Format as ''yyyy-mm-dd''
|-
|<id></id> || No || No || || The default ID. 
Do not use. It is a deprecated Kodi generated tag. See next item.
|-
|<uniqueid type="" default=""></uniqueid> || {{Yes}} || Yes || || The ID from the scraper site. 
''type=""'' Identifier of the ID. Do not use "default". Examples of identifier include... 
::''<uniqueid type="imdb"'' 
::''<uniqueid type="tvdb"'' 
::''<uniqueid type="tmdb"'' 
::For non-scraped items, use simple values like ''"home", "sport", "doco"'' etc 
::The value can be alpha-numeric eg ''tt3480556'' for imdb, ''286668'' for tmdb, ''home001'' for home movies, etc 
''default="true"'' ''default="false"'' 
::Only one uniqueID can be set as ''default="true"'', additional uniqueIDs must be set as ''default="false"'' or ommit the default attribute 
Example of complete entry...
::''<uniqueid type="tmdb" default="true">'' 
::''<uniqueid type="imdb" default="false"> or <uniqueid type="imdb">'' 
|-
|<genre></genre> || No || Yes || Yes || Inherited from TV show
|-
|<credits></credits> || No || Yes || || Field for writers.
|-
|<director></director> || No || Yes || || Director
|-
|<premiered></premiered> || No || No || Yes || Inherited from TV show 
Format as ''yyyy-mm-dd''
|-
|<year></year> || No || No || Yes || Inherited from TV show 
{{note|Kodi v17: Tag deprecated, use <premiered> tag instead.}}
{{note|Kodi v20: Use <premiered> tag only.}}
|-
|<status></status> || No || No || || Not used
|-
|<nowiki><code></code></nowiki> || No || No || || Not used
|-
|<aired></aired> || No || No || || Original air date of the episode 
Format as ''yyyy-mm-dd''
|-
|<studio></studio> || No || Yes || Yes || Production studio. Inherited from TV Show
|-
|<trailer></trailer> || No || No || ||Not used
|-
|<syntaxhighlight lang="xml">
<episodebookmark>
<position></position>
</episodebookmark>
</syntaxhighlight>
|| No || No || || Episode Bookmark in seconds. ''See: [[Bookmarks_and_chapters|Episode Bookmarks]]'' 
Not used for Import
|-
|<syntaxhighlight lang="xml">
<fileinfo>
<streamdetails>
<video>
<codec></codec>
<aspect></aspect>
<width></width>
<height></height>
<durationinseconds></durationinseconds>
<stereomode></stereomode>
<hdrtype></hdrtype>
</video>
<audio>
<codec></codec>
<language></language>
<channels></channels>
</audio>
<subtitle>
<language></language>
</subtitle>
</streamdetails>
</fileinfo>
</syntaxhighlight>
|| No || Yes || || Multiple entries of <audio> and <subtitles> accepted 
In v17 and prior, {{kodi}} would overwrite these values on first play of the file. 
In v18 that process was removed and values in these tags will remain.<ref>https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc/pull/16342</ref> 
If ommitted, {{kodi}} will add runtime upon scanning 

Accepted values for <hdrtype></hdrtype> are:
* empty = SDR;
* hdr10;
* dolbyvision;
* hlg
|-
|<syntaxhighlight lang="xml">
<actor>
<name></name>
<role></role>
<order></order>
<thumb></thumb>
</actor>
</syntaxhighlight>
|| No || Yes || || The <order> tag determines where in the list the actor will appear. 0 = first in the list
Supports "clear" attribute
|-
|<syntaxhighlight lang="xml">
<resume>
<position></position>
<total></total>
</resume>
</syntaxhighlight>
|| No || No || || Set the resume position See... [[Import-export_library/Video#Watched.2C_PlayCount.2C_ResumePoints|Import-Export]]
|-
|<dateadded></dateadded> || No || No || || mTime of the playable video file. Can be altered in advancedsettings.xml See... '''[[Advancedsettings.xml#videolibrary]]'''
|}

= Multi-Episode Files =

From Kodi v22 there is now improved support for multi-episode files. Each episode in a multi-episode file can have a separate NFO and art.

{|
|-
|
{|class="{{{1|prettytable}}}" style="margin: 0.5em 2.0em 0.5em 0em; font-size: 0.80em; {{border-radius|5px}}; float: top; clear: top;" width="800"
|-
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#;" | Naming Convention
|+
! style="background-color:#; width:300px" | Multi-episode file
! style="background-color:#; width:200px" | Episode
! style="background-color:#; width:300px" | NFO/art names
|-
|style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"|''tvshow S01E01E02''.mkv
|style="text-align:left;"| Season 1 Episode 1
|style="text-align:left;"|''tvshow S01E01E02'''''-S01E01'''.nfo ''tvshow S01E01E02'''''-S01E01-thumb'''.jpg
|-
|style="text-align:left;"| Season 1 Episode 2
|style="text-align:left;"|''tvshow S01E01E02'''''-S01E02'''.nfo ''tvshow S01E01E02'''''-S01E02-thumb'''.jpg
|}

Whilst the are several ways the multi-episode video file can be named, see: '''[[Naming_video_files/Episodes#Multi-Episode_Files|Naming Multi-Episode Files]]''' - the suffix specifying the season and episode for the NFO and art '''must''' be in the format '''-SxxEyy'''.

