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:

• Library Scan finds media files in your library folders
• Filename Parsing extracts title, year, and other identifying information
• Metadata Lookup resolves supported IDs or searches TMDB for potential matches
• Confidence Evaluation determines how reliable each match is
• Automatic or Review: high-confidence matches are applied automatically, and the rest get flagged for you to review

What Gets Parsed from Filenames

Movies

Norri extracts the following from movie files:

TV Shows

For TV shows, additional elements are extracted:

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

Provider IDs for TV Shows

A TV folder can include a TMDB, TVDB, or IMDb series ID. Norri resolves supported IDs to identify the show and retains the related provider IDs. An ID from a different media type, or conflicting IDs, may require correction rather than being silently accepted.

Optional: NFO Files

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

• Kodi-format NFO files are supported
• Enable Use NFO metadata files in library settings
• Choose Prefer online (recommended), Prefer NFO, or NFO only (offline) to control the source of the displayed details
• Useful for manual overrides or rare content

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, so multiple movies might share the same title
• Title differs significantly from any exact match (fuzzy match only)
• Multiple equally good results came back
• No results at all
• Year mismatch between the filename and the best match

Reviewing Flagged Items

Go to Settings → Library Health to review uncertain movie matches. Open Match details to compare the source file with each suggested movie, including year, runtime, and IDs. A selected suggestion is not saved until you choose Apply selected match. Confirm a correct current match, or search for another movie or enter a provider ID. For a TV show, use the review controls on its detail page.

See Library Health for the available actions and NFO Metadata Files for local metadata modes.

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 metadata updates 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. Click the lock icon beside a field to unlock it
4. Save your changes

Best Practices for Naming

Following standard naming conventions makes matching much more reliable.

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 TV matches, you can include a TMDB, TVDB, or IMDb series ID in the show folder name:

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

Replace the sample numbers with the series’ actual IDs. Norri checks these IDs against the provider and existing library identity. Conflicting, invalid, or wrong-media IDs can still need review.

TV folder years are optional. A year is useful when two series have the same title, but its absence does not prevent an import. For movie folders, TMDB and IMDb IDs are supported; use IDs for a movie, not a TV series.

Tips for Better Matching

• Include the year when possible to help distinguish remakes, originals, and similarly named shows.
• Use official titles. If you’re not sure, check TMDB for the exact spelling.
• Keep one folder per movie or TV show.
• Be consistent with naming throughout your library.
• Check the review queue regularly to make sure flagged items get 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. Open Identify or Find match, depending on the page
4. Search for the correct title or use its provider ID, then check the result before applying 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 Update Metadata
3. Verify your internet connection
4. Check that the TMDB API is accessible