# File Blocks
When using Plex Meta Manager, the structure of each library is made using File Blocks
???+ example "Example Library Structure"
```yaml
libraries:
Movies:
collection_files:
- pmm: imdb
```
In the above example, `collection_files` is the type of File, which tells PMM that the entries that follow will
create/update collections and `- pmm:` is the type of Path, which PMM that the file it is looking for is a PMM
Defaults file.
These ideas will be further outlined on this page.
## Files
{%
include-markdown "./file_types.md"
%}
## Blocks
Each time a file is called it's going to use what we call a "File Block". Each block must have the file location type
and path and can have other attributes to add more control to that file.
Every file block under the parent attribute begins with a `-`.
???+ example "Example Block"
This example has 2 blocks each using location type `pmm` with the path being `tmdb` and `imdb` respectively under
the parent attribute `collection_files`.
```yaml
libraries:
Movies:
collection_files: # Parent Attribute
- pmm: tmdb # Block 1
- pmm: imdb # Block 2
```
### Location Types and Paths
There are multiple location types that can be used to call a file. They can either be on the local system, online at an
url, part of the [PMM Defaults](../defaults/guide.md), directly from the
[PMM User Configs](https://github.com/meisnate12/Plex-Meta-Manager-Configs) repository, or from another
[`Custom Repository`](settings.md).
The location types are outlined as follows:
??? blank "`file` - Used to run a local file."
Used to run a file which is located within the system that PMM is being run from.
File locations need to be accessible to PMM at those paths; this is typically only something you need to consider
when using Docker.
???+ example "Example"
```yaml
libraries:
Movies:
collection_files:
- file: config/path/to/file.yml
```
??? blank "`folder` - Used to run all local files in a directory."
Used to run all files located in a directory which is located within the system that PMM is being
run from.
Folder locations need to be accessible to PMM at those paths; this is typically only something you need to consider
when using Docker.
???+ example "Example"
```yaml
libraries:
Movies:
collection_files:
- folder: config/path/to/folder
```
??? blank "`url` - Used to run a file hosted at a URL."
Used to run a file hosted publicly on the internet and accessible at a URL.
This needs to point directly to the YAML file. A common error is using a gitHub link that points to the *page
displaying the YAML*. In gitHub, for instance, click on the "Raw" button and use *that* link.
???+ example "Example"
```yaml
libraries:
Movies:
collection_files:
- url: https://example.com/path/to/file.yml
```
??? blank "`pmm` - Used to run a built-in [PMM Defaults](../defaults/guide.md) file."
Used to run a built-in PMM Defaults file. The values you'd enter here are listed in the
[default usage guide](../defaults/guide.md).
???+ example "Example"
```yaml
libraries:
Movies:
collection_files:
- pmm: oscars
```
??? blank "`git` - Used to run a file hosted on the [PMM User Configs](https://github.com/meisnate12/Plex-Meta-Manager-Configs) repository."
Used to run a file hosted on the
[PMM User Configs](https://github.com/meisnate12/Plex-Meta-Manager-Configs) repository.
Note that you enter the bits of the items path relative to the top level of the repo [`meisnate12/People`] and you
don't need the `.yml` extension.
???+ example "Example"
```yaml
libraries:
Movies:
collection_files:
- git: meisnate12/People # this links to https://github.com/meisnate12/Plex-Meta-Manager-Configs/blob/master/meisnate12/People.yml
```
??? blank "`repo` - Used to run a file hosted on a custom repository."
Used to run a file which is hosted on a repo specified by the user with the
[`custom_repo`](settings.md#custom-repo) Setting Attribute.
Note that as with `git` you enter the bits of the items path relative to repo [`meisnate12/People`] and you don't
need the `.yml` extension.
???+ example "Example"
This is assuming the `custom_repo` setting is
`https://github.com/meisnate12/Plex-Meta-Manager-Configs/tree/master/meisnate12`.
```yaml
libraries:
Movies:
collection_files:
- repo: People
```
## Other Block Attributes
You can have some control of the files from inside your Configuration file by using these block attributes.
??? blank "`template_variables` - Used to define [Custom Template Variables](../files/templates.md#template-variables) for a file."
Passes all given [Template Variables](../files/templates.md#template-variables) to
every template in the file.
**Note: the file has to be properly set up to use the variables.**
**Attribute:** `template_variables`
**Accepted Values:** [Dictionary](../pmm/yaml.md#dictionaries) of values specified by each particular file.
**Default Value:** `None`
???+ example "Example"
```yaml
libraries:
TV Shows:
collection_files:
- pmm: genre
template_variables:
schedule_separator: never
collection_mode: hide
- pmm: actor # Notice how the `-` starts this block
template_variables:
schedule_separator: never
collection_mode: hide
```
In this example there will be two template variables added to every template in the git file pmm: genre.
`schedule_separator` is set to `never` to not show a separator in this section and `collection_mode` is set to
`hide`.
What these variables will do depends on how they're defined in the Collection File.
??? blank "`schedule` - Used to schedule when a file is run."
Used to schedule when this file is run using the [schedule options](schedule.md).
??? warning
This does not work with Overlays as they cannot be scheduled individually. Use the
[`schedule_overlays` Library Attribute](libraries.md#schedule-overlays) to schedule Overlays.
**Attribute:** `schedule`
**Accepted Values:** Any [schedule option](schedule.md)
**Default Value:** `daily`
???+ example "Example"
```yaml
libraries:
Movies:
collection_files:
- file: config/Movies.yml
schedule: weekly(friday)
- pmm: actors
schedule: weekly(saturday)
playlist_files:
- file: config/Playlists.yml
schedule: weekly(sunday)
```
??? blank "`asset_directory` - Used to define Asset Directories for a file."
Specify the directory where assets (posters, backgrounds, etc) are located for this
specific file.
???+ tip
Assets can be stored anywhere on the host system that PMM has visibility of (i.e. if using docker, the directory
must be mounted/visible to the docker container).
**Attribute:** `asset_directory`
**Accepted Values:** Any directory
**Default Value:** `[Directory containing YAML config]/assets`
???+ example "Example"
```yaml
libraries:
Movies:
collection_files:
- file: config/Movies.yml
asset_directory: /Movies
- pmm: actors
asset_directory: /people
overlay_files:
- pmm: imdb
playlist_files:
- file: config/Playlists.yml
asset_directory:
- /playlists1
- /playlists2
```