Cleanuparr: Clean Specific Downloads By Label - Guide

by Mei Lin 54 views

Hey everyone! 👋 Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you only want to clean up downloads with specific labels in Cleanuparr? I totally get it! You've probably read the documentation (maybe even twice!), and you're thinking, "There has to be a way!" Well, you're in the right place. Let’s dive into how you can achieve this.

Understanding the Challenge

So, you’re trying to configure Cleanuparr to only manage downloads that have particular labels. The usual setup seems to focus on skipping certain labels, which isn't quite what we need. Here's the deal: Sonarr and Radarr automatically add labels to downloads, but those pesky manual downloads? Nada. Zilch. No labels. This means we need a way to tell Cleanuparr, "Hey, only touch the ones with these specific tags!"

Why This Matters

Before we get into the how-to, let's talk about why this is so important. Properly managing your downloads ensures that your media library remains organized and efficient. Specific labels help you differentiate between automated downloads (thanks, Sonarr and Radarr!) and manual ones. This is super helpful for:

  • Avoiding accidental deletions: You don't want to accidentally delete something you manually downloaded and curated, right?
  • Maintaining control: By targeting labeled downloads, you can automate the cleanup process for specific categories without affecting others.
  • Keeping things tidy: A well-organized system is a happy system. Think of it as the Marie Kondo of your media library – sparking joy by keeping only what you need!

The Current Conundrum

The challenge lies in the default behavior of Cleanuparr. It's designed to skip labels rather than focus on them. This means that if you set it to skip certain labels, it will ignore those but still manage everything else. For those of us with a mix of labeled and unlabeled downloads, this isn't ideal. We need a way to exclusively target downloads with specific labels. This ensures that manual downloads or anything else without the desired labels remain untouched.

Diving Deep: How to Target Specific Labels

Okay, let's get into the nitty-gritty. How do we actually make Cleanuparr focus on only the downloads we want it to? This involves a bit of configuration magic, but don't worry, I'm here to guide you through it.

Step 1: Assess Your Labels

First things first, you need to know exactly what labels you want Cleanuparr to manage. Take a look at your Sonarr and Radarr settings. What labels are they applying to your automated downloads? Make a list. Seriously, write it down. This is crucial because we’ll be using these labels to tell Cleanuparr what to look for. For example, you might have labels like sonarr or radarr or even more specific ones like tv-shows or movies. Understanding these labels is the foundation of our targeted cleanup strategy.

Step 2: Crafting the Configuration

Here’s where the fun begins! We need to configure Cleanuparr to recognize and act only on these specific labels. Unfortunately, there isn't a straightforward "only manage these labels" setting. We have to get a little creative. The key is to use the “skip labels” feature in reverse. Think of it as a Jedi mind trick for your download manager. 🧙‍♂️

Instead of telling Cleanuparr what to skip, we're going to tell it to skip everything else. This means we need to identify a label or a set of labels that encompass everything we don't want Cleanuparr to touch. This might seem counterintuitive, but stick with me.

Let's say you want Cleanuparr to manage only downloads labeled Sonarr and Radarr. You need to find a way to tell Cleanuparr to ignore everything that isn't labeled Sonarr or Radarr. This can be a bit tricky because you need to account for anything that might not have a label at all, like those manual downloads we talked about. Here’s a breakdown of how you can approach this:

  1. Identify the Target Labels: Clearly define the labels you want Cleanuparr to manage (e.g., Sonarr, Radarr).
  2. Determine the “Skip” Strategy: Figure out how to make Cleanuparr ignore everything else. This might involve creating a dummy label or using a combination of existing labels and patterns.

Step 3: Implementing the Reverse Skip

Now, let's put this into action. There are a couple of ways you can implement this “reverse skip” strategy, and the best approach will depend on your specific setup and how your labels are structured.

Option 1: The Dummy Label

This method involves creating a “dummy” label that you apply to all downloads you don’t want Cleanuparr to manage. This is a bit of a manual process, but it gives you precise control. Here’s how it works:

  1. Create a Dummy Label: Choose a label name that you’re not already using, like manual-download or do-not-clean.
  2. Apply the Dummy Label: Manually apply this label to any downloads you want Cleanuparr to ignore. This includes your manual downloads or anything else you want to keep safe.
  3. Configure Cleanuparr: In Cleanuparr’s settings, add this dummy label to the “skip labels” list. This tells Cleanuparr to ignore anything with the manual-download label.

By doing this, Cleanuparr will effectively only manage downloads that don't have the manual-download label, which should be your automatically labeled downloads from Sonarr and Radarr.

