SCRIPT IS CURRENTLY BROKEN AND OBSOLETE. ARCHIVED.

PlexDBI

This Python3 script is intended to manipulate Plex's homescreen table "Recently added movies" it can also use the tmdb-api if the user have an api key. Otherwise that'll be ignored.

Whenever this script is run, the Recently added movie table will be "refreshed" and from left to right the following movies will appear:

1. The movie in the database with the latest release date.

2. The movie in the database with the 2nd latest release date.

3. The movie in the database with the 3rd latest release date.

4. The movie in the database with the 4th latest release date. Provided that it isn't more than 14 day older than the latest.

5. The movie in the database with the 5th latest release date. Provided that it isn't more than 14 day older than the latest.

6. The movie in the database with the 6th latest release date. Provided that it isn't more than 14 day older than the latest.

7. The movie in the database with the 7th latest release date. Provided that it isn't more than 14 day older than the latest.

8. A movie that's older than 10 years with a Imdb score of 8 or more will be placed here. "Old but Gold"

9. With the tmdb api a random movie with a relative low popularity on tmdb will be chosen. young movies and good rating increases likely hood of getting "picked". I call it "The Hidden Gem".

10. A movie selected randomly in the entire library

This can now be modified to your liking in the config file.

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Linux installation:

download the PlexDBI.py file and put it somewhere. for example:

    cd /opt && git clone https://github.com/KBlixt/PlexDBI.git && cd PlexDBI

At this point you can run it if you give it sudo privileges. It will set up the syslink for the database and the config file for you. you'll still have to configure the config file but just run the script and it will tell you what's wrong and how to fix it.

    sudo python3 PlexDBI.py

Then it's up to you if you wish to add it to a crontab schedule, personally i've got it scheduled once a day at 10:30 in the root crontab.

    30 10 * * * cd /opt/PlexDBI/  && /usr/bin/python3 /opt/PlexDBI/PlexDBI.py

If you don't want to give it sudo privileges then you'll have make a symlink for the database. i.e:

    ln -s "/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Plug-in Support/Databases/com.plexapp.plugins.library.db" PlexDatabase.db

Without sudo privilege you'll also have to remember to stop plexmediaserver before you run the script and then restart it since it can't shut down the plex service without permissions to the "sudo service plexmediaserver stop/start" commands. Now, I've been running this script plenty of times with plex still online so I think it's ok, but I'm not sure. better safe than sorry. Although, if you run it while plex is online it will act a bit funky until you restart the plex service.

alternative you can allow the user running the script sudo access to the "service plexmediaserver *" command and it should run nicely as long as you set up the symlink yourself.

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Other installations:

for windows

clone the repository, then you'll need to set up a syslink for the database manually using this command when your in the script :

mklink PlexDatabase.db "C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Plex Media Server\Plug-in Support\Databases\com.plexapp.plugins.library.db"

then run it and follow the instructions.

for mac:

As long as you guys haven't changed the default installation paths to the plex media server app you really just need to download the script and run it with the latest available python3, however you guys do that. Preferably run it in a command window, then it'll instruct you of what's wrong and how to fix it. Otherwise make sure the config file is filled out correctly.

for NAS and other OS:

I really have no clue. if you setup the config file and the database link manually then the script should run as long as you can run python3 code.

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FAIR WARNING:

This script will edit the PlexMediaServer database directly! Specifically, it will change "added_at" in the "metadata_items" table.

Backup your database! Just in case really because so far I haven't managed to corrupted mine. And I've been pretty rough.

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Incoming improvements

I'll be improving it sometime soon. the following things will be added/modified, just send me a msg if you wish to add something and I'll take a look at it.

• implementing a option so you can set movies added date to be their release date. (done)

• removing the need to make a symlink, just providing the path to the plex home folder should be enough. although the symlink solution have the advantage of avoiding any perimission issue.

• clean up the script so it work better in other systems.