Naming video files/Movies: Difference between revisions

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{{:Adding videos to the library/Contents}}
{{VideoLibraryCreate}}
{{mininav|[[Video library]]|[[Video management|Management]]|[[Naming video files]]}}
{{mininav| [[Video library]] |[[HOW-TO:Create_Video_Library|Create Video Library]] }}
{{#lst:Naming video files|naming files}}
__TOC__
==Naming conventions==
In order to be scanned correctly, '''movie''' file names should only have the title and the '''year (optional)''' followed by the file extension.
'''[[Media flags#Media source|Media source flags]]''' can also be added via file names to indicate source/quality of the movie (see link for more info).


'''To improve''' matching add the '''year''' within parenthesis to the end of the file or foldername, depending on your scanning method and folder structure (before the extension, if filename), this naming standard seems to yield the best results.


{{note|If the wrong movie is picked up even if foldername or filename is correct, the movie can have an earlier original title. This often happens to movies made in 1950's and after.}}
= Introduction =
There are two methods to organise your movies:
# '''Movie Folders'''- Each movie is saved in its own folder within the Source. ''(recommended)''
# '''Flat Folder'''- All movie files are saved in the Source folder


\Movies\Pulp Fiction (1994).avi
While {{kodi}} can be a little bit flexible, and some users have come up with "unusual" setups for their media files, {{kodi}} will only recommend the Movie Folder method described below.
\Movies\Reservoir Dogs (1992).avi
\Movies\The Usual Suspects (1995).avi


\Movies\Avatar (2009)-cd1.mkv
We also recommend that your media is ripped to single files, like .mkv, rather than keeping the needlessly complex structure of Bluray and DVD folders.
\Movies\Avatar (2009)-cd2.mkv


\Movies\Avatar (2009)\somefilename.mkv
\Movies\The Usual Suspects (1995)\somefilename.avi


\Movies\The Usual Suspects (1995)\somefilename-cd1.avi
\Movies\The Usual Suspects (1995)\somefilename-cd2.avi
\Movies\Avatar (2009)\Avatar (2009)-cd1.mkv
\Movies\Avatar (2009)\Avatar (2009)-cd2.mkv


And for DVD-Video movies stored in file-mode on the harddrive or [[SMB]] [[NFS]]:
= Naming =
\Movies\Alien (1979)\VIDEO_TS.IFO
The naming of your files and folders is '''critical''' to ensure the scrapers can correctly identify the movie, and it is simple to achieve.
\Movies\Léon (1994)\VIDEO_TS.IFO
\Movies\Scarface (1983)\VIDEO_TS.IFO
Alternatively:
  \Movies\Alien (1979)\VIDEO_TS\VIDEO_TS.IFO
  \Movies\Léon (1994)\VIDEO_TS\VIDEO_TS.IFO
  \Movies\Scarface (1983)\VIDEO_TS\VIDEO_TS.IFO
{{note|If using VIDEO_TS folder structure you must enable "recursive" lookup when adding the source directory.}}


== Split video files (file stacking) ==
'''''Movie Name (Year)''''' - This is the correct naming format for both the movie files and movie folders.
By using the following naming extensions and enabling {{highlight|bordered=yes|'''[[Settings/Videos#File lists|XBMC -> Settings -> Videos -> File lists -> Combined split video items]]'''}}, you can enable "file stacking" for split video files. File stacking allows multiple video files to appear and play as if it were one movie file.


The following are default stacking extensions that can be added to file names
'''Note:''' If you are unsure of the name or year, look it up at '''[https://www.themoviedb.org/ TheMovieDB website]'''


'''#''' can be '''1''' through '''9''' or '''A''' through '''D'''. No spaces between the "part" and number.
* {{code|part#}}
* {{code|cd#}}
* {{code|dvd#}}
* {{code|pt#}}
* {{code|disk#}}
* {{code|disc#}}




You can also use:
= Movie Folders =
*moviename'''#'''.ext
{|
where '''#''' can be '''A''' through '''D'''.
! scope="row" colspan="10"  style="width:300px; text-align:left;"|
! scope="row" ! |
|-
| [[File:Video-Movie Folder File Structure.png|left|400px|Image 1- Movie Folders]] ||
{{resize|1.3em|This is the '''recommended''' method for organising your movies}}


;Notes
All files and folders should be simply named with the name of the movie and the year in brackets. The name should match the name shown at the scraper site.
* Stacking is currently only applied to filenames, not the full path.
* The default expressions will NOT stack files which use only a number as the volume token (eg movie1.avi, movie2.avi). This is intentional due to false positives which can occur with sequels in a flat directory layout. Some solutions to this problem (in order of best to worst) follow...
*# Use a dir-per-movie directory layout, see the '''append''' example of the [[Advancedsettings.xml#.3Cmoviestacking.3E|moviestacking]] advanced setting.
*# Rename offending files to match one of the more specific volume tokens (ie. cd1, part1, etc).
*# Create special-case regular expressions for those files that fail to stack (see [[#Advanced stacking options]]).