The format of the NFO files is as above.

''Important'' - NFO files containing multiple ''<episodedetails></episodedetails>'' tags are not supported in Kodi v22+.

For Kodi v21 and below:

There may be instances where a video file contains two or more episodes. This is common for ISO files.

Multi-episode video files still use a single nfo file. The metadata for each episode is stacked in the single nfo file. Below is an example of an abbreviated multi-episode nfo file containing 3 episodes.

One difference between the single and multi nfo file is that the ''<season></season>'' and ''<episode></episode>'' tags are required for each episode in the multi nfo file. {{kodi}} still requires the filename to contain the season and episode numbering, but it also requires these additional tags so it can match the metadata to the correct episode. The metadata for each episode must be in correct numerical order.

For correct naming of the video file, nfo file and artwork thumb, see: '''[[Naming_video_files/Episodes#Multi-Episode_Files|Naming Multi-Episode Files]]'''

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:50%; overflow:auto;">
<center>'''Example Multi-Episode NFO File'''</center>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<syntaxhighlight lang="xml">
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes" ?>
<episodedetails> 
<title>Episode 1</title>
<userrating></userrating>
<plot></plot>
<season>1</season>
<episode>1</episode>
<uniqueid type="" default="true"></uniqueid>
<credits></credits>
<director></director>
<aired></aired>
<actor>
<name></name>
<role></role>
<order></order>
<thumb></thumb>
</actor>
</episodedetails>
<episodedetails> 
<title>Episode 2</title>
<userrating></userrating>
<plot></plot>
<season>1</season>
<episode>2</episode>
<uniqueid type="" default="true"></uniqueid>
<credits></credits>
<director></director>
<aired></aired>
<actor>
<name></name>
<role></role>
<order></order>
<thumb></thumb>
</actor>
</episodedetails>
<episodedetails> 
<title>Episode 3</title>
<userrating></userrating>
<plot></plot>
<season>1</season>
<episode>3</episode>
<uniqueid type="" default="true"></uniqueid>
<credits></credits>
<director></director>
<aired></aired>
<actor>
<name></name>
<role></role>
<order></order>
<thumb></thumb>
</actor>
</episodedetails>

</syntaxhighlight>
</div>
</div>

= References =
<references />

{{top}}
{{updated|22}}

[[Category:Karellen]]
[[Category:Video library]]

Naming video files/Episodes

2025-08-22T18:21:17Z

78andyp:

{{VideoLibraryCreate}}
{{mininav| [[Video library]] |[[HOW-TO:Create_Video_Library|Create Video Library]] }}

__TOC__

= Introduction =
Be aware of the following:

* The '''only item in the episode file name''' that the {{kodi}} scanner searches for is the '''Season and Episode numbering''' (''SxxEyy''). Everything else is irrelevant.
* It is this SxxEyy that is used to match and scrape the episode metadata and artwork.
* To reduce the risk of the scanner becoming confused by complicated naming, ensure your episode filenames are clean and simple as described below.
* Contrary to advice from 3rd party internet guides, you cannot set season and episode numbering through NFO Files.

'''Note: Do not refer to IMDB for episode orders.''' There is no IMDB TV Show Scraper. If you are using the default scraper then the site to check is [https://www.themoviedb.org/ TMDB]. If you have changed to [https://www.thetvdb.com/ TVDB] or [https://www.tvmaze.com/ TV Maze], check the appropriate site.

= Single Episode Files =
{{note|Episode files are assumed to contain a single episode. If you have files that contain two or more episodes, then read the Multi-Episodes section below.}}

The following table details the ''Minimum'' and ''Recommended'' naming for episodes files.

{| class="prettytable"
|-
| scope="row" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background-color:#a1f5e4;" | '''Minimum required episode name:''' || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| || scope="row" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background-color:#a1f5e4;" | '''Recommended episode name:'''
|-
! scope="row" colspan="2" style="width:400px; background-color:#f5f5a1; text-align:center;"|''S01E01.mkv''
! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"|
! scope="row" colspan="2" style="width:400px; background-color:#f5f5a1; text-align:center;"| ''Angel (1999) S01E01.mkv''
|-
|Where:
|'''''S01E01''''' = Season 1, Episode 1 - no spaces || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| ||Where: || '''''Angel (1999)''''' = TV Show name
|-
|
| || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| || || '''''S01E01''''' = Season 1, Episode 1 - no spaces
|}

The Pattern '''S01E01''' is the most accurate available. Other Patterns are available as shown in the table below with '''Order 1''' being the most accurate and accuracy decreasing with higher numbers.

