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Execute Scrape Task

The scrape task is the second step in organizing your movies. Simply put: the system looks up movie info online (posters, descriptions, cast, etc.) based on your scrape rules, then organizes everything into the right place.

What does "scraping" mean? Scraping is when the system automatically searches online for movie information — cover images, plot summaries, cast, ratings, etc. (collectively called "metadata") — and downloads it to match up with your video files. Think of it as "tagging" your movie files.

Prerequisites​

Before running a scrape task, make sure the following is ready:

Network Connection​

You need internet access to look up movie info online.

Metadata Plugins​

Make sure the relevant metadata plugins are enabled and configured. These are the tools that find movie info for you:

:::warning Important Without metadata plugins enabled, the system can't fetch movie info — scraping will definitely fail. :::

:::info Data Source Disclaimer This software does not provide any source data. All movie info comes from the plugin services you configure. :::

Execute Scrape Task​

Step 1: Enter the Scrape Storage Page​

Go to Task Management from the left nav, then select Scrape Storage.

Scrape Storage Page

Step 2: Select Files to Scrape​

On the scrape storage page, you'll see a list of all files waiting to be scraped. Check the ones you want to process.

Step 3: Start Scraping​

Click the Scrape and Organize button, and the system gets to work.

Execute Scrape Task

Step 4: Check Task Status​

During execution, the page shows progress in real-time:

  • Number of successfully scraped files
  • Number of failed files
  • Number of skipped files

Step 5: Cancel the Task (If Needed)​

If you need to stop during execution, click the Cancel button at any time.

How Scraping Works​

Here's the full scraping workflow:

  1. Read scrape rules: The system determines how to handle files based on your configured rules
  2. Match metadata: Using your enabled metadata plugins, it tries to find detailed movie info
  3. Generate media files: Based on the found info, it creates standardized media files
  4. Organize file structure: Files are arranged according to your preset naming rules and directory structure

Common Problems and Solutions​

Problem: Scraping Failed​

Possible causes:

  • Network connection issues
  • Metadata plugin not enabled or misconfigured
  • Scrape rules set up incorrectly
  • File naming doesn't match recognition rules

Solutions:

  • Check if the network is working
  • Confirm metadata plugins are enabled and configured correctly
  • Review scrape rule settings
  • Try changing the file name to make it easier to recognize

Problem: Incomplete Movie Info​

Possible causes:

  • Plugin service temporarily unavailable
  • The movie isn't found in the plugin service
  • Network is slow, causing timeouts

Solutions:

  • Try again later — it might just be a temporary glitch
  • Switch to a different metadata plugin
  • Check network stability

Best Practices​

  1. Batch process: If you have lots of files, scrape them in batches to avoid overloading the system
  2. Configure first: Make sure scrape rules and metadata plugins are all set up before scraping
  3. Update plugins regularly: Newer plugin versions have better matching results
  4. Check logs when things fail: Look at system logs for detailed error info

Notes​

:::caution Note Scrape tasks may take a while, depending on file count and network speed. Just be patient. :::

:::tip Tip For better scraping results, make sure file names are as standardized as possible, including key identifying info (like video numbers, titles, etc.). :::