fix file date release to option not required

.env.template

@@ -82,6 +82,10 @@ MOVIE_PRIORITY=import_then_digital
 # Smart fallback: prefer release dates over file dates for manual imports (true/false)
 PREFER_RELEASE_DATES_OVER_FILE_DATES=true
 
+# Allow file dates as absolute last resort (true/false)
+# If false, movies with no valid import AND no release dates will be skipped entirely
+ALLOW_FILE_DATE_FALLBACK=false
+
 # Fallback priority order when no valid Radarr import exists (comma-separated)
 # Options: digital, physical, theatrical
 # digital = VOD/streaming release, physical = DVD/Blu-ray, theatrical = cinema release

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
   - **Smart Comparison Logic**: Prevents unrealistic dates (won't use 2000 digital for 1983 movie)
   - **Per-Movie Intelligence**: "The Craft (1996)" gets 1996 theatrical, "Top Gun Maverick (2022)" gets digital
   - **Configuration**: `PREFER_RELEASE_DATES_OVER_FILE_DATES=true` replaces old digital-only setting
+- **🔇 File Date Fallback Control**: New option to completely disable file date usage
+  - **Configuration**: `ALLOW_FILE_DATE_FALLBACK=false` (default: false)
+  - **Behavior**: Movies with no release dates get skipped instead of using file dates
+  - **Clean Logs**: Eliminates "Using file dateAdded as fallback" warnings
 - **Enhanced Debug Endpoints**:
   - `/debug/movie/{imdb_id}/priority` - Shows date selection logic and available sources
   - Detailed analysis of file date vs digital date decisions

README.md

@@ -292,6 +292,21 @@ RELEASE_DATE_PRIORITY=physical,digital,theatrical
 RELEASE_DATE_PRIORITY=digital,theatrical,physical
 ```
 
+### Disabling File Date Fallbacks
+
+**Problem**: Don't want file modification dates used at all
+
+**Solution**: Disable file date fallbacks completely
+```bash
+# Add to your .env
+ALLOW_FILE_DATE_FALLBACK=false
+```
+
+**Result**: 
+- ✅ Movies with release dates get processed normally
+- ⚠️ Movies with NO release dates get skipped (no NFO created)  
+- 🔇 No more "Using file dateAdded as fallback" warnings
+
 ## 📖 Example Workflow
 You add The Blacklist in Sonarr.
 

nfoguard.py

@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ class NFOGuardConfig:
         # Movie processing
         self.movie_priority = os.environ.get("MOVIE_PRIORITY", "import_then_digital").lower()
         self.prefer_release_dates_over_file_dates = _bool_env("PREFER_RELEASE_DATES_OVER_FILE_DATES", True)
+        self.allow_file_date_fallback = _bool_env("ALLOW_FILE_DATE_FALLBACK", False)
         self.release_date_priority = [p.strip() for p in os.environ.get("RELEASE_DATE_PRIORITY", "digital,physical,theatrical").split(",")]
         self.movie_poll_mode = os.environ.get("MOVIE_POLL_MODE", "always").lower()
         self.movie_update_mode = os.environ.get("MOVIE_DATE_UPDATE_MODE", "backfill_only").lower()
@@ -431,6 +432,12 @@ class MovieProcessor:
         # Decide dates
         dateadded, source, released = self._decide_movie_dates(imdb_id, movie_path, should_query, existing)
         
+        # Skip processing if no valid date found and file dates disabled
+        if dateadded is None:
+            _log("WARNING", f"Skipping movie {movie_path.name} - no valid date source available")
+            self.db.upsert_movie_dates(imdb_id, released, None, source, True)
+            return
+        
         # Create NFO
         if config.manage_nfo:
             self.nfo_manager.create_movie_nfo(
@@ -466,7 +473,7 @@ class MovieProcessor:
             if radarr_movie:
                 movie_id = radarr_movie.get("id")
                 if movie_id:
-                    import_date, import_source = self.radarr.get_movie_import_date(movie_id)
+                    import_date, import_source = self.radarr.get_movie_import_date(movie_id, fallback_to_file_date=config.allow_file_date_fallback)
             
             # Check if we got a real import date or just file date fallback
             if import_date and import_source != "radarr:db.file.dateAdded":
@@ -499,12 +506,16 @@ class MovieProcessor:
             if radarr_movie:
                 movie_id = radarr_movie.get("id")
                 if movie_id:
-                    import_date, import_source = self.radarr.get_movie_import_date(movie_id)
+                    import_date, import_source = self.radarr.get_movie_import_date(movie_id, fallback_to_file_date=config.allow_file_date_fallback)
                     if import_date:
                         return import_date, import_source, released
         
-        # Last resort: file mtime
+        # Last resort: file mtime (if allowed)
+        if config.allow_file_date_fallback:
             return self._get_file_mtime_date(movie_path)
+        else:
+            _log("INFO", f"No valid dates found for {imdb_id} and file date fallback disabled - skipping NFO creation")
+            return None, "no_valid_date_source", None
     
     def _get_digital_release_date(self, imdb_id: str) -> Tuple[Optional[str], str]:
         """Get release date from external sources using configured priority"""