[Wishlist] Move completed files to a folder according to specified torrent label.

[Shem-Tov]

First of all I would like to say thank you for building such a wonderful and useful program.
I would like there to be a feature which automatically moves torrent files upon completion, according to folders associated with specific labels.
For example move videos into a video folder, music into music folder.... and so forth...
.
This will address two problems I have experienced, and add a feature:

1. If I choose to move all completed torrents to a specific folder (an option which currently exists), it will do so for all torrents, which can be a big problem when some torrents have been downloaded to a different logical drive, because it will waste time and resources moving files I had no intention of moving in the first place.
2. If I choose not to move files after completion, I am stuck with hundreds of torrents, some which have completed downloading and some which have not, it is just a big mess.
3. It will also allow for better organization of torrent files.

[chrishirst]

That would be the;

"[ ] Append the label of the torrent to the save path" checkbox in Tools -> Options -> Downloads

[Shem-Tov]

I have checked out the option you were referring to.
This option changes the save path and appends a directory to the default directory with the name of the label.
But it saves the files there automatically and does not move them when it is done downloading, and so still I won't be able to tell complete from incomplete torrents.
And second of all, this option does absolutely nothing when I try saving the torrent anywhere else, on a different drive or even on the same drive in a different directly. It only works from the default directory.
.
To put it simply, I was looking for an option where each torrent had in its properties a "temporary download" directory, and a "move to when completed" directory. So that this option could be configured for every individual torrent, and I suggested in my "issue", to use the labels as a method of making it user friendly.
Where each label would be associated to a preconfigured directory which is chosen by the user (any folder on any drive), and the torrent will be moved there only on completion.
Thank you.

[Shem-Tov]

The way I use qbittorrent right now, is i download everything to the
default directory, and only when they are completed to I Label them, and i
make sure the "append label to directory" is checked in settings.
This way I am able to sort all the torrents to whatever directory I want
through the qbittorrent client by labelling them ( and i do so only after
the download has completed so that only completed torrents will be in the
labeled directories )
And if you dont want the incomplete torrents to be in the default directory
(because it clutters up the directory) then you can label all torrents in
the beginning (i label them as "_Unfinished"), and when they are finished,
change the label, and the files will move to the new directory.
I hope this helps.
On Nov 5, 2014 1:06 PM, "Jabe64" notifications@github.com wrote:

+1 for this feature. It's the only one I really miss from utorrent. Did
you find any solution?

—
Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub
#1908 (comment)
.

[MagikMan74]

I love the way Tixati handles this a lot more than just appending the label name. When you set labels up in Tixati you can assign a directory to them. Any torrent added to that label gets moved to that directory immediately. It doesn't way until completion though.

This is extremely handy considering I use different RSS feeds for different things and I've set them up so that the RSS feed default labels anything it downloads. This will then place those downloads into the correct folder where my media server immediately picks up and sorts correctly because I've told it which folders mean which media types. I download certain file types to one drive and media file types to a NAS drive. This makes for a very comfortable and hands free experience.

I'm much more of a fan of the qBittorent UI than the Tixati one, and the fact that q has a web interface, and any features I can request here from there that helps improve it, I'll do it. :)

[dietler]

I wish the default action was to only move the labeled files to their (completed downloads)/(label name)/ directory once the download was complete.

That is the way it works in uTorrent and it allows you to process the finished files in a certain directory while other files are still downloading.

[chrishirst]

libtorrent (the qBT protocol engine) does not have that capability, it moves the entire payload when all the required pieces are completed.

And;

only move the labeled files

files do not have 'labels', they are applied to tasks and therefore apply to all the files in the payload.

[valzi]

I really wish this worked.

[KrunchMuffin]

I was looking to move away from utorrent and trying this and Deluge. Deluge has the option to move the data after it is done, but I would rather use QBT. Hopefully something can be implemented.

[chrishirst]

Hopefully something can be implemented.

It has and is working as expected in v3.2

[valzi]

I figured it out. It's not working as expected. There's a very misleading option that prevents it from working. Changing that option gives the desired effect.

Options --> Downloads ---> Automatically add torrents from watched folder: Then next to the watched folder, there is a checkbox. Checking that checkbox does not make it automatically add torrents from the watched folder. Instead, it makes it save ALL files to that watch folder, which is far from what the user clicking the checkbox is likely to intend.

