File Blocks

When using Plex Meta Manager, the structure of each library is made using File Blocks

???+ example "Example Library Structure"

```yaml
libraries:
  Movies:
    collection_files:
      - pmm: imdb
```

In the above example, `collection_files` is the type of File, which tells PMM that the entries that follow will 
create/update collections and `- pmm:` is the type of Path, which PMM that the file it is looking for is a PMM 
Defaults file.

These ideas will be further outlined on this page.

Files

{%
include-markdown "./file_types.md" %}

Blocks

Each time a file is called it's going to use what we call a "File Block". Each block must have the file location type and path and can have other attributes to add more control to that file.

Every file block under the parent attribute begins with a -.

???+ example "Example Block"

This example has 2 blocks each using location type `pmm` with the path being `tmdb` and `imdb` respectively under 
the parent attribute `collection_files`. 

```yaml
libraries:
  Movies:
    collection_files:   # Parent Attribute
      - pmm: tmdb       # Block 1
      - pmm: imdb       # Block 2
```

Location Types and Paths

There are multiple location types that can be used to call a file. They can either be on the local system, online at an url, part of the PMM Defaults, directly from the PMM User Configs repository, or from another Custom Repository.

The location types are outlined as follows:

??? blank "file - Used to run a local file.¶"

<div id="file" />Used to run a file which is located within the system that PMM is being run from.

File locations need to be accessible to PMM at those paths; this is typically only something you need to consider 
when using Docker.

???+ example "Example"
    
    ```yaml
    libraries:
      Movies:
        collection_files:
          - file: config/path/to/file.yml
    ```

??? blank "folder - Used to run all local files in a directory.¶"

<div id="folder" />Used to run all files located in a directory which is located within the system that PMM is being 
run from.

Folder locations need to be accessible to PMM at those paths; this is typically only something you need to consider 
when using Docker.

???+ example "Example"
    
    ```yaml
    libraries:
      Movies:
        collection_files:
          - folder: config/path/to/folder
    ```

??? blank "url - Used to run a file hosted at a URL.¶"

<div id="url" />Used to run a file hosted publicly on the internet and accessible at a URL.

This needs to point directly to the YAML file. A common error is using a gitHub link that points to the *page 
displaying the YAML*. In gitHub, for instance, click on the "Raw" button and use *that* link.

???+ example "Example"
    
    ```yaml
    libraries:
      Movies:
        collection_files:
          - url: https://example.com/path/to/file.yml
    ```

??? blank "pmm - Used to run a built-in PMM Defaults file.¶"

<div id="pmm" />Used to run a built-in PMM Defaults file. The values you'd enter here are listed in the 
[default usage guide](../defaults/guide.md).

???+ example "Example"
    
    ```yaml
    libraries:
      Movies:
        collection_files:
          - pmm: oscars
    ```

??? blank "git - Used to run a file hosted on the PMM User Configs repository.¶"

<div id="git" />Used to run a file hosted on the 
[PMM User Configs](https://github.com/meisnate12/Plex-Meta-Manager-Configs) repository.

Note that you enter the bits of the items path relative to the top level of the repo [`meisnate12/People`] and you 
don't need the `.yml` extension.

???+ example "Example"
    
    ```yaml
    libraries:
      Movies:
        collection_files:
          - git: meisnate12/People # this links to https://github.com/meisnate12/Plex-Meta-Manager-Configs/blob/master/meisnate12/People.yml
    ```

??? blank "repo - Used to run a file hosted on a custom repository.¶"

<div id="repo" />Used to run a file which is hosted on a repo specified by the user with the 
[`custom_repo`](settings.md#custom-repo) Setting Attribute.

Note that as with `git` you enter the bits of the items path relative to repo [`meisnate12/People`] and you don't 
need the `.yml` extension.

???+ example "Example"

    This is assuming the `custom_repo` setting is 
    `https://github.com/meisnate12/Plex-Meta-Manager-Configs/tree/master/meisnate12`.
    
    ```yaml
    libraries:
      Movies:
        collection_files:
          - repo: People
    ```

Other Block Attributes

You can have some control of the files from inside your Configuration file by using these block attributes.

??? blank "template_variables - Used to define Custom Template Variables for a file.¶"

<div id="template-variables" />Passes all given [Template Variables](../files/templates.md#template-variables) to 
every template in the file.

**Note: the file has to be properly set up to use the variables.**

<hr style="margin: 0px;">

**Attribute:** `template_variables`

**Accepted Values:** [Dictionary](../pmm/yaml.md#dictionaries) of values specified by each particular file.

**Default Value:** `None`

???+ example "Example"

    ```yaml
    libraries:
      TV Shows:
        collection_files:
          - pmm: genre
            template_variables:
              schedule_separator: never
              collection_mode: hide
          - pmm: actor                  # Notice how the `-` starts this block
            template_variables:
              schedule_separator: never
              collection_mode: hide
    ```

    In this example there will be two template variables added to every template in the git file pmm: genre.  
    
    `schedule_separator` is set to `never` to not show a separator in this section and `collection_mode` is set to 
    `hide`.
    
    What these variables will do depends on how they're defined in the Collection File.

??? blank "schedule - Used to schedule when a file is run.¶"

<div id="schedule" />Used to schedule when this file is run using the [schedule options](schedule.md).

??? warning

    This does not work with Overlays as they cannot be scheduled individually. Use the 
    [`schedule_overlays` Library Attribute](libraries.md#schedule-overlays) to schedule Overlays.

<hr style="margin: 0px;">

**Attribute:** `schedule`

**Accepted Values:** Any [schedule option](schedule.md)

**Default Value:** `daily`

???+ example "Example"

    ```yaml
    libraries:
      Movies:
        collection_files:
          - file: config/Movies.yml
            schedule: weekly(friday)
          - pmm: actors
            schedule: weekly(saturday)
    playlist_files:
      - file: config/Playlists.yml
        schedule: weekly(sunday)
    ```

??? blank "asset_directory - Used to define Asset Directories for a file.¶"

<div id="asset-directory" />Specify the directory where assets (posters, backgrounds, etc) are located for this 
specific file.

???+ tip 

    Assets can be stored anywhere on the host system that PMM has visibility of (i.e. if using docker, the directory 
    must be mounted/visible to the docker container).

<hr style="margin: 0px;">

**Attribute:** `asset_directory`

**Accepted Values:** Any directory

**Default Value:** `[Directory containing YAML config]/assets`

???+ example "Example"

    ```yaml
    libraries:
      Movies:
        collection_files:
          - file: config/Movies.yml
            asset_directory: <path_to_assets>/Movies
          - pmm: actors
            asset_directory: <path_to_assets>/people
        overlay_files:
          - pmm: imdb
    playlist_files:
      - file: config/Playlists.yml
        asset_directory:
          - <path_to_assets>/playlists1
          - <path_to_assets>/playlists2
    ```

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File Blocks

Files

Blocks

Location Types and Paths

Other Block Attributes

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