Media Matching

When you add media to your library, Norri automatically identifies each file and matches it to the correct movie or TV show. This page explains how the matching process works and how to get the best results.

How Matching Works

The matching process happens in several stages:

1. File Discovery — Norri scans your library folders for media files
2. Filename Parsing — Extracts title, year, and other identifying information
3. Metadata Search — Queries TMDB (and TVDB for TV shows) for matches
4. Confidence Evaluation — Determines if the match is reliable
5. Automatic or Review — High-confidence matches are applied automatically; others are flagged for review

What Gets Parsed from Filenames

Movies

Norri extracts the following from movie files:

Element	Example	Notes
Title	The Matrix	From folder name or filename
Year	(1999)	In parentheses after title
Quality	1080p, 4K	Used for display, not matching

TV Shows

For TV shows, additional elements are extracted:

Element	Example	Notes
Show Name	Breaking Bad	From top-level folder
Season	S01, Season 01	From folder or filename
Episode	E05, 1x05	Episode number within season
Episode Title	Pilot	Optional, after episode number

Matching Sources

Primary: TMDB

The Movie Database (TMDB) is Norri’s primary metadata source for both movies and TV shows. It provides:

• Comprehensive movie and TV databases
• Artwork (posters, backdrops, stills)
• Cast and crew information
• Multi-language support

Secondary: TheTVDB

For TV shows, TheTVDB provides additional data:

• Episode ordering variations (aired, DVD, absolute)
• Specials and extras
• Alternative series artwork

Optional: NFO Files

If you have existing NFO files from other media software, Norri can read them:

• Kodi-format NFO files are supported
• NFO must be enabled in library settings
• TMDB data takes priority over NFO for freshness
• Useful for manual overrides or rare content

Tip

For most users, TMDB provides all necessary metadata. NFO files are only needed for unusual cases.

Match Confidence

Norri evaluates each match for confidence based on several factors:

High Confidence (Automatic Match)

• Title matches exactly (accounting for punctuation)
• Year matches (if year is in filename)
• Only one reasonable result from search

Flagged for Review

Matches are flagged when:

• No year in filename — Multiple movies may have the same title
• Title differs significantly — Fuzzy match found, but not exact
• Multiple results — Several equally good matches found
• No results — Could not find any match
• Year mismatch — Found title, but years don’t match

Reviewing Flagged Items

1. Go to Settings > Libraries > [Your Library]
2. Look for the Needs Review badge
3. For each flagged item, you can:
   • Confirm the suggested match
   • Search for a different match
   • Manually enter a TMDB ID

Field Locking

When you manually edit metadata for a movie or TV show, those fields become “locked” to preserve your changes.

How It Works

• Edit any field (title, description, artwork, etc.)
• That field is automatically locked
• Future automatic refreshes skip locked fields
• Your customizations are preserved

Unlocking Fields

If you want to allow automatic updates again:

1. Navigate to the item’s detail page
2. Open the edit menu
3. Find the Locked Fields section
4. Unlock specific fields as needed

Note

Locked fields appear with a lock icon in the edit interface.

Best Practices for Naming

Following standard naming conventions dramatically improves matching accuracy.

Movies

Movies/
  Movie Name (Year)/
    Movie Name (Year).mkv
    Movie Name (Year).en.srt

Examples:

Movies/
  The Matrix (1999)/
    The Matrix (1999).mkv
  Inception (2010)/
    Inception (2010).mkv

TV Shows

TV Shows/
  Show Name (Year)/
    Season 01/
      Show Name - S01E01 - Episode Title.mkv
      Show Name - S01E02 - Episode Title.mkv
    Season 02/
      Show Name - S02E01 - Episode Title.mkv

Examples:

TV Shows/
  Breaking Bad (2008)/
    Season 01/
      Breaking Bad - S01E01 - Pilot.mkv
      Breaking Bad - S01E02 - Cat's in the Bag.mkv
  The Office (2005)/
    Season 01/
      The Office - S01E01 - Pilot.mkv

Supported Filename Patterns

Norri recognizes many common naming patterns:

Standard (most reliable):

• Show Name - S01E01 - Episode Title.mkv
• Show Name - S01E01.mkv

Alternative formats:

• Show Name 1x01.mkv
• Show.Name.S01E01.mkv

Multi-episode:

• Show Name - S01E01-E02.mkv
• Show Name - S01E01E02.mkv

Absolute numbering (anime):

• Anime Name - 001.mkv
• Anime Name - 426.mkv

Date-based (daily shows):

• Talk Show - 2024-01-15.mkv

Forcing a Match with Database IDs

For difficult matches, you can include the TMDB or TVDB ID in the folder name:

TV Shows/
  Show Name (2020) {tmdb-12345}/
    Season 01/
      ...
  Anime Name (2019) {tvdb-67890}/
    Season 01/
      ...

This tells Norri exactly which entry to match, bypassing the search process entirely.

Tips for Better Matching

1. Always include the year — Prevents confusion between remakes and originals
2. Use official titles — Check TMDB for the exact title spelling
3. Organize in folders — One folder per movie or TV show
4. Be consistent — Use the same naming pattern throughout your library
5. Check the review queue — Regularly review flagged items to ensure accurate metadata

Troubleshooting

Wrong Match

If a movie or show was matched incorrectly:

1. Go to the item’s detail page
2. Click the Edit button
3. Select Search TMDB
4. Find the correct match and select it

No Match Found

If Norri couldn’t find a match:

1. Check the filename follows naming conventions
2. Search TMDB directly to confirm the entry exists
3. Try adding the year to the filename
4. Use a database ID hint in the folder name

Metadata Not Updating

If automatic updates aren’t applying:

1. Check if fields are locked
2. Try a manual metadata refresh
3. Verify your internet connection
4. Check that the TMDB API is accessible