Separators Default Metadata Files

Separators are a special form of collections which are used similar to index cards in a library, they help to “split up” collections by identifying categories (such as “Studio Collections” and “Holiday Collections”).

These are empty collections which do not contain any movies/shows themselves, but highlight that the collections which follow it are of a certain category.

Below is an example of a separator, which can be seen surrounded by a red square.

Separator Files

These are all the files that contain a separator.

Collection Name

Default File

Collection Section

Seasonal Collections

seasonal

00

Chart Collections

separator_chart

01

Universe Collections

universe

02

Streaming Collections

streaming

03

Network Collections

network

04

Genre Collections

genre

06

Studio Collections

studio

07

Country Collections

country

09

Audio Language Collections

audio_language

10

Subtitle Language Collections

subtitle_language

11

Decade Collections

decade

12

Year Collections

year

13

Ratings Collections

content_rating*

14

Resolution Collections

resolution*

15

Award Collections

separator_award

16

Actors Collections

actor

17

Directors Collections

director

18

Producers Collections

producer

19

Writers Collections

writer

20

Shared Separator Variables

Template Variables can be used to manipulate the file in various ways to slightly change how it works without having to make your own local copy.

Note that the template_variables: section only needs to be used if you do want to actually change how the defaults work. Any value not specified is its default value if it has one if not it’s just ignored.

Shared Variables are NOT available to separator collections in any default file.

Variable

Description & Values

use_separator

Description: Turn the Separator Collection off.
Values: false to turn of the collection

sep_style

Description: Choose the Separator Style.
Default: orig
Values: orig, red, blue, green, gray, purple, or stb

placeholder_tmdb_movie

Description: Add a placeholder Movie to the Separator.
Values: TMDb Movie ID

placeholder_tvdb_show

Description: Add a placeholder Show to the Separator.
Values: TVDb Show ID

placeholder_imdb_id

Description: Add a placeholder Movie/Show to the Separator.
Values: IMDb ID

name_separator

Description: Changes the name of the specified key’s collection.
Values: New Collection Name

summary_separator

Description: Changes the summary of the specified key’s collection.
Values: New Collection Summary

collection_section

Description: Changes the sort order of the collection sections against other default collection sections.
Values: Any number

collection_mode

Description: Controls the collection mode of all collections in a Defaults file.
Values:

defaultLibrary default
hideHide Collection
hide_itemsHide Items in this Collection
show_itemsShow this Collection and its Items

url_poster_separator

Description: Changes the poster url of the specified key’s collection.
Values: URL directly to the Image

Use Separators

Separators are enabled by default, but can be disabled/enabled per-file and per-library.

An example of disabling separators at the library-level cam be seen here

libraries:
  Movies:
    template_variables:
      use_separator: false

And at the file-level

libraries:
  Movies:
    metadata_path:
      - pmm: studio
        template_variables:
          use_separator: false

Separator Styles

Multiple styles are available for Separators, to match Plex’s “categories” feature.

The available styles available are:

Style

Value

Original

orig

Blue

blue

Brown

stb

Gray

gray

Green

green

Purple

purple

Red

red

This image shows an example separator in each of the above styles

The style of separator can be defined per-file and per-library.

An example of disabling separators at the library-level cam be seen here

libraries:
  Movies:
    template_variables:
      sep_style: red

And at the file-level

libraries:
  Movies:
    metadata_path:
      - pmm: studio
        template_variables:
          sep_style: stb