Artist information folder - Revision history

Karellen: Updated for v20

2023-02-08T06:49:39Z

Updated for v20

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:49, 8 February 2023
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			{{top}}
			{{updated\|20}}

	~~{{updated\|18}}~~
	~~[[Category:FAQ]]~~
	~~[[Category:Index]]~~
	~~[[Category:Guides]]~~
	~~[[Category:Manual]]~~
	[[Category:Karellen]]		[[Category:Karellen]]
	[[Category:Music library]]		[[Category:Music library]]
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	~~[[Category:First time user]]~~
	~~[[Category:Quick Start Guide]]~~

DaveBlake: Remove repeated various artists compilation comment

2019-05-07T06:31:52Z

Remove repeated various artists compilation comment

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:31, 7 May 2019
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	*Collaboration albums with more than one album artist (very common in Classical music with composer, conductor and orchestra credited, but happens in pop when two artists in their own right make an album together).		*Collaboration albums with more than one album artist (very common in Classical music with composer, conductor and orchestra credited, but happens in pop when two artists in their own right make an album together).
	*All the albums by an artist had to be on the same music source which made it difficult to organise libraries to suit personal preferences.		*All the albums by an artist had to be on the same music source which made it difficult to organise libraries to suit personal preferences.
	*Artists who appear on Various Artists albums only made it difficult to use local artwork.

	Art and additional information could only be provided for album artists, not those artists that only feature as a guest on some songs on an album by another artist or on a compilation album, nor the other musicians and professionals that contribute to the production.		Art and additional information could only be provided for album artists, not those artists that only feature as a guest on some songs on an album by another artist or on a various artists compilation album, nor the other musicians and professionals that contribute to the production.

	The way {{kodi}} tried to identify folders from their contents, combined with a slightly inaccurate music file arrangement, produced some unexpected art results that were often difficult to pin down. <ref>https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc/pull/12891</ref>		The way {{kodi}} tried to identify folders from their contents, combined with a slightly inaccurate music file arrangement, produced some unexpected art results that were often difficult to pin down. <ref>https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc/pull/12891</ref>

Karellen at 09:05, 19 April 2019

2019-04-19T09:05:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:05, 19 April 2019
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	<section begin="intro" />In v18 the concept of the Artist Information Folder is introduced as a new way to handle providing local artist artwork and information via nfo files. The Artist Information Folder is a user nominated folder that {{kodi}} will look in first for artwork or NFO files for ''any'' artist. <br>		<section begin="intro" />In v18 the concept of the Artist Information Folder is introduced as a new way to handle providing local artist artwork and information via nfo files. The Artist Information Folder is a user nominated folder that {{kodi}} will look in first for artwork or NFO files for ''any'' artist. <br>

	This topic is of interest to those users that want to provide local artwork for artists, or capture their current artist art and additional data for transfer to another installation of {{kodi}}<section end="intro" />		This topic is of interest to those users that want to provide local artwork for artists, or capture their current artist art and additional data for transfer to another installation of {{kodi}}<section end="intro" />

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	The way {{kodi}} tried to identify folders from their contents, combined with a slightly inaccurate music file arrangement, produced some unexpected art results that were often difficult to pin down. <ref>https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc/pull/12891</ref>		The way {{kodi}} tried to identify folders from their contents, combined with a slightly inaccurate music file arrangement, produced some unexpected art results that were often difficult to pin down. <ref>https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc/pull/12891</ref>

	<section begin="~~intro~~" />From v18 the Artist Information Folder can be used to resolve many issues with providing local art and additional information for Artists. Local artist art and nfo files can be provided without requiring a specific folder for music files, and artist NFO files can be kept separately from the music rather than jumbled with it. <section end="~~intro~~" />		<section begin="intro1" />From v18 the Artist Information Folder can be used to resolve many issues with providing local art and additional information for Artists. Local artist art and nfo files can be provided without requiring a specific folder for music files, and artist NFO files can be kept separately from the music rather than jumbled with it. <section end="intro1" />

