File management

The application interprets file names using comic book naming conventions to extract important information such as series name, issue number, volume, year and title. This makes it possible to standardize the names of the files, to group them by series in a library and to sort them correctly.

Here are some examples:

Series 123.cbr
Series #123 title.cbr
Series vol.2 123 (2022) (what) (ever).cbr

Volume prefixes (case insensitive):

V,Vol(.),Volume

Issue prefixes:

#,c,ch,chap,chapter,pt,part,issue,tome,t

• Issue prefix is optional, but it is useful to have it when you also have a number in the series name.
• Everything after the issue number is optional, but parenthesis must be at the end.
• If the file name start with the issue number, the folder name is used as series name.
• If your library’s naming conventions are not understood by the application, it is possible to use the original filename.

Locations are used to make files accessible to the application. Some locations appear automatically on the home page, these are internal storage, SD cards and USB keys. A location represents a local or remote folder that can be added from the home screen or from settings by pressing the large + button.

You can add as many locations as you want, the application is able to deduplicate files if two locations have certain folders in common.

You can edit, synchronize or delete a location with a long press in the home page or in the settings using the menu accessible with the 3 small dots in front of each location.

The library allows you to group your files by series name or by parent folder name even if the files are not stored in the same location. The search function and reading suggestions are also library dependent, if no locations are added to the library you will only be able to see your files by browsing the locations. To add files to the library just check the “Add to Library” option when you add or edit a location.

All types of locations and device storage can be browsed as nested folders. By default the application displays a simplified folder view with just the folder name and a folder icon.

To see a thumbnail on the folder and to display statistical information, you must activate the thumbnail option: Show a thumbnail on folders

If a folder does not contain a comic file directly at its root but in subfolders, then you can drop an image in this folder, it will be used to generate the thumbnail.

The file monitoring option is only available for files stored locally on your device. It allows to automatically update the library when a file is added, deleted or moved. This option is not activated by default.

It has been reported that the file monitoring feature is sometimes buggy on some recent Samsung tablets and causes slowdown when files are on an SD card. If you encounter this problem disable it.

Since Android 11, apps that need to access device files must request new permissions. At the first start of the application you will be asked either to give access to all files or to limit access to certain folders. If you choose the second option you will have to unlock access to the desired folders in the application, you will then see a padlock which will allow you to unlock the folder. Note that in this case you will not be able to access the download folder! Full file access is reversible in settings.

Samsung file manager prior to version 14 prevent cbz and cbr files from being opened by third party application. All comic book readers are affected by this problem. Install another file manager like “Files” from Google.

Samsung tablets are affected by a bug that prevents access to a USB storage device when you give full access to the file system. This issue does not affect Samsung phones. If you’re using an SD card, you won’t have this problem either. The solution is to remove the full access right to the file system (in the settings, green icon representing a shield). You can then use the padlock icon to give access to the USB key. The only downside is that you won’t be able to access files that are in your device’s download folder.

1. Tap the time in the bottom corner of your screen to open the main menu.
2. Tap the settings gear near the top right corner of the menu.
3. Scroll down to the Device section to tap Storage management.
4. Tap External storage preferences.
5. Tap the toggle to the right of SD Card to give Android apps access to read and write to your SD card.

The application runs in an isolated environment that does not allow it to directly access your files. To access your files you must first share the folder where your books are located. Documentation: “File sharing over a network in Windows”.

Next, check that the advanced network option is disabled in the Windows Subsystem settings for Android. This setting will prevent you from connecting locally to Samba. If this option is not present you have nothing to do.

Then, in the app, you have to add a new network share location. Preferably use the name of your computer rather than an ip address which can change frequently. You may have to be connected to any network before the WSA is launched, it is no more necessary in latest WSA version. The books can thus be read directly without being downloaded, you will not see any loss of performance.

A new version of WSA should be available in early 2023, and should allow easier access to the local file system.