QNAP: Use of Smart Import and TMDB

[Enquiries]

Hello,
I have an external drive that I use as the System-of-Record for all my digitized media (movies and music). I do have a folder structure defined to support movies, shows, and specials (as an example) and after digitizing a set of DVDs/Blu-Rays/CDs, I use the 1-Touch Copy (Smart Import) to get them backed up to the QNAP TS-464 with another sync job ready when I'm done for a 3rd location. After having done 35-40% of my movies, I started to configure the Multimedia Console suite (TMDB for movies and TV shows). And noticed an oversight on my part...I have tried looking for an answer online but it has been tricky. Is there a way to get the Smart Import folders "unraveled" to the original structure instead of by date so that I can get it to play nicely with the TMDB extensions. If I have to start over that is fine, but I couldn't even find a way to do this if I hadn't started digitizing.

Thanks in advance,
A knowledgeable yet still newbie to QNAP fellow

[ed]

Thank you for your question! I understand your goal of keeping your media well-organized while using the Smart Import feature on your QNAP TS-464.

Unfortunately, Smart Import by default saves your files in a date-based structure, which can indeed create issues when integrating with TMDB or other media metadata services. The good news is that you can still organize your media to match your desired folder structure, but it may require some manual effort.

Here’s what you can do:

Manual Reorganization: You can manually move the files from the "date" based folders into your desired folder structure (e.g., movies, TV shows, specials). Once you've done that, TMDB should be able to pick them up more easily, as it looks for the right naming conventions for metadata matching.

Automating Folder Structure: To make the process easier moving forward, you can use tools like FileBot or Renamer on your PC to automatically rename and organize files into the correct folder structure before or after you transfer them to the QNAP NAS.

Smart Import Adjustments: Unfortunately, there isn’t a built-in way to “unravel” the folders after the fact, but if you're okay with starting over, you could clear out the existing Smart Import folders and set up new folders that follow the structure you'd like from the beginning. This way, future imports will align better with TMDB’s expectations.

TMDB Configuration: After your files are properly organized, you should be able to point the Multimedia Console (with TMDB) to the correct folder paths. If you're organizing by movie and show type, you can also use the metadata settings within QNAP’s Multimedia Console to help TMDB scrape information more effectively.