There's also a blank section that says "Download here," which is probably where the checkbox is supposed to be. I assumed that part was meaningless or broken and didn't notice that there was a chance that the checkbox was meant to be associated with that text.

[chrishirst]

Checking that checkbox does not make it automatically add torrents from the watched folder. Instead, it makes it save ALL files to that watch folder,

That's why the 'check box' column is headed by "Download here"

[valzi]

Actually, if you look at my screenshot, you'll see the checkbox's column appears to be headed by "Watched Folder."

[KrunchMuffin]

I don't really get how this works, but I don't think it's what I need. I would like an option to move to a folder per torrent.

[MagikMan74]

Actually, if you look at my screenshot, you'll see the checkbox's column appears to be headed by "Watched Folder."

Actually, if you look at your screenshot, there's a distinctive line between "Watched Folder" and "Download Here" in the grids headers.

I really wish people would understand the desired effect before posting how things are "working as expected" or any variation of the sort. We don't want EVERY download to go to a new folder, we want to be able to categorize downloads and those categories get placed into separate folders.

[chrishirst]

We don't want EVERY download to go to a new folder, we want to be able to categorize downloads and those categories get placed into separate folders.

No idea what you mean. If you check "Download here" that is where that payload will be put, it will only create a new folder for each one IF there IS a parent folder as part of the payload.

If you want to 'categorise' your downloads into folders, use labels as that is what they do.

[MagikMan74]

The screenshot above shows a folder that the program watches for torrent files and when a new one is dropped into that folder it automatically starts the download, then allows for the torrents found inside that folder to be downloaded to that folder. That is hacky and not the best experience. I guess in a way it does accomplish what is being asked. So I spoke too soon on assuming that this didn't answer the need, I apologize.

However, what is being asked is when someone clicks on a magnet link it starts a download, then I right click that download and add a label to it. Because this label is A then it puts it into the drive/directory that A is assigned to. The B label is assigned to a completely different drive, but maybe the same directory name, so if I assign a download to that label then it goes there. I don't want to have to download the torrent file and place it into a certain directory so that it could be downloaded to that directory.

If you want to 'categorise' your downloads into folders, use labels as that is what they do.

Not really. The labels in this program will just create a subfolder with that label name inside the parent folder that every download goes too. I put some categories on completely different drives.

[mihawk90]

Basically (if I understand this right, and I think I am) this request is about an option just like uTorrent has:

Now how and where this could be implemented in the UI is a different topic.
Personally I don't like how uTorrent just put it in the general Options for the program, rather I think it would be better if we could just right-click the label, open a property window of it and assign whatever settings there. An automatic file-name filter would be nice, I personally just assign files via the RSS downloader though so it wouldn't be a big deal for me. The Download location however would be really nice.

As for some of the above comments for the folder getting cluttered with unfinished torrents, this is right, however you can use the "Keep incomplete torrents in:" option for that, right? Also using the .!qB extension might help out a little. If this is working differently then I think it is, sorry about that, I literally just installed qB :)

[chrishirst]

Options -> Downloads -> "[ ] Append the label of the torrent to the save path"

Other than that, It is just more bloat which is probably WHY you do not want to use uTorrent.

[voizzzz]

+1 on the request, I am very happy with qbittorrent except for this feature!

Other than that, It is just more bloat which is probably WHY you do not want to use uTorrent.

I feel that it is a very convenient feature. Especially for users like me who recently migrated from another client with this functionality for other reasons and my several download folders are not on the same path.

For example, an quick fix I would imagine would be to allow the character "/" on label names and then find the path accordingly. Even though it would be a bit inconvenient having large path names on labels, it would still be a quick fix nevertheless.

[mihawk90]

Other than that, It is just more bloat which is probably WHY you do not want to use uTorrent.

No, for me it is the exact reasony WHY I DO use µTorrent right now, even though I'd love to switch. It is also the reason why I need to use a newer version of µTorrent every now and again, because the configuration isn't available in my older version but the feature works in older versions...

Bloat is something that has no meaning or use in any way, but his is a very useful feature especially when you have multiple download folders and want to continue seeding for a long period of time (because, as we know, there are times when one HDD just isn't enough).

Some people (including me) have different Downloadfolders for differerent things, and just appending the Label to the default download folder just doesn't do the job.

As a work around people that need this COULD (maybe) use the Label appending, then move the files with a scheduled shell script and leave a symlink behind, which would probably work but it's just not exactly a clean solution.

an quick fix I would imagine would be to allow the character "/" on label names

not quite sure, but doesn't that already work? I think I saw someone writing that a few days ago.

