MetaData Mode

Metadata Mode

Metadata mode allows you to automatically rename video files using metadata from multiple databases including TMDB, TVDB, AniDB, and more. Perfect for automatic video file organization, media library management, and smart file renaming for Plex, Jellyfin, and Kodi.

Overview

Metadata mode provides:

• ✅ Automatic metadata detection for movies, TV shows, and anime
• ✅ 10 metadata providers (TMDB, TVDB, OMDB, Trakt, Fanart.tv, AniDB, Kitsu, Jikan/MAL, TVmaze)
• ✅ Custom naming patterns
• ✅ Preview changes before applying
• ✅ Batch renaming with backup support
• ✅ Smart matching algorithms

Quick Start

1. Select Metadata Mode from the sidebar (📁 icon)
2. Add Files that need renaming
3. Choose Provider (or use auto-detection)
4. Click Search to fetch metadata
5. Review Preview of suggested names
6. Click Apply Changes to rename files

Metadata Providers

Free Providers (No API Key Required)

AniDB ✅

• Anime metadata
• Highly accurate
• Rate limited (use sparingly)
• No API key needed

Kitsu ✅

• Anime metadata
• Good coverage
• Always available
• No API key needed

Jikan/MAL ✅

• MyAnimeList mirror
• Read-only API
• Good anime coverage
• No API key needed

TVmaze ✅

• TV show metadata
• Comprehensive TV database
• Always available
• No API key needed

API Key Providers (Free Keys Available)

TMDB (The Movie Database)

• Movies and TV shows
• Largest database
• Free API key
• Get key here

TVDB (The TV Database)

• TV shows only
• Comprehensive metadata
• Free API key
• Get key here

OMDB (Open Movie Database)

• Movies and TV shows
• Additional metadata
• Free API key
• Get key here

Trakt

• Movies and TV tracking
• User ratings
• Free API key
• Get key here

Fanart.tv

• Media artwork
• Posters and backgrounds
• Free API key
• Get key here

Interface Overview

Provider Selection

Dropdown Menu:

• Select specific provider
• Or use "Auto-Detect" for best results
• Free providers shown with ✅

Provider Status Buttons:

• Click to configure API keys
• Shows "Not Setup" or "✅ Configured"
• Free providers always show "✅"

Preview Section

Original vs Suggested Names:

• Side-by-side comparison
• Scroll through all files
• Verify changes before applying

Metadata Display:

• Title, year, season, episode
• Media type (Movie/TV/Anime)
• Provider badge showing source

Controls

Search Button: Fetch metadata for all files

Apply Changes Button: Rename files with suggested names

Create Backup Checkbox: Backup original files before renaming

Custom Naming Patterns

Pattern Variables

Movies:

• {title} - Movie title
• {year} - Release year
• {quality} - Video quality (1080p, 720p, etc.)
• {codec} - Video codec (H264, HEVC, etc.)

TV Shows:

• {title} - Show title
• {season} - Season number (zero-padded)
• {episode} - Episode number (zero-padded)
• {episodeTitle} - Episode title
• {year} - Release year

Anime:

• {title} - Anime title
• {season} - Season number
• {episode} - Episode number
• {episodeTitle} - Episode title

Pattern Examples

Movies:

{title} ({year})
Movie Title (2023)

{title} ({year}) [{quality}]
Movie Title (2023) [1080p]

{title} ({year}) - {quality}
Movie Title (2023) - 1080p

TV Shows:

{title} - S{season}E{episode} - {episodeTitle}
Show Name - S01E05 - Episode Title

{title} - S{season:02d}E{episode:02d}
Show Name - S01E05

{title} ({year}) - S{season}E{episode}
Show Name (2020) - S01E05

Anime:

{title} - Episode {episode}
Anime Name - Episode 12

{title} - S{season}E{episode} - {episodeTitle}
Anime Name - S01E12 - Title

Pattern Editor

Access via "Format Pattern" button:

• Visual pattern editor
• Drag-and-drop variables
• Preview changes
• Save patterns as presets

Usage Examples

Example 1: Rename Movie Files

Before:

awesome.movie.2023.1080p.mkv

After:

