[Enhancement]: Separate Folder Structure Requirement for Comic Libraries

[insaneriot]

Describe the feature/enhancement

Folder structure for comic books is handled the same as audio and ebooks. Comic libraries are not generally structured in the same way when using single issues as opposed to a trade paperback of collected issues. A separate folder structure requirement for the comic library would go a long way to making Audiobookshelf a better comic book reader. This was previously reported as bug when it should have been a feature request. Below is a sample of the directory structure.

Folder structure: comics/Image/Saga/ ├── Saga 01 (2012).cbr ├── Saga 02 (2012).cbr └── Saga 03 (2012).cbr

Variations in the folder structure file naming convention may be different issue numbering (#1, #001, 001, etc.) but it seems the main issue is just having multiple issues in a single subfolder.

How are you running audiobookshelf? Docker

[advplyr]

If we separate comics into their own media type then they wouldn't be able to be combined with other audiobooks or ebooks. We have discussed this in Discord and I'm okay with doing that but I'm not sure if there is any need people have of them being combined.

[insaneriot]

I can only speak for myself but I don't personally have a need for comics to combine with the audio book and ebook libraries. I'm sure there is a use case for somebody but I can't think of one. I know there are movie tie in comics and such but I've never seen any that tie in with a book. Maybe books that have a graphic novel version? But even then that would be a small subset of comics.

Anyone using mylar3 or comic rack would likely have a very similar folder structure to mine. Is there a way to poll users on discord to see if there's interest?

[advplyr]

Maybe we could still support comics in book libraries and have a separate comic media type if you prefer using the comics directory structure

[insaneriot]

Whatever makes it work more like a traditional comic book reader. Folder name = series, items in that folder are seen as issues within a series so you can see progress per item. Similar to how Kavita works. But with your superior folder scraping.

If there's no other interest, no big deal.

[FackelAB]

Maybe this would be relevant to radio-plays,too. There would be each item/file one episode (typically length of one Episode is one CD) and a subfolder would be a subseries/multi-part-episode (i.e. a special episode with 3CDs).

Maybe this could be configured by a setting in the scanner-settings of the library, or a file within the directory with directives for the scanner.

[fabiopbx]

Adding my 2cents here, this would also relate to Manga volumes.

I've been looking to migrate my rather large collection over to ABS, dont mind the author subfolder so much, followed by a series folder also makes sense, but having to make a folder for each book just to contain a single file is a bit much.

Any updates on this?

[advplyr]

At this time the plan is to separate out comics into their own media type so that it can have its own folder structure. This is not high priority though right now and not currently being worked on. It is a big update.

[gravelfreeman]

At this time the plan is to separate out comics into their own media type so that it can have its own folder structure. This is not high priority though right now and not currently being worked on. It is a big update.

In the meantime if I want to add my comic books into abs. What would be the best way to achieve it? I'm currently using for ebooks the following:

Author / Book Name / Author - Book Name.ext

Thanks!

[insaneriot]

In the meantime if I want to add my comic books into abs. What would be the best way to achieve it?

There isn't anything stopping you from adding your comics into ABS as is. The issue you will run into is that multiple issues in a single folder will import as primary/supplemental. This means your series progress will not be tracked beyond the issue labeled as primary and there will be no automatic switching to the next issue at the end of the current issue.

Your options at this time are: Either wait for an update that changes how ABS handles a comic library and its common file/folder structure. Maybe use another program built specifically for comics in the interim.

Change the folder structure of your comic library to match the requirement of ABS. Meaning only one issue per folder. Or make a duplicate of your comics library and make the structure changes required to that duplicate. This can be done with a script to save time and the hassle, but requires double the storage space. Example below on what i think the folder structure would be. Check here for specifics

comics/Image/Saga/Saga 01 ├── Saga 01 (2012).cbr comics/Image/Saga/Saga 02 ├── Saga 02 (2012).cbr comics/Image/Saga/Saga 03 └── Saga 03 (2012).cbr

My suggestion is to wait until this feature has been implemented into ABS before using it for comics and to continue utilizing whatever you were using prior to finding ABS. Personally i use Kavita for comics right now, though its got its own issues, and i will be switching to ABS once its ready.