{|
|-
|
{|class="{{{1|prettytable}}}" style="margin: 0.5em 2.0em 0.5em 0em; font-size: 0.80em; {{border-radius|5px}}; float: top; clear: top;" width="700"
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#;" | With Season
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#;" | No Season
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#;" | By Date
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#;" | By Title
|+
! style="background-color:#;" | Order
! style="background-color:#; width:200px" | Episode Naming
! style="background-color:#;" | Order
! style="background-color:#; width:200px" | Episode Naming
! style="background-color:#;" | Order
! style="background-color:#; width:250px" | Episode Naming
! style="background-color:#;" | Order
! style="background-color:#; width:200px" | Episode Naming
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''S01E02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|2
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''ep02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|3
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''yyyy.mm.dd'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|7
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|'''Name'''.''special''.ext
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''S1E2'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|2
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''ep_02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|3
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''yyyy-mm-dd'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''S01.E02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|7
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''part.II'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|4
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''dd.mm.yyyy'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''S01_E02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|7
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''pt.II'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''S01xE02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|7
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''pt_II'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|5
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''1x02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|6
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''102'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|}
|
;With Season
:The most commonly used for nearly all TV Shows.
;No Season
:Normally used for Anime or single season TV Shows. Not commonly used.
;By date
:Used for long-running daily shows. Check the scraper site for numbering method used.
;By title
:Used exclusively by the TVMaze scraper. Added in v20 "Nexus"
:Allows matching '''special episodes''' by their titles as TVMaze do not not support "Season 0" convention for specials.
|}

= Multi-Episode Files =
Starting with Kodi v22 you can now specify episode ranges.

{| class="prettytable"
|-
| scope="row" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background-color:#a1f5e4;" | '''Minimum required episode name:''' || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| || scope="row" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background-color:#a1f5e4;" | '''Recommended episode name:'''
|-
! scope="row" colspan="2" style="width:400px; background-color:#f5f5a1; text-align:center;"|''S01E01-E04.mkv''
! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"|
! scope="row" colspan="2" style="width:400px; background-color:#f5f5a1; text-align:center;"| ''Angel (1999) S01E01-E04.mkv''
|-
|Where:
|'''''S01E01-E04''''' = Season 1, Episode 1, 2, 3 & 4 || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| ||Where: || '''''Angel (1999)''''' = TV Show name
|-
|
| ''Note that Episodes 2 and 3 are included'' || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| || || '''''S01E01-E04''''' = Season 1, Episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4
|}

{|
|-
|
{|class="{{{1|prettytable}}}" style="margin: 0.5em 2.0em 0.5em 0em; font-size: 0.80em; {{border-radius|5px}}; float: top; clear: top;" width="800"
|-
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#;" | Allowed Patterns
|+
! style="background-color:#; width:50px" | Order
! style="background-color:#; width:300px" | Example Name
! style="background-color:#; width:450px" | Included Episodes
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|style="text-align:left;"|''name'' '''ep01-ep04'''.ext
|style="text-align:left;"| Season 1, Episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|style="text-align:left;"|''name'' '''s01e01-s01e04'''.ext
|style="text-align:left;"| Season 1, Episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|style="text-align:left;"|''name'' '''s01e01-e04'''.ext
|style="text-align:left;"| Season 1, Episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|style="text-align:left;"|''name'' '''1x01-1x04'''.ext
|style="text-align:left;"| Season 1, Episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|style="text-align:left;"|''name'' '''S01E05-E08S02E01-E04'''.ext
|style="text-align:left;"| Season 1, Episodes 5, 6, 7 & 8 and Season 2, Episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4
|}

For Kodi v21 and below:

If your video files contain two or more episodes, then the following naming is required to scan multiple episodes from a single file.

{| class="prettytable"
|-
| scope="row" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background-color:#a1f5e4;" | '''Minimum required episode name:''' || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| || scope="row" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background-color:#a1f5e4;" | '''Recommended episode name:'''
|-
! scope="row" colspan="2" style="width:400px; background-color:#f5f5a1; text-align:center;"|''S01E01E02E04.mkv''
! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"|
! scope="row" colspan="2" style="width:400px; background-color:#f5f5a1; text-align:center;"| ''Angel (1999) S01E01E02E04.mkv''
|-
|Where:
|'''''S01E01E02E04''''' = Season 1, Episode 1, 2 & 4 || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| ||Where: || '''''Angel (1999)''''' = TV Show name
|-
|
| ''Note that Episode 3 is not included'' || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| || || '''''S01E01E02E04''''' = Season 1, Episodes 1, 2 & 4
|}

{|
|-
|
{|class="{{{1|prettytable}}}" style="margin: 0.5em 2.0em 0.5em 0em; font-size: 0.80em; {{border-radius|5px}}; float: top; clear: top;" width="500"
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#;" | Complex Pattern
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#;" | Short Pattern
|+
! style="background-color:#;" | Order
! style="background-color:#; width:350px" | Example Name
! style="background-color:#;" | Order
! style="background-color:#; width:200px" | Example Name
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:300px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''s01e01'''-'''s01e02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:150px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''s01e01e02'''.ext
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:300px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''s01e01'''-''episode1.title''-'''s01e02'''-''episode2.title''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:150px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''s01e01-02-03'''.ext
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:300px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''s01e01'''-'''s01e02'''-'''s01e03'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|5
|style="width:150px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''1x01x02'''.ext
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|5
|style="width:300px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''1x01'''-'''1x02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|2
|style="width:150px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''ep01-02'''.ext
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|2
|style="width:300px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''ep01'''-'''ep02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|
|style="width:150px; text-align:left;"|
|}
|
{{note|It is recommended that multi-episode files be split into Single Episode files.}}

In cases where the video file contains more than one episode, you must nominate each episode in the filename.

