How to Monitor a Folder for PDF Files
Watch any folder, auto-process every new PDF.
Need to monitor a folder for new PDF files and process them automatically? This guide explains how to set up file watching using PDF2DocBot. Works with local folders, Google Drive, Dropbox, network shares (SMB/SFTP) and WebDAV.
Why monitor a folder?
Folder monitoring is a common workflow need: every time a new PDF arrives in a shared inbox, accounting drop folder, or scanner output directory, you want it processed automatically — converted, archived, or forwarded. Without monitoring, you'd have to manually check the folder and process files one by one.
Setting up monitoring with PDF2DocBot
PDF2DocBot provides folder monitoring out of the box. Connect any source (local upload, Google Drive, SMB share, SFTP, WebDAV), set the scan interval (5 min to daily), and the bot watches the folder 24/7. Every new PDF gets converted to DOCX automatically.
Recursive vs flat scanning
By default, PDF2DocBot scans subfolders recursively, so you can drop PDFs in any subfolder of the watched directory. Disable recursion if you only want to watch the top-level folder. Output is saved next to each input file.
Handling duplicates and re-runs
PDF2DocBot computes an MD5 hash of every file. Already-converted files are skipped on subsequent scans, so you can safely re-run scans without double-processing. Modified files (different hash) are re-converted.
Key features
- Cross-platform — works with any source
- Recursive subfolder scanning
- MD5 deduplication
- Configurable scan interval (5 min – daily)
- Per-folder engine selection
Benefits
- Set it once, runs forever
- No duplicate processing
- Works with team-shared folders
- Detailed activity log
FAQ
Can I monitor a folder on my desktop?
Yes, by uploading PDFs through the dashboard or by syncing your desktop folder with Google Drive / Dropbox and connecting that.
What is the minimum scan interval?
5 minutes for Pro users, 60 minutes for Free and Starter plans.
Does it work with network shares?
Yes. SMB (Windows shares), SFTP (Linux servers), and WebDAV are all supported on Pro plan.