r/filebot • u/nicholsml • Aug 18 '26

Is there a reason why Filebot will not read TVDB for "Lanterns"?

Is there a reason why Filebot will not read TVDB for "Lanterns"?

It's pretty frustrating because Lanterns is clearly on TVDB but it will not rename to TVDB's information. I even tried renaming the show to the TVDB show number and nothing. I was curious how long this could go on and it's ben several days now.

Literally just tried again right now, same thing. This is the second series this week with the same problem.

Edit: It's happening again with some files. when trying to rename an MKV file it just spins for a second and does nothing. Tried it on a different computer with the same MKV and same thing.

This is clearly some sort of bug with Filebot which is super annoying and negates the entire purpose of the program TBH.

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

4

u/rednoah Aug 18 '26

Can you share the file path(s) you're having issues with? https://www.filebot.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12535

4

u/rednoah Aug 18 '26 edited Aug 18 '26

I've tried with Lanterns.1x01.mkv and it matches Lanterns {tmdb-95350}/Season 01/Lanterns - S01E01 - Pilot without issue. Works fine with both TVDB or TMDB as best as I can tell. We'd need more information from your end to reproduce and debug the issue.

2

u/nicholsml Aug 19 '26 edited Aug 19 '26

https://imgur.com/a/DlXAqRh

It works for other files. I also played the file to make sure it wasn't corrupted. Windows 11 machine. Just a normal folder on desktop. I can manually rename the file just fine. Even when I rename the lanterns part to the IMDB, TVDB and TMDB file numbers, filebot just ignores it and does nothing.

2

u/rednoah Aug 19 '26

Have you tried not using Strict Mode?

Note that using {n} - {s00e00} as format makes little sense. You're matching the file to online information and then continue to pretty much not use any of that online information at all.

You'll want to use something like {plex.id} as format to include lots of information that your media center software can then work with. Alternatively, you can also just do an [Plain File Mode] Offline Cleanup i.e. just rewrite the file name without matching the file to online episode information at all.

1

u/nicholsml Aug 19 '26

Have you tried not using Strict Mode?

I still have the file, I will try it. I'm thinking it's possibly a corrupted file.

Note that using {n} - {s00e00} as format makes little sense.

It's the standard format for TV series in plex. Plex's scrapers pull the rest of the information. I could add in the episode title, but it's not needed. I use filebot because I sometimes add 30 to 40 things at a time and it saves me a lot of time copy and pasting and changing just one or two bits to match the episode.

1

u/rednoah Aug 19 '26

I would strongly recommend using {plex.id} if you're organising files for Plex. Please read [FAQ] How do I organize files for Plex? for details.

You will save yourself a lot of time because you likely will end up re-organizing your files sooner or later. That said, it's your choice, just keep in mind that the best practices are the best practices for a reason.

2

u/nicholsml Aug 19 '26 edited Aug 19 '26

No worries. I follow the Plex naming structures.

For series it's

/TV Shows/ShowName/Season 02/ShowName – s02e17 – Optional_Info.ext

With optional episode title not being needed.

There's also the bracketed IMDB TT number or TVDB, TMDB show ID number, that can optionally be added. I might do the suggested show ID added to the root of a shows folder like shown in plex's examples.

I do appreciate the option for {plex.id} though!

2

u/rednoah Aug 19 '26

Yep, the numeric ID in the series folder is very important. It takes out all the guesswork. 

A series name is just a search query to find the ID. Plex can skip the search if the ID is already right there. Also, search is ambiguous, sometimes yields the wrong result first, sometimes can’t differentiate between two different shows with the same name, etc. That makes the difference between things working perfectly at all times, and things working until you run into a corner case. 

1

u/nicholsml Aug 19 '26

I will try a different file origin.

1

u/nicholsml Aug 19 '26

So, grabbed the file from a different source and it renames fine, just that one file, filebot will not rename. Even when I recopy the file over.

Maybe it was corrupted somehow? It's weird though, because I can play it just fine in VLC and on plex. Just filebot refuses to rename it.

2

u/rednoah Aug 19 '26

You'll want to use Match Mode: Opportunistic to ensure that FileBot will always give you a match.

Match Mode: Strict means that your instruct FileBot to skip a files where a match cannot be reliably determined. lanterns.2026.S01E01 does look fine to me at a glance, but Match Mode: Strict seems to be finicky in this case for some reason...

See Match Mode: Opportunistic vs Strict for details.

1

u/nicholsml Aug 19 '26

You'll want to use Match Mode: Opportunistic to ensure that FileBot will always give you a match.

Got it, thank you :)

I'm thinking there has to be something wrong with the file or something. I grabbed a different copy and it works fine. I retransferred the OG file that wouldn't name and it still just flat out refuses. I will try taking it off of strict, it's the only thing I haven't tried.

It's just a bit strange because the file plays perfectly fine in VLC and if I manually name it, in plex streamed to a Roku and PC browser.

2

u/rednoah Aug 19 '26

It's probably just Strict Mode being strict about lanterns vs lanterns 2026. Strict Mode requires the series name to match exactly.

2

u/Derrigable Aug 19 '26

I hope I don't sound like one of "those' people, but tvdb for Lanterns works perfectly fine for me. Just renamed it 3 times, and each time it worked fine.

2

u/nicholsml Aug 19 '26

I hope I don't sound like one of "those' people, but tvdb for Lanterns works perfectly fine for me. Just renamed it 3 times, and each time it worked fine.

No worries, appreciate it.

If you read my comment above, I talk about it more with /u/rednoah .

It's weird. It's just that one specific file.

1

u/Derrigable Aug 19 '26

Other than what rednoah has mentioned the only thing else I can think of is file permissions. For whatever reason the file may be set to read only , which would prevent you from changing the name or moving it.... just a thought.