* The patterns are the same as Single Episode numbering, but extended to include multiple episodes.
* Only the episodes in the file name will be added, e.g. '''''Angel (1999) S01E01E04.mkv''''' will scrape episodes 1 and 4 but not include episodes 2 and 3.
* When using a single video file for multiple episodes it is possible to set episode bookmarks for each episode in the file. See: '''''[[bookmarks|Episode Bookmarks]]'''''

:'''''See also: [[Advancedsettings.xml#tvmultipartmatching|Multi-Episode Matching]]''''' to create additional pattern matches
|}

= Specials =
* Specials are extras or episodes that don't belong to a season.
* Movies based on TV shows are usually ''not'' added as specials. Instead you [[Linking_movies_to_TV_shows|link a movie]] to a TV show. It will then appear at the bottom of the season list.
* Specials are named as season 00 and start at E01, e.g. S'''00'''E01. Which episode number they'll have depends on the website the scraper use. At TMDB you access the specials by going to "View All Seasons">Specials.
In Kodi specials will appear under ''Specials'' in the season list.

= Episode Groups =
* Episode Groups or Orders are listings with alternate episode orders.
* Some TV Shows are broadcast in one order but the DVD/Bluray release may have a different screening order. A well known example is the TV Show ''Firefly'' where the Studio opted to broadcast high action episodes for ratings first, while the Producer wanted a different order to correctly unfold the storyline.
Each Information Provider uses a different method to make alternate orders available. Check which scraper you are using and select the correct method below.

== TheMovieDB-TV Shows ==
See... '''[[Add-on:TMDb_TV_Shows#Episode_Orders|TheMovieDB Episode Groups]]'''

Only available when using the python scraper ''TMDB TV Shows.''

== The TVDB ==
See... '''[[Add-on:The_TVDB_v4#Flexible_Orders|TheTVDB Flexible Orders]]

Only available when using TheTVDB v4 python scraper by TVDB Team.

== TVmaze ==
See... '''[[Add-on:TVmaze#Episode_Orders|TVmaze Episode Orders]]'''

= References =
<references />

<center>
{| style="border: 1px solid black;"
| scope="row" rowspan="2" style=" text-align:center;" | [[File:Mergefrom.gif|60px|link=Naming_video_files/Seasons]]
| style="width:200px; text-align:center;" | '''Previous step'''
| style="width:200px; text-align:center;" | '''Next step'''
| scope="row" rowspan="2" style=" text-align:center;" | [[File:Merge-arrow.gif|60px|link=Adding_video_sources]]
|-
| style="width:200px; text-align:center;" | '''[[Naming_video_files/Seasons|Seasons Setup]]'''
| style="width:200px; text-align:center;" | '''[[Adding_video_sources|Add Source & Scrape]]'''
|}</center>

{{top}}
{{updated|22}}

[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:Karellen]]
[[Category:Video library]]

Naming video files/Episodes

2025-08-22T18:12:25Z

78andyp:

{{VideoLibraryCreate}}
{{mininav| [[Video library]] |[[HOW-TO:Create_Video_Library|Create Video Library]] }}

__TOC__

= Introduction =
Be aware of the following:

* The '''only item in the episode file name''' that the {{kodi}} scanner searches for is the '''Season and Episode numbering''' (''SxxEyy''). Everything else is irrelevant.
* It is this SxxEyy that is used to match and scrape the episode metadata and artwork.
* To reduce the risk of the scanner becoming confused by complicated naming, ensure your episode filenames are clean and simple as described below.
* Contrary to advice from 3rd party internet guides, you cannot set season and episode numbering through NFO Files.

'''Note: Do not refer to IMDB for episode orders.''' There is no IMDB TV Show Scraper. If you are using the default scraper then the site to check is [https://www.themoviedb.org/ TMDB]. If you have changed to [https://www.thetvdb.com/ TVDB] or [https://www.tvmaze.com/ TV Maze], check the appropriate site.

= Single Episode Files =
{{note|Episode files are assumed to contain a single episode. If you have files that contain two or more episodes, then read the Multi-Episodes section below.}}

The following table details the ''Minimum'' and ''Recommended'' naming for episodes files.

{| class="prettytable"
|-
| scope="row" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background-color:#a1f5e4;" | '''Minimum required episode name:''' || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| || scope="row" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background-color:#a1f5e4;" | '''Recommended episode name:'''
|-
! scope="row" colspan="2" style="width:400px; background-color:#f5f5a1; text-align:center;"|''S01E01.mkv''
! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"|
! scope="row" colspan="2" style="width:400px; background-color:#f5f5a1; text-align:center;"| ''Angel (1999) S01E01.mkv''
|-
|Where:
|'''''S01E01''''' = Season 1, Episode 1 - no spaces || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| ||Where: || '''''Angel (1999)''''' = TV Show name
|-
|
| || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| || || '''''S01E01''''' = Season 1, Episode 1 - no spaces
|}

The Pattern '''S01E01''' is the most accurate available. Other Patterns are available as shown in the table below with '''Order 1''' being the most accurate and accuracy decreasing with higher numbers.

