Removing Duplicate Shows/Cleaning up Recordings For FileBot

Channels DVR Server
#1

I am trying to clean up a TV Show folder that has about 200 recordings over the past month. There are quite a few duplicates. However, they do not match perfectly in name so a re-sort does make them appear adjacent, which makes it is easier to delete the duplicates.

The name Channels gives them is in this format - "TVShowName 2025032704 Episode Name 2025-03-27-0422". As you can see, the portion that would be duplicate is right in the middle of all the text, and most duplicate software (that I know of) does not search so specifically. Right now, I just have to search one title at a time to see if there are other duplicates (ugh!).

I need to remove duplicates first, then I can process them through FIleBot to correct the Name and add correct episode data.

If you have successfully used some duplicate software for this, or even know of an overall better process, let me know. For example, maybe Channels has some better settings to naming the episode when recorded that I am not aware of. Thanks in advance!

#2

I'd generate a hash of the files (MD5) and use that to find duplicates. Assuming you're on Windows.

How do I get the MD5 of a file on Windows? - Server Fault
https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/4muiht/best_md5_checksum_program_for_windows/

Or use a duplicate file finder.
https://dupeguru.voltaicideas.net/

#3

Also, I just added another season to the same TV Show folder. How long does it take for the system to add them to listings so they show up on list? Or is there a setting for that, like "refresh" etc?

#4

I think they're laying the groundwork in Channels DVR.
Haven't heard any other mention of it yet.

#5

I don't know what a "hash" or "checksum" is, but I guess I will have to learn that too. Like after first installing Channels...then you discover, "oh, btw, you need to learn Docker, then Portainer, then Olive Tin, etc." Thanks for the suggestions.