[brazen1]

I am in the process of cut and pasting titles amongst several HDD's to better organize my stuff.  All the HDD's are already sources recognized in Kodi.  I will be renaming HDD's.

I would like to keep the custom artwork present in each titles individual folder as they presently are without modifying or adding anything different.

I understand when I start Kodi after moving a whole bunch of titles around, Kodi is going to treat everything as if they were newly added because of drive letter changes many titles will inherit and want to re-scrape them which in turn will modify what already exists.

I'm concerned about things like animated posters that will no longer be applied because poster.jgp's will take precedence.  Adding back fanart.jpg's I removed and don't want added back again. Etc.

Many times I've added titles but the scraper thought they were something else.  When I re-scrape, I'm presented with several similar titles and allowed to select the correct one.  I'd like to avoid that all over again too.  

Same with custom 'Movie Sets' I've created and their artworks.  Fwiw, I do have a Movies- Sets Art folder but I've re-scraped titles before and they were removed from my custom set along with all other custom things I'd applied after re-scraping and had to add all my customizations back all over again.  Doing this for titles one by one again seems crazy?

I'm not too concerned about play counts, recently added, and other things of that nature although retaining that data would be nice.  All I'm doing is moving stuff from one location to another.

I don't use or have any .nfo files. I gather they could have obliged me but I wouldn't be fond of having to manually edit every one of them hence why I don't use them.  Are there any special files in the Kodi userdata folder I can edit, save, overwrite, or whatnot to retain my titles info and corresponding custom stuff before I start Kodi for the 1st time after moving my data around and it begins it's scraping automation?  If not, I guess I'm SOL and have to start all over again which I'd rather not have to do.  Perhaps there's an add-on that is shown all the titles and hands-off to Kodi beating it into submission LoL.

I'm hoping folks that understand how Kodi works have suggestion(s).  Best case scenario would be that Kodi recognizes folder/file names and understands they are already present complete with alterations and leaves them alone understanding all this guy is doing is moving it/them.  I fear Kodi sees existing stuff and freaks out thinking it can't be anything but new additions so let's treat them that way.  I hope I'm wrong and thanks for any help the community might offer.

[PatK]

I will be renaming HDD's.

Requiring a total re-scan to effect the new path designation.

I would like to keep the custom artwork present

If the artwork is present in each movie folder, then a re-scan should pick this up locally without alteration, missing meta-data will invoke a web scrape.

Kodi is going to treat everything as if they were newly added

Incorrect, Kodi will recognize .nfo in the folders and use that before a web scrape. (should you fear a web scrape, change scraper to local information only).

animated posters that will no longer be applied

This fear maybe well placed. I have a few animated posters and no longer see them but didn't notice when that happened.

custom set along with all other custom things I'd applied after re-scraping

Set information is located in the .nfo, as long as you have exported to separate files, this should be pulled in. Sadly if the .nfo was created by 3rd party media managers, and have slighty non-standard .nfo, Kodi may jump to the web version data which would be missing your customization. Ensure your custom sets are listed in your Movies- Sets Art folder

retaining that data would be nice.

Should be no issue... with Omega move away.

I don't use or have any .nfo files

Oops... ignore most of the previous replies. OK do this first... export your library to separate files, deny posters & images... just tag the .nfo meta-data, after you're satisfied with your library and everything is all jake create a batch file that deletes ALL the .nfo files or use windows explorer to do the job. Keep in mind Kodi always keeps meta-data in the internal files. Otherwise ignore all this a do a total re-scan which will involve losing all previous settings. So in effect you do use .nfo files.. you just don't see them in the folder.

special files in the Kodi userdata folder I can edit, save, overwrite, or whatnot to retain my titles info and corresponding custom stuff before I start Kodi for the 1st time

The file that concerns video meta-data is called 'MyVideos131.db' Databases/MyVideos (wiki) and can be edited manually for path etc.. I have used notepad++ but it's a pain with large libraries. I personally never dig into the Database folder much and stay away from editing the file... I think I may have corrupted it once, slap my wrist!

I'm always moving my files & hd storage solutions, I recommend a Portable mode (wiki) instillation, just because you can back up Kodi with a copy command, and I have numerous versions on my desktop PC (home for me). I keep all media sources as single folders over many harddrives, and move entire source folders at a moment notice to fit storage solutions. I never have scraping issues from local .nfo and for the small size the file takes... no real savings in space (and easy edits using 'Metadata Editor' and the occasional export without artwork to update/overwrite the .nfo files.) Do use the Artwork Dump file add-on, and shortlists (thought this would simplify my choices, but now I have 5 folder with 500 files to choose, and choice becomes and issue again!) Library Nodes & Smart Playlists take up the majority of my interface. I think you understand the Kodi was written for medium to small collections of media, but it seems very scalable for larger situations, but takes effort to keep a sane functional library.

Think we should do a tips/tricks set-up for large scale collections?

[brazen1]

I have a few animated posters and no longer see them but didn't notice when that happened.

After any re-scrape for me.  I use about 1000 just to give you an idea what I'm up against and that's just animatedposter.gif's not to mention other custom posters, fanart, animated logos, etc.
 

OK do this first... export your library to separate files, deny posters & images... just tag the .nfo meta-data

I've been moving titles around for days already but I do have entire Kodi userdata folder backed up as well as the original I have not opened since moving titles.  That's not going to matter anymore is it?

The file that concerns video meta-data is called 'MyVideos131.db' Databases/MyVideos (wiki) and can be edited manually for path etc.. I have used notepad++ but it's a pain with large libraries.

I've never opened this file or edited it.  If I do, are you telling me if I edit the path per title, Kodi will not think I moved stuff around and all will be as if nothing got moved?
 

Think we should do a tips/tricks set-up for large scale collections?

I'm sure I'm not the only one that could have benefited and surely other users would find it a necessity.

Thank you for taking your time to explain some things to me.

[PatK]

I've been moving titles around for days already

A bit premature, if the folders have NO .nfo, those will have to be handled by a fresh scrape... no real issue, just you're lost the customization's for those files. I've been a bit negligent in that I should always suggest a clean library after moving a file to clean up folders that no longer exist.

If I do, are you telling me if I edit the path per title, Kodi will not think I moved stuff around

As long as the source is already established, then a search & replace is possible.. but caution here, too many set-ups are lost here.

Suggest: Stop what you're doing, and do that export of the .nfo files... guarantee life in Kodi will be so much smoother for you. Your back-ups at this point, considering you've already did the shuffling around of files, is useless to you, delete and save the space. Next time... use a new portable mode, so it doesn't effect what you have. 

FYI:Artwork types (wiki)

Limitations of animated artwork
Kodi's support for displaying animated artwork is basic, and does have some limitations.

Limitation 1-

Kodi does not save animated artwork to the texture cache and will not play them (only displaying the first frame) unless they are stored on a client-local file system. ie- Animated artwork will not work across networks.