{|
|-
|
{|class="{{{1|prettytable}}}" style="margin: 0.5em 2.0em 0.5em 0em; font-size: 0.80em; {{border-radius|5px}}; float: top; clear: top;" width="700"
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#;" | With Season
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#;" | No Season
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#;" | By Date
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#;" | By Title
|+
! style="background-color:#;" | Order
! style="background-color:#; width:200px" | Episode Naming
! style="background-color:#;" | Order
! style="background-color:#; width:200px" | Episode Naming
! style="background-color:#;" | Order
! style="background-color:#; width:250px" | Episode Naming
! style="background-color:#;" | Order
! style="background-color:#; width:200px" | Episode Naming
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''S01E02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|2
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''ep02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|3
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''yyyy.mm.dd'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|7
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|'''Name'''.''special''.ext
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''S1E2'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|2
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''ep_02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|3
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''yyyy-mm-dd'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''S01.E02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|7
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''part.II'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|4
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''dd.mm.yyyy'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''S01_E02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|7
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''pt.II'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''S01xE02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|7
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''pt_II'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|5
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''1x02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|6
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''102'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|}
|
;With Season
:The most commonly used for nearly all TV Shows.
;No Season
:Normally used for Anime or single season TV Shows. Not commonly used.
;By date
:Used for long-running daily shows. Check the scraper site for numbering method used.
;By title
:Used exclusively by the TVMaze scraper. Added in v20 "Nexus"
:Allows matching '''special episodes''' by their titles as TVMaze do not not support "Season 0" convention for specials.
|}

= Multi-Episode Files =
Starting with Kodi v22 you can now specify episode ranges.

{| class="prettytable"
|-
| scope="row" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background-color:#a1f5e4;" | '''Minimum required episode name:''' || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| || scope="row" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background-color:#a1f5e4;" | '''Recommended episode name:'''
|-
! scope="row" colspan="2" style="width:400px; background-color:#f5f5a1; text-align:center;"|''S01E01-E04.mkv''
! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"|
! scope="row" colspan="2" style="width:400px; background-color:#f5f5a1; text-align:center;"| ''Angel (1999) S01E01-E04.mkv''
|-
|Where:
|'''''S01E01-E04''''' = Season 1, Episode 1, 2, 3 & 4 || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| ||Where: || '''''Angel (1999)''''' = TV Show name
|-
|
| ''Note that Episodes 2 and 3 are included'' || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| || || '''''S01E01-E04''''' = Season 1, Episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4
|}

{|
|-
|
{|class="{{{1|prettytable}}}" style="margin: 0.5em 2.0em 0.5em 0em; font-size: 0.80em; {{border-radius|5px}}; float: top; clear: top;" width="800"
|-
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#;" | Allowed Patterns
|+
! style="background-color:#; width:50px" | Order
! style="background-color:#; width:300px" | Example Name
! style="background-color:#; width:450px" | Included Episodes
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|style="text-align:left;"|''name'' '''ep01'''-'''ep04'''.ext
|style="text-align:left;"| Season 1, Episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|style="text-align:left;"|''name'' '''s01e01'''-'''s01e04'''.ext
|style="text-align:left;"| Season 1, Episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|style="text-align:left;"|''name'' '''s01e01'''-'''e04'''.ext
|style="text-align:left;"| Season 1, Episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|style="text-align:left;"|''name'' '''1x01'''-'''1x04'''.ext
|style="text-align:left;"| Season 1, Episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|style="text-align:left;"|''name'' '''S01E05'''-'''E08S02E01'''-'''E04'''.ext
|style="text-align:left;"| Season 1, Episodes 5, 6, 7 & 8 and Season 2, Episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4
|}

For Kodi v21 and below:

If your video files contain two or more episodes, then the following naming is required to scan multiple episodes from a single file.

{| class="prettytable"
|-
| scope="row" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background-color:#a1f5e4;" | '''Minimum required episode name:''' || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| || scope="row" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background-color:#a1f5e4;" | '''Recommended episode name:'''
|-
! scope="row" colspan="2" style="width:400px; background-color:#f5f5a1; text-align:center;"|''S01E01E02E04.mkv''
! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"|
! scope="row" colspan="2" style="width:400px; background-color:#f5f5a1; text-align:center;"| ''Angel (1999) S01E01E02E04.mkv''
|-
|Where:
|'''''S01E01E02E04''''' = Season 1, Episode 1, 2 & 4 || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| ||Where: || '''''Angel (1999)''''' = TV Show name
|-
|
| ''Note that Episode 3 is not included'' || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| || || '''''S01E01E02E04''''' = Season 1, Episodes 1, 2 & 4
|}

