TubeArchivist Plex Integration

This is a custom set of Scanner and Agent to integrate TubeArchivist with Plex.

Limitations

This is a custom scanner and agent combination. It is expected that you have both the scanner and agent running with Plex in order for it to properly parse the necessary details for pulling in the metadata.

The scanner and agent can only be used to integrate with a single TubeArchivist instance. Additional instance support might have to be built into a future version of the integration.

This pulls a lot of the metadata details directly from TubeArchivist, so TubeArchivist must be running during filesystem scans and metadata refreshes. If it is unable to access TubeArchivist, then it will either attempt to keep what details it currently has or cause exceptions to rise, skipping those files.

This is an early build, so there might be issues with detecting certain feature components. Issues with Feature Requests are recommended to document the request, however we may be unable to fulfill all requests without additional help and support. Pull Requests for features to add functionality or fix issues are welcome.

Playlist integration is an expected roadmap item but is not currently available.

Not all metadata that Plex can show is being provided at this time and will be incorporate with future releases.

Installation Steps

Plex Media Server Location

The root Plex Media Server directory can be in different locations depending on how it is installed. All references for installation will be based on this location.

Article: How Do I Manually Install A Plugin?

Article: How Do I Find the Plug-ins Folder?

Article: Where Is The Plex MediaServer Data Directory Located?

A list of potential default installation locations:

* '$PLEX_HOME/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/',               # Linux
* '/mnt/user/appdata/plex/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server',    # Unraid
* '%LOCALAPPDATA%\Plex Media Server\'                                        # Windows Vista/7/8
* '%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Plex Media Server\'         # Windows XP, 2003, Home Server
* '/volume1/Plex/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/',            # Synology, Asustor
* '/volume1/PlexMediaServer/AppData/Plex Media Server/',                     # Synology [DSM 7.X Update]
* '/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/', # Debian,Fedora,CentOS,Ubuntu
* '/usr/local/plexdata/Plex Media Server/',                                  # FreeBSD
* '/usr/pbi/plexmediaserver-amd64/plexdata/Plex Media Server/',              # TrueNAS
* '${JAIL_ROOT}/var/db/plexdata/Plex Media Server/',                         # TrueNAS
* '/c/.plex/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/',                 # ReadyNAS
* '/share/MD0_DATA/.qpkg/PlexMediaServer/Library/Plex Media Server/',        # QNAP
* '$HOME/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/'                     # Mac OS
* '/raid0/data/module/Plex/sys/Plex Media Server/',                          # Thecus
* '/raid0/data/PLEX_CONFIG/Plex Media Server/'                               # Thecus Plex community

First time setup preparations

1. Pull the API Key for TubeArchivist and have it ready for the configuration files.
2. Ensure that Plex can see the TubeArchivist Media directory that you use to store the downloaded videos.
3. Ensure that the system running Plex can communicate to TubeArchivist.

Download .zip File

1. Download the Zip File: https://github.com/tubearchivist/tubearchivist-plex/archive/refs/heads/main.zip
2. Unpack the Zip File.
3. Rename the unpacked directory to TubeArchivist-Agent.bundle.

Scanner Installation

Note

The Scanners and Series folders are not created by default. If this is your first time using a Scanner, follow the instructions as-is.

1. Inside the TubeArchivist-Agent.bundle, move the subdirectory Scanners into the Plex Media Server directory.
2. Inside the Scanners\Series directory, rename or copy the sample-ta_config.json to ta_config.json.
3. Update the configurations within the ta_config.json file to reflect your settings for connecting to the TubeArchivist instance and its API Key.
4. Change the ownership and permissions of both the Python script and configuration JSON file to allow access to the Plex user that is appropriate for your system. This should match most other files already in the Plex Media Server directory.
5. After you have placed the Agent, you will restart the Plex Media Server service.

Agent Installation

1. If there is still a Scanners folder in the TubeArchivist-Agent.bundle directory, go ahead and move/remove it.
2. Move the TubeArchivist-Agent.bundle directory into the Plex Media Server\Plug-ins directory.
3. Change the ownership and permissions of the directory and all subdirectories/files to allow access to the Plex user that is appropriate for your system. This should match the other Agent bundles that are already in the Plex Media Server\Plug-ins directory.
4. Restart the Plex Media Server service as is appropriate for your system.

Library Integration

1. After the Scanner and Agent have been installed, create a new (or update an existing) library.
2. Choose the Manage Library -> Edit... option.
3. On the General tab, select the TV Shows option.
4. On the Add Folders tab, select the TubeArchivist Media location that contains all of the channel folders (the parent folder).
5. On the Advanced tab, select or update the following mandatory options:
   • Scanner: TubeArchivist Scanner
   • Agent: TubeArchivist Agent
   • TubeArchivist API Key: Insert the API Key (this is the same that is used for the Scanner config file)
   • TubeArchivist URL: The URL that Plex can access your TubeArchivist instance
6. The Scanner should immediately start finding new videos and update as it sees them, but you can also run a Scan Library Files for the Library to initiate a check.
7. The Agent should update the metadata after finding the new videos, but you can also run a Refresh Metadata on the Library, Channel, or individual video to initiate an update.

Troubleshooting

If you are having problems with seeing the Scanner or Agent, confirm that the instructions are followed. If the Scanner and Agent are selected, but you are not seeing videos, then it could mean that the Scanner is having a problem. Check the Scanner Logs to get more information. If the Scanner and Agent are selected, but the channels or videos are not pulling in thumbnails, correct titles, or having other issues with the metadata, then it could mean that the Agent is having a problem. Check the Agent Logs to get more information.

Log Locations

Scanner Log Location: Plex Media Server/Logs/TubeArchivist Scanner, default file is _root_.scanner.log

Agent Log Location: Plex Media Server/Logs/PMS Plugin Logs/com.plexapp.agents.tubearchivist_agent.log

Issues

If you are still having an issue, either open an Issue in GitHub or a Support Case on the Discord, specifying that it is related to the Plex integration.

Special Thanks and Reference

This project is heavily influenced by the works of ZeroQI, JordyAlkema, and BeefTornado, as well as the Plex Media Server's official scanners and agents.