MetaData
Metadata is a name for a collection of files that contain information about a show or episodes (like actors, show id's, etc) and images (posters, fan art etc.).
Many third party media players use those files to display additional information about a show, or its used to show descriptions in your native language. The files are called tvshow.nfo or poster.jpg etc.
For Medusa they can come in handy when starting a fresh install or reinstalling.
When Medusa finds the metadata file(s) in your shows folder, it will detect all the necessary data like the tvdbid to add the show without searching the thetvdb website.
The real advantage comes when you have many show folders that have metadata. Medusa will detect those shows automatically and you can mass-add all the shows with a simple click.
This allows the building of a fresh database to be extremely quick.
This depends on the type of mediaplayer you use. Your Western Digital player may use other files than your KODI player. The most universal is probbebly the KODI 12+ type. And that is the one we advice to use. Also you dont have to use metadata in combination with a player, as its also handy to use the metadata with Medusa.
Again depends on the situation. But its generally advised to at-least add the Show Metadata file for a show.
That will allow you to add the shows to Medusa with a simple click.
First go to Settings --> Post processing --> Metadata. You will be presented with the below screen.
Here select the type of metadata you need. Make sure you select the type that your media player supports.
The next step is selecting the metadata files you need. This depends on your preferences, but we advice to add the Show Metadata at a minimum. You can also select poster/banner in case you prefer to store those on your disk so that Medusa doesn't have to download them.
Push on save and the settings are saved, and with the next show update the metadata files will be created.
In this example we have metadata created/added to a show folder and start with a fresh installation of Medusa.
Click on add shows and select add existing shows.
If the root folder is set, Medusa will show you a list of the found folders. Select the folders/shows you like and click on the submit. If the metadata is present the shows will be instantly added.
Now you have created a new/fresh show database with just a few clicks.!