Organizing my files, deleting etc?

[uninformedspaghetticode]

So I've enjoyed my first foray into stash for organizing my media. The issue is that I've a messy library spread over multiple disks.

My Images and Galleries tabs are awfully messy, and I'd like to rectify that somehow. I come asking for tips on doing that. I'd also like to understand deletion.... If i am to delete a gallery on stash, how can I 1. Ensure that the original master file on my hard disk is kept and 2. That it doesn't get re-added?

I've tried to understand the exclusions, but I wish there were a more straightforward exclusion option to essentially just click the excluded files.

Would be thankful with some advice and guidance on this matter!

[DogmaDragon]

1. When you click delete there is a popup that lets you choose to only remove from Stash or also remove the file from filesystem. By default it doesn't remove anything from filesystem.
2. Settings > Library > Exclusions is the only way, which admittedly could be improved.

If you haven't read, check out https://docs.stashapp.cc/in-app-manual/configuration/#excluded-patterns for the exclusions.
It uses regex so it can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be.

https://regex101.com/ is good helper to test if your regex is valid. And if you have speciifc examples, we can help you figure it out.

[uninformedspaghetticode]

Thanks for clearing that up. I essentially just unselected parent directories and went in to select the folders that do not contain imagery. But it turns out I've just accidentally messed up my whole library. (And yes, I didn't back it up!)

For some reason my scenes are showing a name and it's correct thumbnail but the media in the scene is nothing associated with the thumbnail and scene name + it's scraped data. Such a love hate relationship.