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**gabbott** · 2008-10-29, 18:35

So I've created NFO files for some of my TV Shows and speeds up scanning them into the library. The problem is if I add more episodes but don't create NFO files for them. When I rescan they don't get picked up.

So is this happening because since there is a tvshow.nfo file the library will not scrape an external site (e.g. thetvdb.com)?

So if that is the case, should I just create episode .nfo files and not a tvshow.nfo file?

**sho** · 2008-10-29, 18:48

Should not be, what build are you using (plus platform)?
Also A debug log is always a good idea.

**gabbott** · 2008-10-29, 19:05

I'm using the latest t3ch build (atlantis beta 2) on xbox.

I'm at work right now but when I get home I can grab a debug. I was assuming this was normal behavior but sounding like it is not.

**gabbott** · 2008-10-29, 21:39

Also another question, can I remove the tag <filenameandpath> without any issue from all my NFO files?

Just wondering so if I happen to change around my directory structure at any point the NFO files would still work.

billyad2000 · (This post was last modified: 2011-02-25, 13:39 by billyad2000.)

The <filenameandpath> tag is not needed since the nfo file in which it is located is in the same place as the media file.

If you move media files about then XBMC will still look for them in the location that they were scanned in. You would need to clean the DB and do a scan for new media, they will be found and added to the DB in their new location.

**gabbott** · 2008-10-30, 03:38

billyad2000 Wrote:The <filenameandpath> tag is not needed since the nfo file in which it is located is in the same place as the media file.

If you move media files about then XBMC will still look for them in the location that they were scanned in. You would need to clean the DB and do a scan for new media, they will be found and added to the DB in their new location.

billyad2000, thanks for the info. Also wanted to give a big thanks to you for your programs you made. You have saved me a ton of time. I have a central server with all my media and 4 different xboxes with xbmc that all use it. Now updating the library is easy and fast!

Now, I just did some more testing and this is what I found is happening. I just want to verify if this is intended behavior or if I've uncovered a bug. (again, this is on the xbox platform running the atlantis beta 2 build)

I've created tvshow.nfo and episode NFO files for all my shows. What I've found is that if a tvshow.nfo file is present and I add a new episode without creating an nfo file for it, when I perform a library update the new episode does NOT get added. If I remove the tvshow.nfo file and then perform a library update, the new episode does get added.

Am I understanding that even with a tvshow.nfo file present a library update should add new episode info from the specified scraper?

billyad2000 · (This post was last modified: 2011-02-25, 13:39 by billyad2000.)

I'm not sure, it should be that if a nfo file exists that the nfo is grabbed, if not then the episode is scraped from the chosen scraper.

As sho has already said, create a debug log and mention this in the bug forum.

**spiff** · 2008-10-30, 11:25

it depends on the SHOW nfo file. if that points us to an <episodeguideurl> , we can do lookups for episodes missing nfo files. if not, there's not much we can do so we simply skip the file.

**gabbott** · 2008-10-30, 15:07

spiff Wrote:it depends on the SHOW nfo file. if that points us to an <episodeguideurl> , we can do lookups for episodes missing nfo files. if not, there's not much we can do so we simply skip the file.

Spiff, thanks, that might explain what I'm seeing. After work I'll check out my nfo files.

**gabbott** · 2008-10-30, 16:22

Found what spiff was referring to. Here was when this was added to xbmc earlier this year if it helps any others:

2008-04-03 12462 added: support for tvshow .nfo files, showfolder/tvshow.nfo (note: fixed file name). they can either be full info xml or contain a url. if they contain xml, they may contain a valid <episodeguideurl> to allow online updates. if not, only episodes with nfo files will be added. added: episode nfo files, filename.nfo. they can hold full info for the episode.

**spiff** · 2008-10-30, 16:32

guess who wrote that... Tongue

**gabbott** · 2008-11-02, 20:00

OK, I've been playing around with this and including the <episodeguideurl> tag with no luck.

In the following case I'm using the show Curb your enthusiasm. I have nfo files for all episodes in seasons 1, 3 and 4. I have 1 episode for season 2 which does not have an NFO file.

Here is my tvshow.nfo file:

http://pastebin.com/m6c5143f8

for the episodeguideurl I've also tried the following:

http://thetvdb.com/?tab=series&id=76203&lid=7
http://thetvdb.com/?tab=series&id=76203

Here is a debug, it sees the episode without the NFO file but doesnt grab info for it:

http://pastebin.com/m27fab465

**sho** · 2008-11-05, 00:36

Spiff?

billyad2000 · (This post was last modified: 2011-02-25, 13:40 by billyad2000.)

I think the <episodeguideurl> might refer to the actual API link for all episodes in a series

The URL would be

http://thetvdb.com/api/<apikey>/series/77904/all/en.xml

If someone can confirm this I will add this (Or the option) to the Media Companion Program.

**gabbott** · 2008-11-05, 02:02

billyad2000 Wrote:I think the <episodeguideurl> might refer to the actual API link for all episodes in a series

The URL would be

http://thetvdb.com/api/<apikey>/series/77904/all/en.xml

If someone can confirm this I will add this (Or the option) to the Media Companion Program.

billyad2000, I'll give that a test shortly and report back.