[skeeve42]

I think I am looking for the same feature... I want qBittorrent to auto-add torrents from a certain folder AND add a label according to that folder's path.
For example:

If there was just an option to auto label from where QBT found the torrent, then it would move to the proper folder when it was finished downloading (such as D:\Completed Downloads\TV) and then it would be auto-processed from there.
Currently I have to add the label myself and/or copy files from the folder D:\Download\TV when they're completed, depending on which boxes I have ticked.

[EraYaN]

They can basically just rip off Tixati's system.

[chrishirst]

By "Tixati's system" do you mean the "closed source" Tixati bittorrent client or is there another open source one, that 'we' should know about??

[EraYaN]

It is closed source, but you don't have to reinvent the wheel. You can basically just rip off their (his IIRC) ideas.

For me at least, the hardest part is always solving a problem, implementation is then easier. The Tixati team is also a pretty helpful if you can get a hold of them, I think there was an IRC at one point.

[voizzzz]

Deluge (which also uses libtorrent) has had this feature for a long time.
I don't know if they did something additionally and whether it is hard to implement but I hope it helps.

[chrishirst]

Deluge (which also uses libtorrent) has had this feature for a long time.

So why are you not using Deluge?

@EraYaN

You can basically just rip off their (his IIRC) ideas.

Copying an 'idea' is one thing, implementing it successfully without introducing additional "undocumented features" is something entirely different, and as ALL the qbittorrent developers are volunteers with "proper jobs" such additions have to be weighed against them being useful to the majority of the qbittorrent user base.

[EraYaN]

I am fully aware that is takes precious time away from other issues. I never said anything to indicate otherwise.

This issue and the issue about the (planned?) overhaul of the label system (the one that was at first stopping the addition of the labels to the web ui) was basically a discussion of design and not implementation, so hence the pointers to the different other clients in those threads and this thread.

[kenorb]

Related: Different download paths for different labels in uTorrent at superuser

[mihawk90]

This is what qB already has, but not what has been asked for in the thread ;)

Appending the label is not the issue, the issue is having completely different directories independently of the configured Download folder.
For example I might have a "general purpose" download folder at C:\Users\<name>\Downloads but I might also want to have a specific anime label go to D:\Downloads\Anime because my C partition is rather small.
I can do that in uTorrent, and I'd love to switch, this feature is the only thing that's holding me from switching (that and also that migrating is kind of a PITA, but that's not as important)

[colineberly]

Almost started a migration today, realized this wasn't implemented in qBT, stopped, went back to uT. Would love to use qBT, but I can't until this is implemented as I have multiple drives involved.

[EraYaN]

@incace Wait what? Does uTorrent (the good ones, or new ones) actually do this? I can't remember, I had to have fun with symlinks I seem to recall.

[mihawk90]

yes it does... which is the whole point of this issue and conversation...
you need to configure it in some of the newer versions but it still works in the old versions.

[sth2258]

+1 for this one from me. My reason being - faster local disk, but larger (slower) storage disk. So keep files local while downloading and then move them, hopefully automatically, after downloads complete.

As a quick and dirty workaround, if you know the location and the files are all going to the same place after completion, I set qBittorrent to run a script after completion - "mv %f/%n /mnt/hgfs/Downloads" gets the job done.

[mihawk90]

Well I suppose you could also write a shellscript that accepts variables (labels for example), but it would be cleaner to have it integrated.

Also, does that method work if you plan on seeding after finish?

[raghur]

being able to pass the labels to a script would let users build their own solution. You can even use multiple labels to decide which drive to move the completed torrent to... Also, this lets qBT focus on torrent downloads and users can roll out their own 'when done do X' scripts

[Misiek304]

In qBt 3.3.5 there are categories instead of labels.
I would also liked to get a feature like in the picture above from uTorrent. I keep different files type on different drives and right now I have to do it all manually with remote desktop because WebUI doesn't even allow that.

[ghost]

Why the option "Append the labels for the folders" is gone in the latest version? ;(

[Misiek304]

I think they are trying to implement some kind of smart directory system which in it's current form is not very smart. Maybe one of the developers can tell us more about it.

