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Using Your Library
A Blank Box title brings together the details, physical copies and digital sources for a work. You might have a film on disc and in a connected server, or a book on your shelf and as an ebook. Review matches so those sources can belong to the same title while keeping their own details.
Open Add physical item and enter the title, format and location on the same screen used for matching. Search My Library for a saved title or Blank Box Database for an installed reference. You can also enter your own details or scan a barcode. Choose starting formats by media type and a preferred title-search source in Settings → Collection → Physical Media preferences. Multiple copies keep their own condition and location.
Barcode scanning needs camera permission and a secure browser context such as localhost or HTTPS. Manual code entry and barcode photos are alternatives. An unknown code can still be cataloged manually. A title match alone does not identify an exact edition, and a scanned reference does not become an owned copy until you confirm it.
Open Import Media → Import a title list and choose a UTF-8 CSV, TSV or text file, up to 100 MB and 100,000 rows. Check the mapped columns, then prepare the rows in the background. Uploading and preparation do not add items. Review the results before saving.
Blank Box recognizes blu-ray.com collection exports and preserve disc format, film year, studio, runtime, purchase price, comments and release IDs. Site IDs stay separate from barcodes. Disc dates stay separate from film dates. Strong matches and repeated rows need review; sharing title words alone does not block import, and different TV seasons stay distinct.
Optional Blank Box Database matching offers details from installed offline packs. Choose and review matches before adding; they fill empty fields without replacing your entered facts. With database review enabled, save the displayed page of up to 25 rows. Without it, save up to 200 ready rows at once. A completed review can be resumed after closing or restarting. If preparation was interrupted, choose the file again.
Configure a source folder on the computer running Blank Box, with permission for its service account to read it. For Docker, mount the folder read-only into the container and use that container path in the source configuration.
- Open Import → Files on a drive or folder, choose the configured source and index it.
- Review the proposed titles and file clues. Link a file to an existing title where appropriate, or deliberately create a separate title.
- For larger drives, use Match all files (preview), review the proposed counts and confirm the links. Resolve uncertain files in Needs review.
- Open a title and check its Sources before importing the rest of the drive.
Indexing and linking leave originals in place. Copying files into managed storage is a separate confirmed action. Disconnecting a drive makes its files unavailable without erasing your saved title or ownership records. A changed file or drive identity needs review before access resumes.
Add your existing server under Settings → Connections, enter its reachable address and connection credentials, then sync its catalog. Clear connected duplicates can consolidate on update and sync while retaining sources and editions. Conflicting details and uncertain matches remain for review. See Connected libraries.
A connected catalog adds title information and service sources. It does not copy the server's media into Blank Box or create owned physical copies. Playback opens the connected service, where you may need to sign in separately. The provider must be reachable from the device using it.
Open a title to see its artwork, edition choices and playback in a popup over your library. Choose Edit title details for shared information, Edit this copy for the selected physical copy, or Choose details source beside the cover. Review an offline or connected match before applying its facts.
Use Edit artwork beside the cover to save several images for a title or physical edition, label front/back/spine artwork, and choose the main cover. Music covers use a square view without cropping. Packaging and release labels accept suggested or custom values. Your saved artwork and corrections remain in the catalog when a reference pack is removed. Provider covers remain connected references.
Record purchased, redeemed or code-included digital platforms under Digital purchases & codes → Add record. These records indicate ownership or a code; they do not create playable media or redeem a code. Editable streaming service names/links and Movies Anywhere searches are separate from actual playback. See Collector details.
Open a title and choose an available source. Blank Box directly plays files your browser supports and provides readers for supported EPUB and CBZ documents; PDFs use the browser's reader. Browser container and codec support varies. Use a compatible external app when a file cannot play or open in the browser.
Music tracks, episodes and audiobook parts can remain distinct sources under a title. Physical disc records describe your copies; playing a video disc requires an authorized compatible player on the computer with the drive. Blank Box does not include video transcoding or protected-disc copying.
Playback guide · Organizing collections · Backup and recovery
Open these separate planning pages from My Library or Physical Media. Wishlist keeps intended purchases; Preorders tracks paid orders awaiting delivery. Receive partial quantities as physical copies or digital purchase records and retain order history. Optional sidebar links start off. Purchasing guide
Cards show source and edition counts beneath the title. Watch and Listen have one row per app and Local; seasons, episodes, discs and songs follow Change source. Matching connected standard cuts count once, while physical releases and named cuts remain distinct.
Use the guides included with your installed version for its exact commands. Windows remains experimental. Report feedback without sharing household data or credentials.