{|
|-
|
{|class="{{{1|prettytable}}}" style="margin: 0.5em 2.0em 0.5em 0em; font-size: 0.80em; {{border-radius|5px}}; float: top; clear: top;" width="500"
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#;" | Complex Pattern
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#;" | Short Pattern
|+
! style="background-color:#;" | Order
! style="background-color:#; width:350px" | Example Name
! style="background-color:#;" | Order
! style="background-color:#; width:200px" | Example Name
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:300px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''s01e01'''-'''s01e02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:150px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''s01e01e02'''.ext
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:300px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''s01e01'''-''episode1.title''-'''s01e02'''-''episode2.title''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:150px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''s01e01-02-03'''.ext
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:300px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''s01e01'''-'''s01e02'''-'''s01e03'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|5
|style="width:150px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''1x01x02'''.ext
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|5
|style="width:300px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''1x01'''-'''1x02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|2
|style="width:150px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''ep01-02'''.ext
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|2
|style="width:300px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''ep01'''-'''ep02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|
|style="width:150px; text-align:left;"|
|}
|
{{note|It is recommended that multi-episode files be split into Single Episode files.}}

In cases where the video file contains more than one episode, you must nominate each episode in the filename.

* The patterns are the same as Single Episode numbering, but extended to include multiple episodes.
* Only the episodes in the file name will be added, e.g. '''''Angel (1999) S01E01E04.mkv''''' will scrape episodes 1 and 4 but not include episodes 2 and 3.
* When using a single video file for multiple episodes it is possible to set episode bookmarks for each episode in the file. See: '''''[[bookmarks|Episode Bookmarks]]'''''

:'''''See also: [[Advancedsettings.xml#tvmultipartmatching|Multi-Episode Matching]]''''' to create additional pattern matches
|}

= Specials =
* Specials are extras or episodes that don't belong to a season.
* Movies based on TV shows are usually ''not'' added as specials. Instead you [[Linking_movies_to_TV_shows|link a movie]] to a TV show. It will then appear at the bottom of the season list.
* Specials are named as season 00 and start at E01, e.g. S'''00'''E01. Which episode number they'll have depends on the website the scraper use. At TMDB you access the specials by going to "View All Seasons">Specials.
In Kodi specials will appear under ''Specials'' in the season list.

= Episode Groups =
* Episode Groups or Orders are listings with alternate episode orders.
* Some TV Shows are broadcast in one order but the DVD/Bluray release may have a different screening order. A well known example is the TV Show ''Firefly'' where the Studio opted to broadcast high action episodes for ratings first, while the Producer wanted a different order to correctly unfold the storyline.
Each Information Provider uses a different method to make alternate orders available. Check which scraper you are using and select the correct method below.

== TheMovieDB-TV Shows ==
See... '''[[Add-on:TMDb_TV_Shows#Episode_Orders|TheMovieDB Episode Groups]]'''

Only available when using the python scraper ''TMDB TV Shows.''

== The TVDB ==
See... '''[[Add-on:The_TVDB_v4#Flexible_Orders|TheTVDB Flexible Orders]]

Only available when using TheTVDB v4 python scraper by TVDB Team.

== TVmaze ==
See... '''[[Add-on:TVmaze#Episode_Orders|TVmaze Episode Orders]]'''

= References =
<references />

<center>
{| style="border: 1px solid black;"
| scope="row" rowspan="2" style=" text-align:center;" | [[File:Mergefrom.gif|60px|link=Naming_video_files/Seasons]]
| style="width:200px; text-align:center;" | '''Previous step'''
| style="width:200px; text-align:center;" | '''Next step'''
| scope="row" rowspan="2" style=" text-align:center;" | [[File:Merge-arrow.gif|60px|link=Adding_video_sources]]
|-
| style="width:200px; text-align:center;" | '''[[Naming_video_files/Seasons|Seasons Setup]]'''
| style="width:200px; text-align:center;" | '''[[Adding_video_sources|Add Source & Scrape]]'''
|}</center>

{{top}}
{{updated|22}}

[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:Karellen]]
[[Category:Video library]]

Naming video files/Episodes

2025-08-22T15:51:10Z

78andyp:

{{VideoLibraryCreate}}
{{mininav| [[Video library]] |[[HOW-TO:Create_Video_Library|Create Video Library]] }}

__TOC__

= Introduction =
Be aware of the following:

* The '''only item in the episode file name''' that the {{kodi}} scanner searches for is the '''Season and Episode numbering''' (''SxxEyy''). Everything else is irrelevant.
* It is this SxxEyy that is used to match and scrape the episode metadata and artwork.
* To reduce the risk of the scanner becoming confused by complicated naming, ensure your episode filenames are clean and simple as described below.
* Contrary to advice from 3rd party internet guides, you cannot set season and episode numbering through NFO Files.

'''Note: Do not refer to IMDB for episode orders.''' There is no IMDB TV Show Scraper. If you are using the default scraper then the site to check is [https://www.themoviedb.org/ TMDB]. If you have changed to [https://www.thetvdb.com/ TVDB] or [https://www.tvmaze.com/ TV Maze], check the appropriate site.