Karellen: remove transclusion

2019-04-16T09:04:42Z

remove transclusion

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:04, 16 April 2019
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	~~Then~~ it is time to ~~setup an~~ Artist Information Folder.		Now it is time to populate the Artist Information Folder with Artist folders. Use the ''Artists folders only'' method in the link below.
	~~# Create the~~ Artist ~~Information Folder outside the~~ folders ~~which hold your music files~~
	~~# Name that folder in whatever way suits you~~
	~~# Once the folder is created set this folder in~~ the ''~~Artist Information Folder~~'' ~~setting here... '''''See: [[Settings/Media/Music#Library\|Artist Information Folder Setting]]'''''~~
	~~# Use the export facility to populate~~ the ~~Artist Information Folder~~
	~~A typical folder structure type is displayed~~ below:

	~~<syntaxhighlight lang="xml">~~		:'''''See: [[Import-export_library/Music\|Import-Export Music Library]]'''''
	f:~~\ .......................................(Drive root)~~
	\|
	~~\|__ArtistInfo ............................(Artist Information Folder)~~
	~~\| \|~~
	\|
	\|
	~~\|__MyMusic ...............................(Source)~~
	\|~~_____Pop~~ Music ~~..........................(Source)~~
	~~\| \|__ Madonna ........................(Artist folder)~~
	~~\| \| \|__ Beautiful Stranger (1999) ..(Album folder)~~
	~~\| \| \| \|__ Songs~~
	\|
	~~\|_____Compilations .......................(Source)~~
	~~\| \|__ Essential Eighties .............(Album folder)~~
	~~\| \| \|__ Songs~~
	\|
	~~\|_____Classical ..........................(Source)~~
	~~\| \|~~
	\|
	~~\|_____Soundtracks ........................(Source)~~
	~~\| \|~~
	~~</syntaxhighlight>~~



	= ~~Using Export With The Artist Information Folder~~ =		= References =
	The export facility is the easy way to create artist folders in the Artist Information Folder, and populate them with the current artwork and additional artist information that has been already been scraped (or create empty files as templates that can be manually edited).		<references />

	To do this directly '''''[[Import-export_library#Music_Library_Export_.2F_Import\|export the music library]]''''', choosing '''To library folders''' as the kind of export output. In the ''Items to export'' option, choose for which artists you want folders created:
	* album artists
	* song artists
	* other artists - the musicians and other people involved in production

	However if you are concerned about what is going to be created you can choose '''Separate files for each item''' as the kind of export output. This will create the artist folders (and album folders for each artist) in a destination of your choice. Use this as a harmless test to see what is going to be produced without impacting your music files or Artist Information Folder. This is a diagnostic export and can be deleted when required without affecting your library.

			{{top}}

			<div style="{{linear-gradient\|left\|#f5d3ff, #12b2e7}}">{{next\|[[Scraping_Music\|Scraping Additional Music Data]]}} </div>

	~~= References =~~
	~~<references />~~



	~~{{top}}~~
	{{updated\|18}}		{{updated\|18}}
	[[Category:FAQ]]		[[Category:FAQ]]

Karellen: Various updates and fixes

2019-04-13T05:02:18Z

Various updates and fixes

Show changes

Kibje: /* FAQ */ typo

2018-08-07T17:52:57Z

FAQ: typo

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:52, 7 August 2018
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	{{FAQ\|		{{FAQ\|
	\| BGcolor=		\| BGcolor=
	\| Question= When using File View mode will I see the artwork from the ~~Aritist~~ Information Folder?		\| Question= When using File View mode will I see the artwork from the Artist Information Folder?
	\| Answer= No, the Artist Information Folder is only a music library feature. In file view you only see the artwork found in the folder you are browsing.		\| Answer= No, the Artist Information Folder is only a music library feature. In file view you only see the artwork found in the folder you are browsing.
	}}		}}
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	}}		}}
	\|}		\|}

