Folder Monitoring

Folder Monitoring is CLU's automated background ingestion pipeline. Running as a dedicated background worker process, it continuously watches a designated incoming directory for new comic downloads, unpacks archives, converts formats, cleans filenames, and routes processed issues directly into your library.

Whether files arrive from integrated downloaders (such as Usenet, DC++, or GetComics) or from manual transfers, Folder Monitoring automates post-processing so your comics are standardized and ready to read without manual intervention.

Ingestion Pipeline

[ Incoming Downloads ]
          │
          ▼
   ┌─────────────┐
   │ WATCH Folder│ ◄── Waits for active downloads to finish (settling)
   └──────┬──────┘
          │
          ▼
   ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────┐
   │ Processing Pipeline                           │
   │  1. Auto-Unwrap nested & multipart archives   │
   │  2. Auto-Convert CBR/RAR to CBZ               │
   │  3. Auto-Extract multi-issue ZIP bundles      │
   │  4. Standardize & clean filenames             │
   └──────┬────────────────────────────────────────┘
          │
          ▼
   ┌──────────────┐
   │ TARGET Folder│ ◄── Clean, organized comics ready for reading & metadata
   └──────────────┘

Folder Monitoring Sections

Section	Description
Monitoring Setup	How to enable the background monitor in Docker and configure WATCH and TARGET paths.
Features & Automation Rules	Extension filtering, format conversion, archive unwrapping, and pipeline integrity guards.
Monitoring Logs	Inspecting real-time background logs to track active file ingestion.
File Processing Settings	Global configuration for naming patterns, subdirectory traversal, and ignored terms.