[mihawk90]

being able to pass the labels to a script would let users build their own solution. You can even use multiple labels to decide which drive to move the completed torrent to... Also, this lets qBT focus on torrent downloads and users can roll out their own 'when done do X' scripts -- @raghur

true, but is it usable if you plan on seeding after finish? Meaning, does qBT track wherever the file is going after it's done processing in the script? Assuming I have the default download folder at C:\Users\<name>\Downloads. I let the script run after finish, the file gets moved to D:\Video\Anime and maybe also renamed by the script (maybe even using something like Filebot's CLI). Is it recognized by qBT so I can continue seeding? Obviously, without having to adjust paths manually because that's the whole point.

[raghur]

true, but is it usable if you plan on seeding after finish?

How about providing a cli api to call back into qBT to let it know the new location/path? I don't know about qBT internals/implementation - but it just feels that there are so many variations and conditions that building something in the core will only satisfy the most basic use cases. Maybe that can still be done. But giving users the tools they need to solve with whatever esoteric scenarios they have is probably better in the long term. Also - it's probably easier to boot and keeps the core slimmer without feeling inadequate

[bonny1992]

@shadowxgws @Misiek304
Where can I find that smart directory settings?
Also, the "append" function worked like a charm, why remove it?

Please, developers, if you don't plan to fix the folder system first, make an hotfix where the append function is available again (I'm not trying to set the pace, only missing a function that I find absolutely necessary)

Also, I'd like something like Deluge or Transmission category function, a regex-like auto label system!

[ghost]

Just switch in Options > Downloads > Saving Management > Default Torrent management set to Automatic and it will work as before. It was there all the time, just I found it recently.

[bonny1992]

@shadowxgws
Nope, it doesn't work to me... What do I have to set in the settings below?

[anarfox]

@bonny1992
Are you adding the torrents through the Web UI? It seem to always default to manual mode then. #5534

[jcharaoui]

Moving a completed torrent added in the WebUI used to work in 3.3.4, but it doesn't anymore in 3.3.6. The Downloads\AppendLabel=true does not work anymore. It's fine if all GUI features aren't present in the WebUI, but breaking existing (and working) features is quite frustrating for users.

[Rast1234]

@bonny1992 when you set "automatic" as @shadowxgws suggested, then also select all your existing torrents, right-click, set "automatic" flag there too, you will notice their save paths in details tab changed. Worked for me.
So it's not broken, it's silently moved: from "append labels to paths" checkbox to "automatic/manual control" drop-down select.

[bonny1992]

@Rast1234 this issue is not on the qbittorrent gui.
Sadly, you'll encounter this if you use the webUI.

[markschmark]

Would just add to the choir that this feature would be a wonderful addition to an excellent client.

Being able to store different torrents on different drives is important to a lot of us.

[ghost]

That option was never removed. Next time when you add a new torrent, just select "Auto" from the top left corner and then type a label in the "Category" field. I've explained that earlier, because I was confused too. But the option is there and it work like before.

[anarfox]

Except for the web ui. Adding torrents there always defaults to manual mode.

[thalieht]

As several people have said here you can use categories in Automatic Torrent Management mode (there seems to be a bug, so for new torrents to have the Automatic Torrent Management flag checked in the torrent's right click menu, Automatic mode MUST be set in the options as well as the new torrent dialog).

Category names are the path to the torrents save location with Default Save Path as their root. e.g category named Movies/Action/Actor will save the torrents in
Default_Save_Path/Movies/Action/Actor/

If/when PR #5222 is accepted/merged, it will be possible to assign any save path to categories no matter the category name.

You can move existing torrents by selecting the torrents and check Automatic Torrent Management and assign them the category.

Although i haven't checked, this feature is probably still broken/unimplemented in the WebUI.

[mihawk90]

Category names are the path to the torrents save location with Default Save Path as their root. e.g category named Movies/Action/Actor will save the torrents in
Default_Save_Path/Movies/Action/Actor/

As pointed out multiple times already however, this does not work with multiple drives, or even multiple locations on the same drive. This is something some people require, because as it happens, hard drives actually do have a size limit.

We'll see if this may be possible with the PR you linked. As I read the PR however, it sounds like it would only be possible to explicitly set the download path when adding the torrent. This wouldn't work together with auto adding torrents though because... well.. the point of auto adding is that you don't have to do anything on the client.

Well, at least using the RSS Downloader works with different download directories :)

[thalieht]

it will be possible to assign any save path to categories no matter the category name.

This has been implemented in one of the 4.0.x versions but didn't make it to the changelog. You can use it by right clicking and editing a category in the sidebar. Soon is will be possible in the WebUI as well. Closing.