	= Recommended Setup =		= Recommended Setup =
	A frequent question from users is ''what do you recommend?'', in the case of the Artist Information Folder the answer is simple: unless you have local artwork for artists, or want to enter artist information via NFO files there is nothing to do. For a first time {{kodi}} user the recommendation is to tag your music files accurately, scan them into the library and allow the scrapers to fetch additional artist and album information and artwork for you.		A frequent question from users is ''what do you recommend?'', in the case of the Artist Information Folder the answer is simple: unless you have local artwork for artists, or want to enter artist information via NFO files there is nothing to do. For a first time {{kodi}} user the recommendation is to tag your music files accurately, scan them into the library and allow the scrapers to fetch additional artist and album information and artwork for you.

DaveBlake: Initial draft introducing the Artist Information Folder

2018-08-04T14:54:47Z

Initial draft introducing the Artist Information Folder

New page

{{mininav|[[:Category:Music_library| Music Library Index]] }}

<section begin="intro" />In v18 the concept of the Artist Information Folder is introduced as a new way to handle providing local artist artwork and information via nfo files. The Artist Information Folder is a user nominated folder that {{kodi}} will look in first for artwork or NFO files for ''any'' artist. <br>
This topic is of interest to those users that want to provide local artwork for artists, or capture their current artist art and additional data for transfer to another installation of {{kodi}}<section end="intro" />

= History =
In v17 and prior releases of {{kodi}} the ability to automatically fetch local art and information from NFO files depended upon the music files being in a strict '''Artist > Album > Songs''' folder structure.
{{kodi}} populated the basic library by using data embedded in the music files. It did not use the folder structure or filenames to populate the library, but it would try to identify a unique folder for each (album) artist and a unique folder for each album from the location of the related music files, and look there for art and additional information for the artist and album respectively.

Unfortunately not all music fits neatly under such a strict layout. For example:
*Collaboration albums with more than one album artist (very common in Classical music with composer, conductor and orchestra credited, but happens in pop when two artists in there own right make an album together).
*All the albums by an artist had to be on the same music source which made it difficult to organise libraries to suit personal preferences.
Art and additional information could only be provided for album artists, not those artists that only feature as a guest on some songs on an album by another artist or on a compilation album, nor the other musicians and professionals that contribute to the production.

The way {{kodi}} tried to identify folders from their contents, combined with a slightly inaccurate music file arrangement, produced some unexpected art results that were often difficult to pin down. <ref>https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc/pull/12891</ref>

<section begin="intro" />From v18 the Artist Information Folder can be used to resolve many issues with providing local art and additional information for Artists. Local artist art and nfo files can be provided without requiring a specific folder for music files, and artist NFO files can be kept separately from the music rather than jumbled with it. <section end="intro" />
= FAQ =
{|
{{FAQ|
| BGcolor=WhiteSmoke
| Question= Do I need to have an Artist Information Folder?
| Answer= No, {{kodi}} will continue to be backwards compatible and pick up artist art and NFO files from the same places it does for v17. Of course, if you choose not to use the Artist Information Folder you will still encounter the same limitations described above. Also if you do not have any local artist artwork or want to use NFO files then there is no need for one either.
}}
{{FAQ|
| BGcolor=
| Question= Why would I want to nominate a folder?
| Answer=*So that you can provide local art and NFO files for artists that are:
** involved in collaboration albums
** only song artists (no albums, only guests or on compilations)
** musicians or other contributors
* To keep artist art and data separate from music files.
* To handle having music from one artist spilt across many music sources.
If you have ever had the wrong local art appear in an odd place then you probably need it.
}}
{{FAQ|
| BGcolor=WhiteSmoke
| Question= How do I setup the Artist Information Folder?
| Answer= See Section 3- Recommended Setup
The folder can be named in whatever way suits you and located with, or away from, your music files. We recommend away from your music files.
Once a folder has been created on your file system, set it as the Artist Information Folder in either one of two ways:
* In the settings page here... '''''See: [[Settings/Media/Music#Library|Artist Information Folder Setting]]''''', or
* Via the Settings button on the Add to Library dialog that is displayed when you add a new music source. '''''See: [[Adding_music_to_the_library#Adding_Music_to_Library| Adding Sources]]'''''
}}
{{FAQ|
| BGcolor=
| Question= How is the individual artist information organised and populated?
| Answer= Any artist can have a subfolder within the Artist Information Folder which is named same as the artist name. Within that folder can be artwork and additional artist information as XML metadata in an '''''[[NFO_files/Music| NFO file]]''''' called ''artist.nfo''.