= Single Episode Files =
{{note|Episode files are assumed to contain a single episode. If you have files that contain two or more episodes, then read the Multi-Episodes section below.}}

The following table details the ''Minimum'' and ''Recommended'' naming for episodes files.

{| class="prettytable"
|-
| scope="row" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background-color:#a1f5e4;" | '''Minimum required episode name:''' || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| || scope="row" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background-color:#a1f5e4;" | '''Recommended episode name:'''
|-
! scope="row" colspan="2" style="width:400px; background-color:#f5f5a1; text-align:center;"|''S01E01.mkv''
! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"|
! scope="row" colspan="2" style="width:400px; background-color:#f5f5a1; text-align:center;"| ''Angel (1999) S01E01.mkv''
|-
|Where:
|'''''S01E01''''' = Season 1, Episode 1 - no spaces || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| ||Where: || '''''Angel (1999)''''' = TV Show name
|-
|
| || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| || || '''''S01E01''''' = Season 1, Episode 1 - no spaces
|}

The Pattern '''S01E01''' is the most accurate available. Other Patterns are available as shown in the table below with '''Order 1''' being the most accurate and accuracy decreasing with higher numbers.

{|
|-
|
{|class="{{{1|prettytable}}}" style="margin: 0.5em 2.0em 0.5em 0em; font-size: 0.80em; {{border-radius|5px}}; float: top; clear: top;" width="700"
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#;" | With Season
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#;" | No Season
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#;" | By Date
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#;" | By Title
|+
! style="background-color:#;" | Order
! style="background-color:#; width:200px" | Episode Naming
! style="background-color:#;" | Order
! style="background-color:#; width:200px" | Episode Naming
! style="background-color:#;" | Order
! style="background-color:#; width:250px" | Episode Naming
! style="background-color:#;" | Order
! style="background-color:#; width:200px" | Episode Naming
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''S01E02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|2
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''ep02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|3
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''yyyy.mm.dd'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|7
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|'''Name'''.''special''.ext
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''S1E2'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|2
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''ep_02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|3
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''yyyy-mm-dd'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''S01.E02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|7
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''part.II'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|4
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''dd.mm.yyyy'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''S01_E02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|7
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''pt.II'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''S01xE02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|7
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''pt_II'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|5
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''1x02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|6
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|''Name'' '''102'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|
|}
|
;With Season
:The most commonly used for nearly all TV Shows.
;No Season
:Normally used for Anime or single season TV Shows. Not commonly used.
;By date
:Used for long-running daily shows. Check the scraper site for numbering method used.
;By title
:Used exclusively by the TVMaze scraper. Added in v20 "Nexus"
:Allows matching '''special episodes''' by their titles as TVMaze do not not support "Season 0" convention for specials.
|}

= Multi-Episode Files =
Starting with Kodi v22 you can now specify episode ranges.

{| class="prettytable"
|-
| scope="row" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background-color:#a1f5e4;" | '''Minimum required episode name:''' || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| || scope="row" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background-color:#a1f5e4;" | '''Recommended episode name:'''
|-
! scope="row" colspan="2" style="width:400px; background-color:#f5f5a1; text-align:center;"|''S01E01-E04.mkv''
! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"|
! scope="row" colspan="2" style="width:400px; background-color:#f5f5a1; text-align:center;"| ''Angel (1999) S01E01-E04.mkv''
|-
|Where:
|'''''S01E01-E04''''' = Season 1, Episode 1, 2, 3 & 4 || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| ||Where: || '''''Angel (1999)''''' = TV Show name
|-
|
| ''Note that Episodes 2 and 3 are included'' || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| || || '''''S01E01-E04''''' = Season 1, Episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4
|}

{|
|-
|
{|class="{{{1|prettytable}}}" style="margin: 0.5em 2.0em 0.5em 0em; font-size: 0.80em; {{border-radius|5px}}; float: top; clear: top;" width="800"
|-
! colspan="3" style="background-color:#;" | Allowed Patterns
|+
! style="background-color:#; width:50px" | Order
! style="background-color:#; width:300px" | Example Name
! style="background-color:#; width:450px" | Included Episodes
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|style="text-align:left;"|''name'' '''ep01'''-'''ep04'''.ext
|style="text-align:left;"| Season 1, Episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|style="text-align:left;"|''name'' '''s01e01'''-'''s01e04'''.ext
|style="text-align:left;"| Season 1, Episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|style="text-align:left;"|''name'' '''s01e01'''-'''e04'''.ext
|style="text-align:left;"| Season 1, Episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|style="text-align:left;"|''name'' '''1x01'''-'''1x04'''.ext
|style="text-align:left;"| Season 1, Episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|style="text-align:left;"|''name'' '''S01E05'''-'''E08S02E01'''-'''E04'''.ext
|style="text-align:left;"| Season 1, Episodes 5, 6, 7 & 8 and Season 2, Episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4
|}

For Kodi v21 and below:

If your video files contain two or more episodes, then the following naming is required to scan multiple episodes from a single file.

