Automate Your Library: Zeeb Movie Renamer Setup & WorkflowMaintaining a clean, consistently named movie library saves time, improves playback experience across devices, and makes metadata fetching (posters, descriptions, subtitles) much more reliable. Zeeb Movie Renamer is a lightweight tool designed to automate the process of renaming and organizing movie files using customizable patterns, metadata sources, and batch operations. This article walks through installation, configuration, best practices, and practical workflows to help you automate your movie library effectively.
What Zeeb Movie Renamer Does (At a Glance)
- Batch renames movie files using templates and metadata.
- Fetches metadata (titles, years, identifiers) from configurable sources.
- Organizes files into folders according to patterns (e.g., /Movies/Title (Year)/).
- Supports preview and undo, minimizing risk of unwanted changes.
- Integrates with other tools (media servers, subtitle managers) via consistent filenames.
System Requirements & Installation
Zeeb Movie Renamer is cross-platform. Basic requirements:
- Modern Windows, macOS, or Linux distribution.
- Python runtime (if distributed as a Python app) or standalone binaries where provided.
- Network access to query metadata sources.
Installation steps (typical):
- Download the latest release for your OS from the official distribution (binary or package).
- macOS: move the app to Applications and allow execution under Security & Privacy if blocked.
- Windows: run installer or unzip portable build; optionally create a shortcut.
- Linux: extract archive and set the executable flag, or install via a package manager if available.
If Zeeb is distributed as a Python package:
python -m venv zeeb-env source zeeb-env/bin/activate pip install zeeb-movie-renamer zeeb-movie-renamer --help Initial Configuration
- Open Zeeb and set your primary movie directory (the folder containing your files).
- Configure metadata sources:
- Choose preferred providers (TheMovieDB, OMDb, local NFO parsing).
- Enter API keys where needed (TMDb requires an API key).
- Set naming templates. Common examples:
- Filename: {title} ({year}){ext}
- Folder structure: /Movies/{title} ({year})/{filename}
- Enable safe-preview mode so the app shows proposed changes before applying them.
- Set backup/undo preferences: create a log of original filenames or move originals to a dedicated “_backup” folder.
Naming Templates & Tokens
Zeeb uses template tokens to construct filenames. Typical tokens:
- {title} — movie title
- {year} — release year
- {country} — production country or language tag
- {quality} — resolution/quality tag (e.g., 1080p)
- {source} — release source (BluRay, WEBRip)
- {ext} — original file extension
Example template: {title} ({year}) [{quality}][{source}]{ext}
Tips:
- Keep filenames short but informative.
- Use consistent separators (space, dash, or underscore) across templates.
- Reserve special tags (e.g., [UNRATED]) only when relevant to avoid clutter.
Metadata Matching Strategies
Accurate metadata matching is the backbone of reliable renaming.
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Filename parsing:
- Zeeb can parse common release filenames to extract title, year, and quality.
- Use regex patterns for custom or obscure naming conventions.
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Manual confirmation:
- For ambiguous matches, preview and confirm metadata before renaming.
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Use metadata files:
- If you have .nfo or .srt files with correct titles, configure Zeeb to prefer local metadata.
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Fallback logic:
- Set a fallback order: local NFO → parsed filename → online lookup.
- Allow manual title input when all else fails.
Batch Workflow Examples
Example 1 — Clean import of a new download folder:
- Point Zeeb to the download folder.
- Auto-parse filenames; allow automatic matching for high-confidence results.
- Preview and run batch rename.
- Move renamed files to your Movies library folder with folder template applied.
Example 2 — Periodic library maintenance:
- Scan entire library for inconsistent names or missing years.
- Limit changes to metadata-only updates (no folder moves) to avoid breaking media server links.
- Export a report of changes and create restore points.
Example 3 — Integration with Plex/Emby:
- Use folder structure /Movies/Title (Year)/Title (Year).ext to match Plex’s best practices.
- After renaming, trigger a library scan in Plex/Emby to refresh metadata.
Handling Multi-Disc, Extras, and Special Cases
- Multi-disc or multipart movies: include disc numbers in filename tokens: {title} ({year}) – CD{disc}{ext}
- Director’s cuts/unrated versions: add {edition} token or a fixed tag like [Director’s Cut]
- Extras and bonus features: store in a separate /Extras/ folder or use a tag {type} to classify.
Error Handling, Undo, and Safety
- Always use preview mode on first runs.
- Configure Zeeb to write a CSV log with original and new filenames.
- Use the built-in undo or the log to script a reversal if needed.
- Test on a small subset before running a full library pass.
Automation & Scheduling
- Use the CLI (if available) to script renaming tasks:
zeeb-movie-renamer --source /path/to/new_downloads --target /path/to/Movies --apply - Schedule with OS tools:
- cron (Linux/macOS)
- Task Scheduler (Windows)
- Combine with other scripts:
- After rename, run a script to trigger media server rescan or move files to a NAS.
Advanced Tips
- Maintain a central metadata cache to speed up repeated lookups.
- Normalize encodings and remove diacritics if you use devices with limited character support.
- Use a consistent quality tag scheme (e.g., 2160p = 4K) for sorting and filtering.
- When dealing with foreign-language titles, decide whether to use original titles or localized ones; Zeeb can be configured to prefer either.
Example: Full End-to-End Scripted Workflow
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New downloads land in /Downloads/Incoming.
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Cron job runs a script:
# example pseudo-script zeeb-movie-renamer --source /Downloads/Incoming --target /Media/Movies --template "{title} ({year})/{title} ({year}){ext" --apply rsync -a --remove-source-files /Downloads/Incoming/ /Media/Movies/ curl -X POST http://localhost:32400/library/sections/1/refresh # Plex library refresh -
Library is renamed, moved, and media server refreshed automatically.
Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them
- Overly aggressive regex: may misidentify titles. Test regex on samples.
- Breaking media library paths: prefer metadata-only updates or schedule server rescans immediately after moves.
- API rate limits: cache results and stagger lookups for large batches.
- Mixed-language libraries: standardize on one naming convention and document it.
Final Checklist Before Running a Big Batch
- Backup or enable undo logging.
- Confirm API keys and rate limits.
- Test templates on a small sample.
- Ensure media server integration steps are scripted and working.
Zeeb Movie Renamer can dramatically reduce the manual effort of organizing a movie library when configured thoughtfully. Start small, use previews and logs, and progressively automate—from periodic maintenance runs to fully automated import pipelines that keep your collection tidy and ready for all devices.
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