The artist folders can be created manually, however it is easiest to create the initial artist folders and contents using the export facility. See 4- Using Export. That way folders are created with the correct names, as slight differences in naming could prevent {{kodi}} from locating the artist. The artwork and NFO files can then be manually edited and the library refreshed.
}}
{{FAQ|
| BGcolor=WhiteSmoke
| Question= How does {{kodi}} use the contents?
| Answer= The artwork and NFO files in the Artist Information Folder are read by Kodi as part of scanning and scraping process.
If you have made changes to the NFO Files for Artists already in your library, then these changes need to be '''Refreshed''' into the library.
'''''See: [[Update_Music_Library#Refresh_Artist|Refresh Artists]]'''''<br>
'''''See: [[Update_Music_Library#Refresh_Album|Refresh Albums]]'''''
To change existing artwork or to add missing artwork, either use the Refresh method above or manually change the artwork
'''''See: [[Music_artwork#Manually_Add_Artwork| Manually Add Artwork]]'''''

Note that the music library import facility does not make use of separate nfo files at all. Import only works on the single xml files that can be created via export. '''''See: [[Import-export_library#Import_2| Music Library Import]]'''''
}}
{{FAQ|
| BGcolor=
| Question= Does the Artist Information Folder have to be separate from my music files?
| Answer= No, it is the user's choice but it will be less confusing if it is separate. Also note that using the export facility to populate the Artist Information Folder can result in thousands of artist folders. Decide if you want all these folders, containing just art and nfo files, mixed in with your other folders that contain music files.
Finally if you find the explanation in the next question confusing then just don’t do it, make it a separate folder somewhere else.
}}
{{FAQ|
| BGcolor=WhiteSmoke
| Question= What happens if I make the Artist Information Folder the same as my main music source?
| Answer=Say you have a folder called "mymusic" that contains all your music files under an '''Artist > Album > Songs''' folder structure, and you choose to make that the Artist Information Folder, then {{kodi}} will look first for artist artwork and nfo in folders in mymusic\<artistname> where <artistname> is the exact artist name. The names of your existing folders for each artist may match, or may not (remember {{kodi}} does not care how music folders are named). What you read as the same name may not be exactly the same. Say they match, then the art and NFO files in them will be found and used. But if all you want is to use your existing artist art and nfo files already in your music folder layout then setting the Artist Information Folder the same as a music source is unnecessary, {{kodi}} will look there anyway.<br>
For art and NFO for extra artists you can create (or let export create for you) additional artist folders along side your existing folders, however you will end up with some that have music and some that don't. Some of the artwork addons people have used already do this mixing of music and art only folders, so it may be familiar and if the artist folders are correctly named Kodi will start to pick up the art on scanning rather than have the addon set it. However for others being able to use the Artist Information Folder to separate art and music will be a relief.
}}
{{FAQ|
| BGcolor=
| Question= What happens when I have a separate Artist Information Folder but also leave artist NFO and artwork files above my music files?
| Answer= {{kodi}} will look first for the artist under the Artist Information Folder and use that artwork and NFO file. If it does not find a folder for the artist there, then for album artists only it falls back to looking for a suitable artist folder in an '''Artist > Album > Songs''' folder structure as it did for v17. <br>
There are a few more safety checks in v18 to try and avoid some of the cases of mistaken identity, but in doing that it may also not show such art in the one place it is wanted.
}}
{{FAQ|
| BGcolor=WhiteSmoke
| Question= Does this affect Album artwork and NFO Files?
| Answer= No, this does not apply to albums. Local album artwork and NFO files still be looked in the folder common to all the music files for that album (if such a unique folder exists).<br>
If album related folders and files are located within the artist folders of the Artist Information Folder then they generally have no effect, unless the Artist Information Folder is the same as the music source and the music files are also located there.
}}
{{FAQ|
| BGcolor=
| Question= When using File View mode will I see the artwork from the Aritist Information Folder?
| Answer= No, the Artist Information Folder is only a music library feature. In file view you only see the artwork found in the folder you are browsing.
}}
{{FAQ|
| BGcolor=WhiteSmoke
| Question= Why won't the scan pick up my artwork?
| Answer= There could be many different reasons for that, only some relate to the Artist Information Folder.
'''''See: [[Music_artwork|Music Artwork Missing]]'''''
}}
|}
= Recommended Setup =
A frequent question from users is ''what do you recommend?'', in the case of the Artist Information Folder the answer is simple: unless you have local artwork for artists, or want to enter artist information via NFO files there is nothing to do. For a first time {{kodi}} user the recommendation is to tag your music files accurately, scan them into the library and allow the scrapers to fetch additional artist and album information and artwork for you.