=== Advanced stacking options ===
Each movie file is placed into its own folder which is then added to your Source.
File stacking can be tuned by the user to match obscure cases using the [[Advancedsettings.xml#.3Cmoviestacking.3E|moviestacking advancedsettings.xml setting]]:
* Placing movies in their own folder allows saving of local artwork and NFO files alongside the movie file.
* You have the choice of using the Short or Long name format for the artwork. See: '''''[[Movie_artwork#Local_Artwork | Local Artwork]] '''''
* Using this method will provide the safest and most accurate scrape of your media collection.  
* Most library related add-ons will only work correctly with this method.
* Some skins use modified file naming to display additional '''''[[Media_flags|Media Flags]]'''''. These apply to the filename, not the folder name.
|-
! scope="row" colspan="10"  style="width:300px;"|
|}


;<moviestacking>
{{#lst:advancedsettings.xml|moviestacking}}


{{-}}
{{Gotham updated}}


= Flat Folder =
{|
! scope="row" colspan="10"  style="width:300px; text-align:left;"|
! scope="row" ! |
|-
| [[File:Video-Movie File Structure.png|left|400px|Image 2- Flat Folder]] ||
An alternate method of storing your movies is to save all the movie files inside the Source folder and omit the Movie folder. Also known as a '''flat folder''' structure.
This method requires that the movie file is named correctly as Kodi is forced to use the movie '''filename''' to match the entry at the scraper site.
The movie filename must contain the '''Title''' with the '''Year''' in parenthesis. The name should match the name shown at the scraper site.
There are disadvantages using this method:
* With larger libraries, this method can become untidy and cumbersome to maintain
* If you use nfo files and save local artwork, the Source folder will become even more cluttered
* Some library related add-ons will not work with this method as they require a Movie Folder
* Some skins use modified file naming to display additional '''''[[Media_flags|Media Flags]]'''''. In rare instances, there may be a mismatch due to conflict with the modified file name.
|}
= Split Video Files =
{{warning|File Stacking for ISO files, Bluray and DVD folders is currently broken and cannot be used. See [https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc/issues/16109 Issue report: 16109]}}
{|
! scope="row" colspan="10"  style="width:300px; text-align:left;"|
! scope="row" ! |
|-
| [[File:Video-Movie FolderStacking.png|left|400px|Image 3- Split Video Files]] ||
Also known as ''File Stacking'', allows you to combine multiple movie files so they appear and play as a single movie.<br>
For example: The two disk DVD version of The Lord of the Rings which is ripped into two files for the full movie.<br>
Nowadays, it is no longer a common requirement as there are tools to rejoin into a single movie, but file-stacking is still available in {{kodi}} should it be needed.
To use this function the following steps are required:
# This feature can only be used when '''Movie Folders''' are used.
# Modify the video file names, as described in the table below, so that Kodi recognises them as Split Video Files
{{note|The setting '''[[Settings/Media/Videos#Files|Combine split video items]]''' has no effect on how this feature works. This setting simply combines the split titles when viewing the entry in Videos>Files.}}
{| class="prettytable"
|-
! colspan="1" style="background-color:#ffffcc; text-align:left;" | Type
! colspan="7" style="background-color:#ffffcc;" | Stacking Flags
|-
| scope="row" ! style="width:250px; text-align:left;"| Split single files- ''mkv, mp4 etc''
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|cd#
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|dvd#
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|disc#
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|disk#
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|part#
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|pt#
|style="width:90px; text-align:left;"|A, B, C, D <sup>1</sup>
|-
| scope="row" ! style="width:250px; text-align:left;"| DVD & Bluray folders & ISO files
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|cd#
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|dvd#
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|disc#
|style="width:50px; text-align:left;"|disk#
|}
File stacking can be fine-tuned by the user to match obscure cases using the '''[[Advancedsettings.xml#moviestacking|<moviestacking>]]''' and '''[[Advancedsettings.xml#folderstacking|<folderstacking>]]''' advancedsettings.xml settings.
<sup>1</sup> Example of A, B, C, D flags (no space):
::''The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)A.mkv''
::''The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)B.mkv''
|}
<center>
{| style="border: 1px solid black;"
| scope="row" rowspan="2" style=" text-align:center;" | [[File:Mergefrom.gif|60px|link=Source_folder]]
| 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=Naming_video_files/TV_shows]]
|-
| style="width:200px; text-align:center;" | '''[[Source folder]]'''
| style="width:200px; text-align:center;" | '''[[Naming_video_files/TV_shows|TV Show Setup]]'''
|}</center>
{{top}}
{{updated|20}}
[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:Karellen]]
[[Category:Video library]]
[[Category:Video library]]
[[Category:XBMC Manual]]
[[Category:First time user]]