Awesome Movie (2023) [1080p].mkv

Steps:

1. Add movie file
2. Select "TMDB" provider
3. Click "Search"
4. Review preview
5. Click "Apply Changes"

Example 2: Rename TV Show Episodes

Before:

show.name.s01e05.mkv
show.name.s01e06.mkv

After:

Show Name - S01E05 - Episode Title.mkv
Show Name - S01E06 - Episode Title.mkv

Steps:

1. Add season folder
2. Select "TVDB" provider
3. Use pattern: {title} - S{season}E{episode} - {episodeTitle}
4. Click "Search"
5. Review all previews
6. Click "Apply Changes"

Example 3: Rename Anime Episodes

Before:

anime.s01e12.mkv

After:

Anime Name - Episode 12.mkv

Steps:

1. Add anime file
2. Select "AniDB" provider
3. Use pattern: {title} - Episode {episode}
4. Click "Search"
5. Review preview
6. Click "Apply Changes"

Batch Processing

Process entire libraries:

1. Add Folder with multiple files
2. Select Provider appropriate for content type
3. Click Search to fetch metadata for all files
4. Review Preview - scroll through all suggestions
5. Click Apply Changes to rename all files

Benefits:

• Consistent naming across library
• Automatic organization
• Saves time over manual renaming

Smart Matching

EncodeForge uses intelligent algorithms to match files:

Filename Parsing:

• Extracts show/movie names
• Identifies season/episode numbers
• Recognizes quality indicators
• Handles various formats

Metadata Matching:

• Fuzzy matching for titles
• Year verification
• Season/episode validation
• Provider reputation weighting

Scoring System:

• Higher scores = better matches
• Multiple providers compared
• Fallback to alternative matches

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Issue: "No metadata found"

• Check: File naming is readable
• Check: Provider is correctly configured
• Solution: Try different provider

Issue: "Wrong metadata match"

• Cause: Ambiguous filename
• Solution: Preview before applying, manual correction

Issue: "API key invalid"

• Check: API key is correct
• Check: API key is not expired
• Solution: Regenerate API key

Issue: "Files not renamed"

• Check: File permissions
• Check: Files are not in use
• Solution: Close players/editors before renaming

Rate Limiting

AniDB:

• Very strict rate limits
• Use sparingly
• Prefer Kitsu or Jikan for anime

Other Providers:

• Reasonable rate limits
• Should not be an issue for normal use

Best Practices

Before Renaming

1. Backup Files - Enable "Create backup" checkbox
2. Test Pattern - Try pattern on one file first
3. Verify Metadata - Check preview carefully
4. Close Players - Ensure files aren't in use

File Organization

Structured Names:

• Include season/episode numbers
• Use consistent quality indicators
• Group related series together

Avoid:

• Special characters (*, <, >, |, /, )
• Very long filenames (>255 characters)
• Reserved system names

Provider Selection

For Movies:

• TMDB (best coverage)
• OMDB (backup)

For TV Shows:

• TVDB (TV specific)
• TMDB (movies and TV)
• TVmaze (backup)

For Anime:

• AniDB (most accurate, rate limited)
• Kitsu (always available)
• Jikan/MAL (backup)

Advanced Features

Pattern Presets

Save common patterns:

• Movie patterns
• TV show patterns
• Anime patterns
• Custom patterns

Metadata Export

Export metadata to files:

• JSON format
• Include artwork links
• For external tools

Dry Run Mode

Preview changes without renaming:

• Click "Search" only
• Review all previews
• Apply when satisfied

Keyboard Shortcuts

• Ctrl+F - Focus search
• Enter - Apply changes
• Ctrl+B - Toggle backup checkbox

Tips & Tricks

1. Start Small - Test on a few files first
2. Check Previews - Verify all changes before applying
3. Use Backups - Always enable backup option
4. Pattern Library - Save useful patterns
5. Multiple Providers - Try different providers for best results

Related Pages

• Getting Started
• Encoder Mode
• Subtitle Mode
• Settings & Configuration
• Support

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Ready to organize your library? Add your files and start renaming!