With v18 you can arrange your music files however you like and still have access to local art and NFO files. We would recommend that all the music files from an album are kept in a unique folder, perhaps with subfolders for each part of a multi-part set. Perhaps you choose to arrange those in artist folders of some kind, but that does not have to be strictly adhered too. You could divide a large music collection by genre (with an artist having albums in more than one), or by decade, or some broader music category e.g. Xmas music. Use an '''Artist > Album > Songs''' structure if it is convenient for you.

Once you start to extend your use of {{kodi}} then a number of situations can arise:
*you have artists that the scraper was unable to find information or art for
*you want to manually edit some of the information
*having selected particular art from the many choices the scraper has found you want to backup that choice
*you want to transfer your current library to another installation of {{kodi}}

Then it is time to setup an Artist Information Folder.
# Create the Artist Information Folder outside the folders which hold your music files
# Name that folder in whatever way suits you
# Once the folder is created set this folder in the ''Artist Information Folder'' setting here... '''''See: [[Settings/Media/Music#Library|Artist Information Folder Setting]]'''''
# Use the export facility to populate the Artist Information Folder
A typical folder structure type is displayed below:

<syntaxhighlight lang="xml">
f:\ .......................................(Drive root)
|
|__ArtistInfo ............................(Artist Information Folder)
| |
|
|
|__MyMusic ...............................(Source)
|_____Pop Music .......................(Source)
| |__ Madonna ........................(Artist folder)
| | |__ Beautiful Stranger (1999) ..(Album folder)
| | | |__ Songs
|
|_____Compilations .......................(Source)
| |__ Essential Eighties .............(Album folder)
| | |__ Songs
|
|_____Classical ..........................(Source)
| |
|
|_____Soundtracks ........................(Source)
| |
</syntaxhighlight>

= Using Export With The Artist Information Folder =
The export facility is the easy way to create artist folders in the Artist Information Folder, and populate them with the current artwork and additional artist information that has been already been scraped (or create empty files as templates that can be manually edited).

To do this directly '''''[[Import-export_library#Music_Library_Export_.2F_Import|export the music library]]''''', choosing '''To library folders''' as the kind of export output. Choose in the items to export which artists to do this for:
* album artists
* song artists
* other artists - the musicians and other people involved in production

However if you are concerned about what is going to be created you can choose '''Separate files for each item''' as the kind of export output. This will create the artist folders (and album folders for each artist) in a destination of your choice. Use this as a harmless test to see what is going to be produced without impacting your music files or Artist Information Folder.

The various music export options are described in more detail here.

= References =
<references />
{{top}}
{{updated|18}}
[[Category:FAQ]]
[[Category:Index]]
[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:Manual]]
[[Category:Karellen]]
[[Category:Music library]]
[[Category:Advanced topics]]
[[Category:First time user]]
[[Category:Quick Start Guide]]