Custom LIbraries using softlinks to existing media files
Summary
When you create a Jellyfin library, you usually point a new Library to a folder with your media files in and allow the Jellyfin metadata scraper to examine the file, identify it and then download the metadata to add it to a library..... but here's a tip ... on any OS worth it's salt, you can have the physical media file in your pyhsical media folder
Add Library Dialogue Box
/media/TV/3 Body Problem/Season 01/3 Body Problem - S01E01 - Countdown WEBRip-720p.mkv'
but, you could also create
/media/TV/3 Body Problem/Season 01 - Reversed and create a "link" to the original media file which is a tiny pointer, such as
'linked.mkv --> '3 Body Problem - S01E01 - Countdown WEBRip-720p.mkv'
- When you create the link, it poiunts to the original file, but the link can be named anything
- depending on how you configure your library, it can provide "varied"results
- it may scan and find the embedded metadata from the "source" physical media, then look that up
- it may take just embedded media
- it may take local NFO data
- it may not look up at all
so
- the easy part is linking one or two files, get your feet wet and then test a few configurations;
- always start with a small subzet that "prove" your settings
- then thnk about bulk-naming conventions that work
- then script or automate the file link/rename
- do your inital library scan and then uncheck any changes
Terminology
| Softlinking | Simplest Configuration |
Whenyou soflink a file you can have your source physical file anywhere you like and put your link file anywhere you like... it's by far the most commonform of linking..... one downside is if you delete a physical file, it will leave all your links as they are to manually manage |
| Hardlink | Has pre-requisites | Hard links are almost the same as softliks, except you can think of them as kinda of "monitored" - so if you delete a physical, the links go... however they have one caveat you may not have considered when partitioning your drives.... they must all reside withinthe same filesystem |
| Linux Links | Quick Guide | |
| Windows Links | Quick Guide | |
| Synology Links | Reddit Post | |
Our Example Media - Source
I'm going to use Father Ted, Seaons 1,2 and3 as my source
cd /media/tv/Father\ Ted
ubuntu@pknw1:/media/tv/Father Ted#
find /media/tv/Father\ Ted -type f -iname '*mp4'
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.2/Father Ted - S02E07 - Rock A Hula Ted.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.2/Father Ted - S02E09 - New Jack City.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.2/Father Ted - S02E10 - Flight into Terror.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.2/Father Ted - S02E02 - Think Fast, Father Ted.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.2/Father Ted - S02E05 - A Song for Europe.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.2/Father Ted - S02E06 - The Plague.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.2/Father Ted - S02E04 - The Old Grey Whistle Theft.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.2/Father Ted - S02E08 - Cigarettes and Alcohol and Rollerblading.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.2/Father Ted - S02E03 - Tentacles of Doom.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.2/Father Ted - S02E01 - Hell.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.3/Father Ted - S03E02 - Chirpy Burpy Cheap Sheep.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.3/Father Ted - S03E05 - Escape from Victory.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.3/Father Ted - S03E01 - Are You Right There, Father Ted.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.3/Father Ted - S03E06 - Kicking Bishop Brennan Up The Arse.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.3/Father Ted - S03E03 - Speed 3.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.3/Father Ted - S03E08 - Going to America.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.3/Father Ted - S03E07 - Night of the Nearly Dead.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.3/Father Ted - S03E04 - The Mainland.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.1/Father Ted - S01E02 - Entertaining Father Stone.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.1/Father Ted - S01E04 - Competition Time.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.1/Father Ted - S01E03 - The Passion Of Saint Tibulus.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.1/Father Ted - S01E05 - And God Created Woman.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.1/Father Ted - S01E06 - Grant Unto Him Eternal Rest.mp4
/media/tv/Father Ted/Season.1/Father Ted - S01E01 - Good Luck, Father Ted.mp4