Metadata and Extended Attributes

[rednoah]

FileBot uses xattr (i.e. Extended Attributes / NTFS Alternative Streams) to store full metadata in filesystem attributes. These xattr are not to be confused with traditional tags that are embedded in the file content, but additional data streams stored in the file system for each file that are not part of the file itself. As such, xattr requires a filesystem that supports xattr, and xattr may be silently lost if files are moved to a filesystem that doesn't support xattr.



Details:

• [xattr:net.filebot.metadata] Episode or Movie Object
• [xattr:net.filebot.filename] Original filename

Usage:
FileBot and other programs have the original filename and all episode / movie metadata available regardless how the file is named. Sure nice to have full metadata instantly / offline available should you need it. Please read Plain File Mode and Re-organize previously organized files using local xattr metadata for details and examples on how to re-match files to previously stored xattr metadata.


Disable this feature via the -no-xattr command-line flag:

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-no-xattr

or via system properties:

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filebot -script fn:properties --def useExtendedFileAttributes=false

Configure FileBot to store xattr metadata in plain text files instead of filesystem xattr streams:

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filebot -script fn:properties --def net.filebot.xattr.store=.xattr

You can unset the net.filebot.xattr.store setting to restore the original behaviour:

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filebot -script fn:properties --def net.filebot.xattr.store=

If you require cross-platform compatibility, then using .xattr folders and files is highly recommended.




View or Clear Extended Attributes
with the filebot command-line tool:

View xattr for files:

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filebot -script fn:xattr /path/to/files

Clear xattr from files:

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filebot -script fn:xattr /path/to/files --action clear

Prune orphaned .xattr folders where the corresponding media file no longer exists:

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filebot -script fn:xattr /path/to/files --action prune

[rednoah]

If Extended Attributes are enabled and supported by your file system, then FileBot will the store original file name and episode / movie metadata into Extended Attributes for future reference by FileBot or other applications.


e.g. write xattr:

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$ filebot -rename . --db TheTVDB -non-strict --log INFO
[MOVE] from [Alias.1x01.mp4] to [Alias - 1x01 - Truth Be Told.mp4]

e.g. read xattr:

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$ filebot -script fn:xattr .
Alias - 1x01 - Truth Be Told.mp4
	net.filebot.filename: Alias.1x01.mp4
	net.filebot.metadata: {"@type":"Episode","seriesName":"Alias","season":1,"episode":1,"title":"Truth Be Told","airdate":{"year":2001,"month":9,"day":30},"id":180267,"seriesInfo":{"database":"TheTVDB","order":"Airdate","language":"en","type":"TV Series","id":75930,"name":"Alias","aliasNames":["Alias - Die Agentin","Alias (2001)","זהות בדויה","Alias - Codinome Perigo","Шпионка","特務A"],"certification":"TV-14","startDate":{"year":2001,"month":9,"day":30},"genres":["Action","Adventure","Drama","Suspense"],"network":"ABC (US)","rating":8.2,"ratingCount":3316,"runtime":45,"status":"Ended"}}

e.g. read xattr with 3rd party tools:

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$ xattr -p net.filebot.metadata *.mp4 | jsonpp
{
  "@type": "Episode",
  "seriesName": "Alias",
  "season": 1,
  "episode": 1,
  "title": "Truth Be Told",
  "airdate": {
    "year": 2001,
    "month": 9,
    "day": 30
  },
  "id": 180267,
  "seriesInfo": {
    "database": "TheTVDB",
    "order": "Airdate",
    "language": "en",
    "type": "TV Series",
    "id": 75930,
    "name": "Alias",
    "aliasNames": [
      "Alias - Die Agentin",
      "Alias (2001)",
      "זהות בדויה",
      "Alias - Codinome Perigo",
      "Шпионка",
      "特務A"
    ],
    "certification": "TV-14",
    "startDate": {
      "year": 2001,
      "month": 9,
      "day": 30
    },
    "genres": [
      "Action",
      "Adventure",
      "Drama",
      "Suspense"
    ],
    "network": "ABC (US)",
    "rating": 8.2,
    "ratingCount": 3316,
    "runtime": 45,
    "status": "Ended"
  }
}

e.g. read xattr via our xattr.py python script:

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$ python xattr.py *.mp4 net.filebot.metadata
...

Please read Plain File Mode and Re-organize previously organized files using local xattr metadata for details and examples on how to re-match files to previously stored xattr metadata.