Shadow Files

Why

AniDB is built around files, and the basic structure of AniDB assumes that each file will contain one episode. This is often not true, in two variations: split-episode files, and multi-episode files. Also there is the case of separate subtitle files.

How

Basically, what shadow-files would do is create an extra layer over the files - the episodes would point to shadow-files, and the shadow-files would then point to the actual files, be it just one single file, or more than one. Also, the shadow-file can belong to more than one single episode.

When

Because it would change the underlying structure of AniDB this would require a total rewrite of the database. Therefore, it will not be done in the current version. When (and if) AniDB gets a complete rewrite, it will most likely be included from the start.

More details

Split episodes

The most common occurrence of this are movies: almost every movie added the AniDB will have several different versions released by different groups, some will only be one single file released, but some will be released as part 1 and 2 of 2, or even part 1, 2 and 3 of 3. With shadow-files all the files would be under the same "Complete Movie" entry, and when you select to get a version that is split into multiple files, you would see that it has more than one file, and be able to get each of the files you needed.

Multiple episodes

This happens a lot when series air 2 episodes at the same time; there is normally not a separate opening/ending, and the episodes flow seamlessly into each other. If you add one of these files, when shadow-files are implemented, all episodes that are contained in the file will get added to your MyList even though you only have 1 actual file. Also, for anime that end in these kind of special episodes, the groups' status will change to completed instead of stalled as they are now.

...further information

Separate subtitles

Very often movies will first be released as RAWs without subtitles, then afterwards, subtitles may be provided; but you can't be sure which RAW the subtitles are made for. The wrong raw for the wrong subtitles will most likely make the subtitles out of sync. With shadow-files you would be able to add the RAWs and the subtitle files to the correct shadow-file(s) in order to group them together in a logical way.

Illustrations

Here I have made some (crap) illustrations to further illuminate how it works, and what the differences are:

Current Workarounds

Split episodes

Currently for things like movies, when split files are released, they will get added to episode 2 and 3 (or 4, 5 and 6 in case of 3-file-splits).
However, if it is an OVA, this is sometimes not feasible, and it may get added to a special "Other" episode instead.

...further information

Multiple episodes

The current workaround for split episodes is to add the file to the first episode that it contains, and add generic files to your MyList for the remaining episodes in the file instead.
For some OVAs though, there will be special "Other" episodes added named something like "O1 Episode 1-3" or something like that.

...further information

Separate subtitles

There are a few different cases of these:
1. One subtitle file for one episode: the file will most likely be added to the episode with a comment telling which RAW(s) it belongs to.
2. Several subtitle files in an archive of some sort: The file will be added to a special "Other" listed as something like "O1 Subtitles for episodes 1-5".

...further information

Other resources

• tracker entry
• the original thread (old forum)
• further discussion (old forum)
• more detail about multi-episode-files problem (old forum)