[ADKM]

I suspect my KODI drive (which is shared via LAN ) is on the ay out and needs to be replaced.
I think this means KODI will lose all the "watched' flags?

Have looked for a solution and found references to "Add-on:WatchedList" and "trakt" but I'm not
confident I can follow the instructions.
Is there a dummies how to, or anyone able to give me step by step instructions?

Thanks.

[Karellen]

@ADKM

There are a number of ways to save your Watched status, Play Counts and Resume Points.

1. Export your library to Separate Files (NFO Files) and that information will be contained in the files. This assumes you will backup your drive after you export.
2. Export to Single File, but if you replace the drive and the OS allocates a different drive letter or path, then the Single File becomes useless
3. Use the Add-on method.

You should consider option 1... https://kodi.wiki/view/Import-export_library

That info will always be exported. But you need to add some settings into advancedsettings.xml to allow it to import those three items.

[ADKM]

Thanks Karellen, I will have a go to "separate files". When the drive is replaced it will have the same drive letter and path.

Perhaps this is easier than first appears ?  Although the screenshots aren't familiar, maybe I have an older version, not to old I hope.  (Its KODI on Raspberry Pi)

What does "scraping" mean ?

[Klojum]

(Its KODI on Raspberry Pi)

Kodi is just an application, there is always an underlying operating system. With a Raspberry Pi, that can be LibreELEC, OpenELEC, OSMC, Raspbian, Ubuntu Mate, just to name few... Which is it?

Scraping is collecting meta-data information for movies, tv shows/episodes, music videos or music artists/albums/songs, as well as all the fanart/posters/backgrounds that are related to those subjects.

[Karellen]

Scanning is the process of Kodi searching for media files to add to the library. The media may be video files, but will also include metadata in the form of NFO Files, Artwork and Trailers.

When the scanner finds video files, but cannot find NFO Files, Artwork and Trailers, it then uses add-ons to locate these online. The online search is Scraping.

Perhaps this is easier than first appears ?

Very, very easy. I run it every couple of weeks to save all the Watched states, Play Counts and Resume Points. That page is written based on the current official release- v17

[ADKM]

Many thanks for the extra info. And I need a bit more help !

> In settings, select Export library

First problem, my "Settings" has no Export Library. There is a sub menu under Settings called "Confluence"

>With a Raspberry Pi, that can be LibreELEC, OpenELEC, OSMC, Raspbian, Ubuntu Mate, just to name few... Which is it?

Hmmm  I don't know.  How can I find out ?  I thought it was linux.  It's just whatever came with pi. I had to assemble it and get a memory card and PSU.
It does a great job of streaming video; I've never looked much further at it and have no-one to confer with !

[Karellen]

It sounds like you are using v16 or earlier. Different Menu system. Export is located in Settings>Video>Library near the bottom of the list.

To see what version you are using, from the Programs menu option, then select System Info from the sub menu. The info is along the bottom part of the screen- "Build"

[ADKM]

Many thanks, I'll check that out after I finish cloning the replacement hard drive in the pc.  I'vethe pi switched off during the process.  Still about 2 hrs to go

I'm using the Acronis true image program... and now wondering, as the new drive will be the 'same' as the old will I need to export and import the watched data ?
And if I try it to see will I bugger anything up ?  (the origianl drive will be removed, of course).

Another question..  the nfo files I expect to make - they are saved to the memory card?

[Karellen]

after I finish cloning the replacement hard drive in the pc

will I need to export and import the watched data ?

Well you have already jumped the gun and started copying the media across without the nfo files. It's up to you now whether you want to still try it or not and how to get the nfo files across to the new drive.

[ADKM]

I'm in the process of cloning the HDD in the PC the Rasp Pi is networked too.  Are you saying the nfo files are on *that* drive?   My thinking was the pi (KODI) would only ever read from that.
So the plot thickens..  however if that's correct (although no nfo files could be seen in Windows Explorer) they should be duplicated onto the cloned drive.
What's your thinking on that?   As for jumping the gun. I have still the original source HDD with my media files and could put that back before the pi is switched on again. 
So it won't know anything about what's changed (or not!)

[Karellen]

For further information, read the wiki page I provided in an earlier post.

[ADKM]

Yes I've read that. It's really not all that helpful, in some ways too much information. Leaves me guessing too much for confidence.  E.g. it says

> export(s)  the metadata stored in the database and save it into a nfo file. It will be saved to the same directory where that particular Movie/TV Show/Music Video is located.

That suggests it's going to write some nfo files to the HDD where the media files are.  But as no nfo files currently exist, KODI must be presently getting that info from somewhere else?
Also the screenshots aren't what I see here.  So I need more to know what's going on.  I suspect I could just reboot as is. The new drive is identical, is already shared and accessible from other devices. 
It's just this Pi/KODI is a bit of a unknown quantity and I'm trying to avoid losing an opportunity to keep these 'watched flags'.

[Karellen]

That suggests it's going to write some nfo files to the HDD where the media files are.

It suggests that because that is what it actually does.

But as no nfo files currently exist, KODI must be presently getting that info from somewhere else

An NFO File is simply the data in your library exported in xml format. It gets the info from your scraped library.

Also the screenshots aren't what I see here

I can't help that you are using an old version of Kodi. Upgrade.

[ADKM]

I find KODI offers upgrades every so often and I always say yes.
Mine  has no Settings>Video>Library option either!  Nor any Export/Import menu I can find.

I've proved what/where this 'watched flag' (what's it actually called?) is disk-dependent but not visible as a windows file. i understood XML stores data in plain text files  but there's none to be seen.
I booted with the new drive and there's no watched flags, then restored the old drive and they returned. 

But I don't understand all you're saying, if it gets its info from the 'scraped library', where does the scraped library get it from and store it? 
LOL Maybe I should just give up and flag the flags!   I appreciate the help you've given even if we seem to get nowhere. Maybe someone else has some suggestions for the
System I've got.  It's Raspbian GNU/Linux 7 (wheezy) (Kernel: Linux 3.12.31). Maybe there's someone better to ask about my version? 

By the way somehow I've lost ability to use the Remote. On boot it would say something about CEC (I think?)  but doesn't do that anymore

[Klojum]

Maybe someone else has some suggestions for the System I've got.  It's Raspbian GNU/Linux 7 (wheezy) (Kernel: Linux 3.12.31)

Yes.. Please upgrade if your Kodi application is as old as your Raspbian OS.
If you use only Kodi on your RPi, consider something like LibreELEC or OSMC.