How To Designate A File As Video In Kodi

Create Video Libraries

1. The Basics

2. Source Folder

3. Movie Setup

4a. TV Show Setup

4b. Seasons Setup

4c. Episodes Setup

5. Music Videos Setup

6. Add Source & Scrape

7. Scraping Problems

Video library

Create Video Library

Movies

1 Introduction

There are two methods to organise your movies:

Movie Folders- Each movie is saved in its own folder within the Source. (recommended)
Flat Folder- All movie files are saved in the Source folder

While Kodi can be a little bit flexible, and some users have come up with "unusual" setups for their media files, Kodi will only recommend the Movie Folder method described below.

We also recommend that your media is ripped to single files, like .mkv, rather than keeping the needlessly complex structure of Bluray and DVD folders.

2 Naming

The naming of your files and folders is critical to ensure the scrapers can correctly identify the movie, and it is simple to achieve.

Movie Name (Year) - This is the correct naming format for both the movie files and movie folders.

If you are unsure of the name or year, then look it up at TheMovieDB website

3 Movie Folders


	This is the recommended method for organising your movies All files and folders should be simply named with the name of the movie and the year in brackets. The name should match the name shown at the scraper site. Each movie file is placed into its own folder which is then added to your Source. Placing movies in their own folder allows saving of local artwork and NFO files alongside the movie file. You have the choice of using the Short or Long name format for the artwork. See: Local Artwork Using this method will provide the safest and most accurate scrape of your media collection. Most library related add-ons will only work correctly with this method. Some skins use modified file naming to display additional Media Flags . These apply to the filename, not the folder name.

This is the recommended method for organising your movies

All files and folders should be simply named with the name of the movie and the year in brackets. The name should match the name shown at the scraper site.

Each movie file is placed into its own folder which is then added to your Source.

Placing movies in their own folder allows saving of local artwork and NFO files alongside the movie file.
You have the choice of using the Short or Long name format for the artwork. See: Local Artwork
Using this method will provide the safest and most accurate scrape of your media collection.
Most library related add-ons will only work correctly with this method.
Some skins use modified file naming to display additional Media Flags . These apply to the filename, not the folder name.

4 Flat Folder


	An alternate method of storing your movies is to save all the movie files inside the Source folder and omit the Movie folder. Also known as a flat folder structure. This method requires that the movie file is named correctly as Kodi is forced to use the movie filename to match the entry at the scraper site. The movie filename must contain the Title with the Year in parenthesis. The name should match the name shown at the scraper site. There are disadvantages using this method: With larger libraries, this method can become untidy and cumbersome to maintain If you use nfo files and save local artwork, the Source folder will become even more cluttered Some library related add-ons will not work with this method as they require a Movie Folder Some skins use modified file naming to display additional Media Flags . In rare instances, there may be a mismatch due to conflict with the modified file name.

An alternate method of storing your movies is to save all the movie files inside the Source folder and omit the Movie folder. Also known as a flat folder structure.

This method requires that the movie file is named correctly as Kodi is forced to use the movie filename to match the entry at the scraper site.

The movie filename must contain the Title with the Year in parenthesis. The name should match the name shown at the scraper site.

There are disadvantages using this method:

With larger libraries, this method can become untidy and cumbersome to maintain
If you use nfo files and save local artwork, the Source folder will become even more cluttered
Some library related add-ons will not work with this method as they require a Movie Folder
Some skins use modified file naming to display additional Media Flags . In rare instances, there may be a mismatch due to conflict with the modified file name.

5 Split Video Files

File Stacking for ISO files, Bluray and DVD folders is currently broken and cannot be used. See Issue report: 16109

Also known as File Stacking, allows you to combine multiple movie files so they appear and play as a single movie. No longer a common requirement, but still available in Kodi should it be needed.

To use this function the following steps are required:

This feature can only be used when Movie Folders are used.
Modify the video file names, as described in the table below, so that Kodi recognises them as Split Video Files

The setting Combine split video items has no effect on how this feature works. This setting simply combines the split titles when viewing the entry in Videos>Files.

Type	Stacking Flags
Split single files- mkv, mp4 etc	cd#	dvd#	disc#	disk#	part#	pt#	A, B, C, D ¹
DVD & Bluray folders & ISO files	cd#	dvd#	disc#	disk#

File stacking can be fine-tuned by the user to match obscure cases using the <moviestacking> and <folderstacking> advancedsettings.xml settings.

¹ Example of A, B, C, D flags (no space):

The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)A.mkv

The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)B.mkv

6 Other

3D: Starting in v13, Kodi supports a number of passive 3D video formats such as SBS, TAB, anaglyph or interlaced. This support extends to the Kodi GUI including subtitles and on-screen-controls.

Extras: Use one of the Extras add-ons to save related videos such as bloopers, interviews with cast and crew, production methods, behind the scenes, so they are accessible within Kodi

Internet Streams: Various internet video and audio streams can be played back in Kodi as if they were locally stored on your media center by using STRM files. As long as the format and streaming-method (network-protocol) is supported by Kodi, stream can be added. These are basic text files that look like <name>.strm and contain a URL to the internet stream. STRM files can also be added to the video library and can have cover art, summaries, etc.

Some internet sites may have an add-on available that can also access these media streams, rather than having to manually create STRM files. See Add-ons for more information on how to find and install add-ons.

Media Flags: Where supported by the skin, allows displaying of extra video file information through the use of modified file naming

Stub Files: If you have a collection of DVD's and Bluray disks but do not want to rip them to a hard drive, then a Media Stub File allows you to add the collection of disks to the Kodi Video Library. It is a simple text based file that is added to your Source in exactly the same way as any other Movie or TV Show, which is then scanned or scraped into the library.

Trailers: Trailers can be scanned or scraped into the library along with the movie metadata and artwork. Watch the trailers independently or specialised add-ons can be used to re-create the cinema experience by playing trailers before viewing a movie.