Latest revision as of 03:48, 13 February 2023

Create Video Libraries
1. The Basics
2. Source Folder
3. Movie Setup
4a. TV Show Setup
4b. Seasons Setup
4c. Episodes Setup
5. Music Videos Setup
6. Add Source & Scrape
7. Scraping Problems
Home icon grey.png   ▶ Video library ▶ Create Video Library ▶ Movies


Introduction

There are two methods to organise your movies:

  1. Movie Folders- Each movie is saved in its own folder within the Source. (recommended)
  2. Flat Folder- All movie files are saved in the Source folder

While Kodi can be a little bit flexible, and some users have come up with "unusual" setups for their media files, Kodi will only recommend the Movie Folder method described below.

We also recommend that your media is ripped to single files, like .mkv, rather than keeping the needlessly complex structure of Bluray and DVD folders.


Naming

The naming of your files and folders is critical to ensure the scrapers can correctly identify the movie, and it is simple to achieve.

Movie Name (Year) - This is the correct naming format for both the movie files and movie folders.

Note: If you are unsure of the name or year, look it up at TheMovieDB website


Movie Folders

Image 1- Movie Folders

This is the recommended method for organising your movies

All files and folders should be simply named with the name of the movie and the year in brackets. The name should match the name shown at the scraper site.

Each movie file is placed into its own folder which is then added to your Source.

  • Placing movies in their own folder allows saving of local artwork and NFO files alongside the movie file.
  • You have the choice of using the Short or Long name format for the artwork. See: Local Artwork
  • Using this method will provide the safest and most accurate scrape of your media collection.
  • Most library related add-ons will only work correctly with this method.
  • Some skins use modified file naming to display additional Media Flags. These apply to the filename, not the folder name.


Flat Folder

Image 2- Flat Folder

An alternate method of storing your movies is to save all the movie files inside the Source folder and omit the Movie folder. Also known as a flat folder structure.

This method requires that the movie file is named correctly as Kodi is forced to use the movie filename to match the entry at the scraper site.

The movie filename must contain the Title with the Year in parenthesis. The name should match the name shown at the scraper site.


There are disadvantages using this method:

  • With larger libraries, this method can become untidy and cumbersome to maintain
  • If you use nfo files and save local artwork, the Source folder will become even more cluttered
  • Some library related add-ons will not work with this method as they require a Movie Folder
  • Some skins use modified file naming to display additional Media Flags. In rare instances, there may be a mismatch due to conflict with the modified file name.


Split Video Files

Stop hand.png File Stacking for ISO files, Bluray and DVD folders is currently broken and cannot be used. See Issue report: 16109
Image 3- Split Video Files

Also known as File Stacking, allows you to combine multiple movie files so they appear and play as a single movie.
For example: The two disk DVD version of The Lord of the Rings which is ripped into two files for the full movie.
Nowadays, it is no longer a common requirement as there are tools to rejoin into a single movie, but file-stacking is still available in Kodi should it be needed.

To use this function the following steps are required:

  1. This feature can only be used when Movie Folders are used.
  2. Modify the video file names, as described in the table below, so that Kodi recognises them as Split Video Files


Note: The setting Combine split video items has no effect on how this feature works. This setting simply combines the split titles when viewing the entry in Videos>Files.

Type Stacking Flags
Split single files- mkv, mp4 etc cd# dvd# disc# disk# part# pt# A, B, C, D 1
DVD & Bluray folders & ISO files cd# dvd# disc# disk#

File stacking can be fine-tuned by the user to match obscure cases using the <moviestacking> and <folderstacking> advancedsettings.xml settings.

1 Example of A, B, C, D flags (no space):

The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)A.mkv
The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)B.mkv



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Source folder TV Show Setup



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