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MetaTana

These docs are for MetaTana 2.0, coming soon

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Scan Found Too Few Files

You pointed MetaTana at a folder with 200 media files and the Library shows 12. Or 0. Either MetaTana can't see the files, decided they aren't media, or skipped them while reading their names. This page walks the checks.

Common causes, in order of likelihood

  1. A path MetaTana can't seeMost common on Docker. The path you typed is valid on your host but doesn't resolve inside the container.
  2. File type skippedThe file extension isn't on the list of media types. MetaTana scans mkv, mp4, avi, mov, wmv, flv, webm, m4v, mpg, mpeg, m2ts, vob, ogm, ts, and iso files, plus disc folders (BDMV, VIDEO_TS).
  3. Folder role or content type doesn't fitA library folder skips files that look incomplete or are still being copied. An incoming folder sends new files to the Inbox instead of straight into the Library. A folder whose content type is movies treats every file as a movie.
  4. PermissionsThe user MetaTana runs as (your account on desktop, the container user in Docker) can't read the folder or some files in it.
  5. Folder pausedThe folder exists but is paused, so it isn't scanned.
  6. A skip rule caught the filesSettings › General › Skip while scanning skips small files, some names, and some folders.

Diagnose

Confirm the path resolves

From MetaTana's point of view, not yours.

Desktop: the path is on the folder's row on the Folders page. Copy it. Paste into a terminal and ls to confirm files are visible.

Docker: The path inside the container is what matters, not the host path. Check your docker run mounts:

docker exec -it metatana ls /library/movies

Should show your media. If empty, the mount is wrong. If permission denied, see the permissions check below.

Read scan results in Activity

Open Activity. Scan rows name the folder they scanned; search for the folder, or set Show to Problems for failed scans. A scan row says how many files were identified, how many need review, and how many files or folders it skipped because it couldn't read them, for example 212 identified, 3 need review, skipped 4 files.

If the identified count is close to your file count, the files are there and waiting elsewhere (the Inbox or Library › Unscraped). If it is far lower and nothing was skipped, MetaTana never saw the files: check the path, file types, and skip rules. If files were skipped, check permissions.

Check permissions

Container users and restricted accounts often can't read folders set to chmod 700.

# Desktop
ls -la /path/to/folder

# Docker
docker exec -it metatana stat /library/movies

Check the folder's settings

On the Folders page, open the folder's Edit folder drawer. Confirm:

  • The folder isn't paused (its row shows Paused, and Pause watching is on in the drawer)
  • Content type fits the files (Movies, Shows, Anime, Mixed, or Home videos & other); a movies folder pointed at TV files turns every episode into a movie
  • Folder role under More options matches the job: Library for media you keep, Incoming, Drop folder, or Disc copies for a folder that feeds the Inbox

Fix

  • Wrong Docker mount: stop the container, fix the -v flag, and start it again. The next scan sees the new mount.
  • Desktop disk or share is offline: mount or reconnect the exact path shown by MetaTana, then retry. If macOS mounted it under a new name, use Reconnect folder…; MetaTana will not guess a similar /Volumes/Name-1 path. If it says Not responding, check the disk or network share before using Check again. That button only checks access. While the path is unavailable, MetaTana starts no metadata lookups or file changes for that folder.
  • Skipped while scanning: Settings › General › Skip while scanning has Files smaller than, Never scan, and Ignore words in names. Loosen the rule that caught your files, then Rescan all files on the folder.
  • Wrong folder role: change it in Edit folder › More options › Folder role. Be careful: any role other than Library sends new files through Arrivals in the Inbox.
  • Permission denied: chmod -R u+r on desktop, or fix PUID and PGID on Docker (see Install and sign-in problems).
  • Paused folder: select Resume on its row on Folders, then Scan now.
After fixing the path or role, rescan all files Open Folders, then the folder's ⋯ menu, then Rescan all files. That scan re-reads every file instead of skipping the ones it already saw. Your Incremental setting stays as it is.

For a library that an older MetaTana version scanned as individual Blu-ray .m2ts or DVD .vob files, run Rescan all files once on that folder (the folder's ⋯ menu on Folders) and let it finish. It records the complete disc as one title and removes the old standalone stream records without changing the disc files. A scan that doesn't finish, an incremental scan, or a scan started by watching does not do this cleanup.

"Some files may be missing from the library"

Home may show this notice once, on a library that an older MetaTana version scanned. Those versions could leave a file out of the library when another file had the same size. Nothing was deleted from disk. Select Rescan all on the notice to add any missing files back, or Dismiss it. It does not come back after either choice.

Going deeper