Option 2: The Negative Filter (Advanced)

This method is a bit more advanced and involves using regular expressions or more complex label patterns in your “skip labels” configuration. It’s useful if you have a consistent naming convention or pattern for your labels. Here’s the general idea:

  1. Analyze Your Labels: Look for patterns in the labels you don’t want to manage. For example, maybe all your manual downloads have no labels at all, or maybe they have a specific prefix or suffix.
  2. Create a Negative Filter: Use a regular expression or a combination of labels in the “skip labels” setting to match anything you don’t want to manage. For instance, you might use a regular expression to match any download without a Sonarr or Radarr label.
  3. Test Thoroughly: This method can be powerful, but it also requires careful testing to make sure you’re not accidentally skipping downloads you want to manage.

For example, if you want to skip anything that isn't Sonarr or Radarr, you might use a regular expression like ^(?!Sonarr|Radarr).*$ in your “skip labels” setting. This regex essentially says, “Skip anything that doesn’t start with Sonarr or Radarr.”

Step 4: Testing and Tweaking

Once you’ve configured Cleanuparr, it’s crucial to test your setup. Don’t just set it and forget it! You need to make sure it’s behaving as expected. Here’s a good way to test:

  1. Run a Manual Cleanup: Use Cleanuparr’s manual run option to see what it identifies for cleanup. This lets you review the proposed actions before anything is actually deleted.
  2. Check the Logs: Enable verbose logging in Cleanuparr and review the logs after a run. This can give you insights into why Cleanuparr is making certain decisions.
  3. Adjust as Needed: If you find that Cleanuparr is including or excluding downloads incorrectly, tweak your configuration and test again. It might take a few iterations to get it just right.

Example Scenario: Cleaning Only Radarr Downloads

Let's walk through a specific example to make this even clearer. Suppose you want Cleanuparr to only manage downloads from Radarr. Here’s how you might set it up using the dummy label method:

  1. Create a Dummy Label: Create a label called non-radarr.
  2. Apply the Dummy Label: Manually apply this label to any downloads that aren't from Radarr.
  3. Configure Cleanuparr: Add non-radarr to the “skip labels” list in Cleanuparr.

With this setup, Cleanuparr will ignore anything labeled non-radarr, effectively focusing only on downloads that don't have this label – which should be your Radarr downloads.

Best Practices and Pro Tips

Okay, you’ve got the basics down. But let’s take it a step further. Here are some best practices and pro tips to help you get the most out of Cleanuparr and manage your downloads like a pro.

Keep Your Labels Consistent

Consistency is key when it comes to labels. Make sure your labels are applied consistently across Sonarr, Radarr, and any other download management tools you’re using. This will make it much easier to target specific downloads with Cleanuparr.

Use Descriptive Labels

Instead of generic labels like downloaded, use more descriptive labels like tv-show or movie. This can help you differentiate between different types of downloads and manage them more effectively.

Regularly Review Your Configuration

Your download habits might change over time, so it’s a good idea to regularly review your Cleanuparr configuration. Make sure your labels and skip settings are still aligned with your needs.

Leverage Verbose Logging

I mentioned this earlier, but it’s worth repeating: verbose logging is your friend! It provides detailed information about what Cleanuparr is doing, which can be invaluable for troubleshooting and fine-tuning your setup.

Consider Using Tags

In addition to labels, consider using tags in your download clients. Tags can provide an extra layer of organization and make it easier to filter and manage your downloads.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with the best setup, you might run into some snags. Here are a few common issues and how to troubleshoot them.

Downloads Are Being Skipped Incorrectly

If Cleanuparr is skipping downloads it shouldn’t be, double-check your “skip labels” configuration. Make sure your labels and patterns are correct and that you haven’t accidentally included any labels you want to manage.

Downloads Aren’t Being Cleaned Up

If downloads aren’t being cleaned up as expected, check Cleanuparr’s logs for any error messages. Also, make sure that the downloads meet the criteria for cleanup (e.g., age, size, status).

Conflicting Settings

If you have multiple rules or settings in Cleanuparr, they might conflict with each other. Review your configuration and make sure there are no overlapping or contradictory settings.

Conclusion: Mastering Targeted Download Cleanup

Alright, guys! You’ve made it to the end! 🎉 By now, you should have a solid understanding of how to configure Cleanuparr to manage only downloads with specific labels. It might take a little tweaking to get it just right, but the effort is worth it. A well-organized media library is a beautiful thing.

Remember, the key is to think creatively about how to use the “skip labels” feature in reverse. Whether you opt for the dummy label method or the advanced negative filter, the goal is the same: to precisely target the downloads you want to manage while leaving everything else untouched.

So go forth, configure your Cleanuparr, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a well-managed media library. Happy cleaning!