Incorrect or missing information? Sorting
You can download the most recent stable version (SABnzbd 4.4.1) on our downloads page.
External sorting tools
NOTE While SABnzbd supports a number of ways to rename files, external tools (like Sonarr, Radarr, etc.) allow for much more extensive automated download management. These tools can automatically search, add and handle renaming in almost every possible way!
Overview of available Automation Extensions for SABnzbd.
Sorting
Sorting replaces any pattern keys in the sort string (such as %sn for the show or movie name) with real values, before creating the directory structure and renaming files. The sort string as well as the affected categories and job types can be set for every sorter. Sorters are tried in order of appearance, and can be reordered by dragging and dropping in the web interface. The first active sorter that meets both selection criteria (affected category and job type) is applied.
The job name serves as the primary source of information for the sorting. The more standard the naming, the better your chances of a job getting properly recognized, assigned the right job type, and correctly sorted. Additional information may be sourced from metadata embedded in the NZB.
NOTE If Sorting is active for a specific job, the "Deobfuscate final filenames" feature will not be applied.
Basic settings
| Enabled | Enable or disable a configured sorter. |
| Name | Set the name of the sorter. |
| Sort String | The sorting expression with pattern keys, constructing a path of your choice. If the sort string ends in a pattern that indicates a file name (.%ext or %fn), its last part will be used for renaming files; otherwise, the constructed path will be created as a directory and the downloaded files moved there without renaming. See the presets and the sort string examples section below for examples. |
| Affected Job Types Advanced |
The job type(s) this sorter should apply to. Use Ctrl or Shift to select multiple options. |
| Affected Categories | One or more categories this sorter should apply to. Use Ctrl or Shift to select multiple options. |
| Minimum Filesize Advanced |
The minimum file size that at least one file in a job must meet for the sorter to kick in. |
| Multi-part Label Advanced |
Label to apply to sequences of files (such as CD1, CD2, ...). Rarely used nowadays; previously defaulted to CD%1 for movie sorting, where pattern key %1 is the sequence number. |
Pattern Keys
| Meaning | Pattern | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Show or Movie Name | %sn | Show or Movie Name (case-adjusted) |
| %s.n | Show.or.Movie.Name (case-adjusted) | |
| %s_n | Show_or_Movie_Name (case-adjusted) | |
| Show or Movie Name | %sN | Show or Movie Name |
| %s.N | Show.or.Movie.Name | |
| %s_N | Show_or_Movie_Name | |
| %title | Show or Movie Name | |
| %.title | Show.or.Movie.Name | |
| %_title | Show.or.Movie_Name | |
| Resolution | %r | 1080p |
| Year | %y | 2021 |
| Decade | %decade | 20 |
| %0decade | 2020 | |
| Season Number | %s | 1 |
| %0s | 01 | |
| Episode Number | %e | 5 |
| %0e | 05 | |
| Episode Name | %en | Episode Name |
| %e.n | Episode.Name | |
| %e_n | Episode_Name | |
| File Extension | %ext | mkv |
| Original File Name | %fn | file name |
| Original Job Name | %dn | folder name |
| Lower Case | {TEXT} | text (in case of folders, apply to each part separately: {%sn}/{%dn.%ext}) |
Behind the scenes, the GuessIt module does much of the sorting-related guess work. In addition to the commonly-used features above that get their own pattern keys, the full suite of GuessIt properties is exposed. The available properties depend on the installed GuessIt version and are listed in the web interface under the pattern key.
| GuessIt Property Advanced |
%GI<property> | GuessIt Property |
| %G.I<property> | GuessIt.Property | |
| %G_I<property> | GuessIt_Property | |
| For example: | %GI<audio_codec> | DTS |
Job names
Series naming
Common, well recognized formats for season and episode numbers include 1x01 (SeriesxEpisode) or S01E01 (SseriesEepisode).
For example:
Show Name - 1x01 - Episode Name.nzb
Show.Name.S01E01.Episode.Name.nzb
Show Name.1x01.nzb
Season packs
The sorting includes support for season packs. Episode numbers are detected from the names of the downloaded files; all other information is based on the job name or metadata. To qualify for season pack handling, a job must be detected as type tv, its name must indicate a single season and either multiple episodes, or no episodes at all.
Examples of job names that would be recognised as season packs include:
Show Name S02E04-05-06 Resolution-Group.nzb
Show.Name.S04.Resolution.Source.Codec-Group.nzb
Show Name S03E02E05E66.nzb
Show Name 4x01-02.nzb
Season pack handling is automatically activated for qualifying jobs, unless it has been disabled globally via the Special enable_season_sorting setting.
Date naming
Most standard date formats are recognized, including MM-DD-YYYY, MM.DD.YYYY and YYYY-MM-DD/YYYY.MM.DD.
For example:
Show.Name.25.12.2022.HDTV-RLS.nzb
Sort String examples
General examples
Job Name as File Name:
%dn.%ext
Example: Job Name.mkv
Series examples
1x01 Season Folder:
%sn/Season %s/%sn - %sx%0e - %en.%ext
Example: Show Name/Season 1/Show Name - 1x05 - Episode Name.mkv
S01E01 Season Folder:
%sn/Season %s/%sn - S%0sE%0e - %en.%ext
Example: Show Name/Season 1/Show Name - S01E05 - Episode Name.mkv
1x01 Individual Episode Folder:
%sn/%sx%0e - %en/%sn - %sx%0e - %en.%ext
Example: Show Name/1x05 - Episode Name/Show Name - 1x05 - Episode Name.mkv
S01E01 Individual Episode Folder:
%sn/S%0sE%0e - %en/%sn - S%0sE%0e - %en.%ext
Example: Show Name/S01E05 - Episode Name/Show Name - S01E05 - Episode Name.mkv
Show name and season directories without file renaming:
%sn/Season %s
Example: Show Name/Season 1/old file name.avi
Movie examples
In folders:
%title (%y)/%title (%y).%ext with multipart label CD%1
Example: Movie Name (2000)/Movie Name (2000) CD1.mkv
No folders:
%title (%y).%ext
Example: Movie Name (2000).mkv
Date examples
Decades 1:
%0decade/%title (%y).%ext
Example: 2000/Movie Name (2000).mkv
Decades 2:
%decade/%title (%y).%ext
Example: 00/Movie Name (2000).mkv
Show Name folder:
%t/%t - %y-%0m-%0d - %desc.%ext
Example: Show Name/Show Name - 2009-01-02 - Episode Name.mkv
Year-Month folders:
%y-%0m/%t - %y-%0m-%0d - %desc.%ext
Example: 2009-01/Show Name - 2009-01-02 - Episode Name.mkv
Daily folders:
%y-%0m-%0d/%t - %y-%0m-%0d - %desc.%ext
Example: 2009-01-02/Show Name - 2009-01-02 - Episode Name.mkv
