Organizing shows consisting of multiple DVDs

[voltangle]

So, I have [Censored by TDP] Monster (2004) that consist of 25 DVDs, and I want to put it into Jellyfin and have it actually indexed not as just separate CDs or 25 episodes, but real 74 episodes Monster has.

This is my (original) directory structure:

MONSTER
├── MONSTER_DVD1
│   └── VIDEO_TS
├── MONSTER_DVD2
│   └── VIDEO_TS
├── MONSTER_DVD3
│   └── VIDEO_TS
...
├── MONSTER_DVD25
│   └── VIDEO_TS

I want to just find a way of using the VIDEO_TS directories themselves without remuxing each disc to different episodes, because - reasons. My setup revolves around having all actual media in a different folder from the media library, and have all content symlinked into the library instead, and once again, I can not just remux it into .mkv files and go with it.

Currently when I just try to shove the same directory structure but rename MONSTER_DVD<n> to cd<b> it just shows each cd as it's own episode, and no matter what I do - I can't make it work as I want it to...

EDIT: I very much know that ChatGPT is far, FAR from being a credible source, but I had no other option at this point. It has mentioned the topic of M3U "playlists" or smth, is that a good/possible way of doing it?

Is there a way to make this work? Thanks in advance! 

[TheDreadPirate]

If you don't want to remux, you could just rename the files. You would have to take them out of the DVD# folders and put them in a "Season 1" folder (I only see the one season on TMDB).

You have to use the multi-episode naming syntax. Like "S01E01-E03.ts" or something like that. Jellyfin does allow symlinks of FOLDERS, but Jellyfin will ignore symlinks of individual files, IIRC.

Your other option is to manually create NFOs and turn off all external providers when scanning this show in.

[voltangle]

You have to use the multi-episode naming syntax. Like "S01E01-E03.ts" or something like that. Jellyfin does allow symlinks of FOLDERS, but Jellyfin will ignore symlinks of individual files, IIRC.

Welp, my entire library consists of symlinks, even to files, and each and every one works 
And wait a minute, I have never seen the "multi-episode" naming syntax anywhere in the docs! Still, thank you dearly, will try it this instant

EDIT: wtf why my text emojis get converted into full ones, how do I disable that

[voltangle]

Just tried the multi-episode naming, it only sees the latter E03 from E01-E03. Just to be clear, I made it look like this:

MONSTER
├── E01-E03
│ └── VIDEO_TS
├── E04-E06
│ └── VIDEO_TS
├── E07-E09
│ └── VIDEO_TS
...
├── E72-E74
│ └── VIDEO_TS

[TheDreadPirate]

Even if a show only has one season, it should still have "S01" in the name. The file name parser may only be seeing the last episode number since it is missing the season number designator.

[voltangle]

Just tried with the designator - holy shit it works
The only problem is that it shows up as three episodes in one, which is IMO aint right
How can I make jellyfin see each episode as it's own episode, instead of just merging three into one?

[TheDreadPirate]

.....by splitting the file via remux? 

I am not aware of a way to make one file appear as X number of episodes.  The multi-episode syntax is primarily intended for joining true multi-part episodes. Like a two part season finale or something like that.