{| class="prettytable"
|-
| scope="row" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background-color:#a1f5e4;" | '''Minimum required episode name:''' || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| || scope="row" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background-color:#a1f5e4;" | '''Recommended episode name:'''
|-
! scope="row" colspan="2" style="width:400px; background-color:#f5f5a1; text-align:center;"|''S01E01E02E04.mkv''
! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"|
! scope="row" colspan="2" style="width:400px; background-color:#f5f5a1; text-align:center;"| ''Angel (1999) S01E01E02E04.mkv''
|-
|Where:
|'''''S01E01E02E04''''' = Season 1, Episode 1, 2 & 4 || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| ||Where: || '''''Angel (1999)''''' = TV Show name
|-
|
| ''Note that Episode 3 is not included'' || ! scope="row" colspan="1" style="width:10px; background-color:#d3d3d5; text-align:center;"| || || '''''S01E01E02E04''''' = Season 1, Episodes 1, 2 & 4
|}

{|
|-
|
{|class="{{{1|prettytable}}}" style="margin: 0.5em 2.0em 0.5em 0em; font-size: 0.80em; {{border-radius|5px}}; float: top; clear: top;" width="500"
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#;" | Complex Pattern
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#;" | Short Pattern
|+
! style="background-color:#;" | Order
! style="background-color:#; width:350px" | Example Name
! style="background-color:#;" | Order
! style="background-color:#; width:200px" | Example Name
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:300px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''s01e01'''-'''s01e02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:150px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''s01e01e02'''.ext
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:300px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''s01e01'''-''episode1.title''-'''s01e02'''-''episode2.title''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:150px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''s01e01-02-03'''.ext
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|1
|style="width:300px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''s01e01'''-'''s01e02'''-'''s01e03'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|5
|style="width:150px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''1x01x02'''.ext
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|5
|style="width:300px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''1x01'''-'''1x02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|2
|style="width:150px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''ep01-02'''.ext
|-
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|2
|style="width:300px; text-align:left;"|''name'' '''ep01'''-'''ep02'''.ext
|style="width:50px; text-align:center;"|
|style="width:150px; text-align:left;"|
|}
|
{{note|It is recommended that multi-episode files be split into Single Episode files.}}

In cases where the video file contains more than one episode, you must nominate each episode in the filename.

* The patterns are the same as Single Episode numbering, but extended to include multiple episodes.
* Only the episodes in the file name will be added, e.g. '''''Angel (1999) S01E01E04.mkv''''' will scrape episodes 1 and 4 but not include episodes 2 and 3.
* When using a single video file for multiple episodes it is possible to set episode bookmarks for each episode in the file. See: '''''[[bookmarks|Episode Bookmarks]]'''''

:'''''See also: [[Advancedsettings.xml#tvmultipartmatching|Multi-Episode Matching]]''''' to create additional pattern matches
|}

= Specials =
* Specials are extras or episodes that don't belong to a season.
* Movies based on TV shows are usually ''not'' added as specials. Instead you [[Linking_movies_to_TV_shows|link a movie]] to a TV show. It will then appear at the bottom of the season list.
* Specials are named as season 00 and start at E01, e.g. S'''00'''E01. Which episode number they'll have depends on the website the scraper use. At TMDB you access the specials by going to "View All Seasons">Specials.
In Kodi specials will appear under ''Specials'' in the season list.

= Episode Groups =
* Episode Groups or Orders are listings with alternate episode orders.
* Some TV Shows are broadcast in one order but the DVD/Bluray release may have a different screening order. A well known example is the TV Show ''Firefly'' where the Studio opted to broadcast high action episodes for ratings first, while the Producer wanted a different order to correctly unfold the storyline.
Each Information Provider uses a different method to make alternate orders available. Check which scraper you are using and select the correct method below.

== TheMovieDB-TV Shows ==
See... '''[[Add-on:TMDb_TV_Shows#Episode_Orders|TheMovieDB Episode Groups]]'''

Only available when using the python scraper ''TMDB TV Shows.''

== The TVDB ==
See... '''[[Add-on:The_TVDB_v4#Flexible_Orders|TheTVDB Flexible Orders]]

Only available when using TheTVDB v4 python scraper by TVDB Team.

== TVmaze ==
See... '''[[Add-on:TVmaze#Episode_Orders|TVmaze Episode Orders]]'''

= References =
<references />

<center>
{| style="border: 1px solid black;"
| scope="row" rowspan="2" style=" text-align:center;" | [[File:Mergefrom.gif|60px|link=Naming_video_files/Seasons]]
| style="width:200px; text-align:center;" | '''Previous step'''
| style="width:200px; text-align:center;" | '''Next step'''
| scope="row" rowspan="2" style=" text-align:center;" | [[File:Merge-arrow.gif|60px|link=Adding_video_sources]]
|-
| style="width:200px; text-align:center;" | '''[[Naming_video_files/Seasons|Seasons Setup]]'''
| style="width:200px; text-align:center;" | '''[[Adding_video_sources|Add Source & Scrape]]'''
|}</center>

{{top}}
{{updated|21}}

[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:Karellen]]
[[Category:Video library]]