diff --git a/src/dialog/vnewnotebookdialog.cpp b/src/dialog/vnewnotebookdialog.cpp
index b5cba5b3..3047200c 100644
--- a/src/dialog/vnewnotebookdialog.cpp
+++ b/src/dialog/vnewnotebookdialog.cpp
@@ -198,13 +198,6 @@ void VNewNotebookDialog::showEvent(QShowEvent *event)
 
 void VNewNotebookDialog::handleInputChanged()
 {
-    QString warnText = tr("<span style=\"%1\">WARNING</span>: The folder chosen is NOT empty! "
-                          "It is highly recommended to use an EMPTY and EXCLUSIVE folder for a new notebook.")
-                          .arg(g_config->c_warningTextStyle);
-    QString infoText = tr("<span style=\"%1\">INFO</span>: The folder chosen seems to be a root "
-                          "folder of a notebook created by VNote before. "
-                          "VNote will try to import it by reading the configuration file.")
-                          .arg("font-weight:bold;");
     bool pathOk = false;
     bool configExist = false;
     bool showWarnLabel = false;
@@ -236,20 +229,25 @@ void VNewNotebookDialog::handleInputChanged()
                 // Folder is not empty.
                 configExist = VConfigManager::directoryConfigExist(path);
                 if (configExist) {
+                    QString infoText = tr("<span style=\"%1\">INFO</span>: The folder chosen seems to be a root "
+                                          "folder of a notebook created by VNote before. "
+                                          "VNote will try to import it by reading the configuration file.")
+                                          .arg("font-weight:bold;");
                     m_warnLabel->setText(infoText);
                 } else {
                     QString warnText = tr("<span style=\"%1\">WARNING</span>: The folder chosen is NOT empty! "
-                                          "VNote will try to create a new notebook and import existing files.")
+                                          "It is highly recommended to use an EMPTY and EXCLUSIVE folder for a new notebook. "
+                                          "If continue, VNote will try to create a notebook based on existing "
+                                          "folders and files recursively.")
                                           .arg(g_config->c_warningTextStyle);
                     m_warnLabel->setText(warnText);
 
                     m_importExternalProject = true;
-                    // If ok button is clicked, automatically create a configuration file
-                    configExist = true;
                 }
 
                 showWarnLabel = true;
             }
+
             pathOk = true;
         } else {
             pathOk = true;
diff --git a/src/vdirectory.cpp b/src/vdirectory.cpp
index 17cb1f1c..82f3321c 100644
--- a/src/vdirectory.cpp
+++ b/src/vdirectory.cpp
@@ -740,3 +740,65 @@ QList<QString> VDirectory::collectFiles()
 
     return files;
 }
+
+VDirectory *VDirectory::buildDirectory(const QString &p_path,
+                                       VDirectory *p_parent,
+                                       QString *p_errMsg)
+{
+    VDirectory *ret = new VDirectory(p_parent->getNotebook(),
+                                     p_parent,
+                                     VUtils::directoryNameFromPath(p_path),
+                                     QDateTime::currentDateTimeUtc());
+
+    QDir rootDir(p_path);
+
+    // Process all the folders.
+    QVector<VDirectory *> &subdirs = ret->getSubDirs();
+    QFileInfoList dirList = rootDir.entryInfoList(QDir::AllDirs | QDir::NoDotAndDotDot);
+    for (auto const & sub : dirList) {
+        VDirectory *dir = VDirectory::buildDirectory(sub.absoluteFilePath(),
+                                                     ret,
+                                                     p_errMsg);
+        if (dir) {
+            subdirs.append(dir);
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Process all the files.
+    QVector<VNoteFile *> &files = ret->getFiles();
+    QDateTime dateTime = QDateTime::currentDateTimeUtc();
+    QList<QString> suffixes = g_config->getDocSuffixes()[(int)DocType::Markdown];
+    QStringList filters;
+    for (auto const & suf : suffixes) {
+        filters << ("*." + suf);
+    }
+
+    QStringList fileList = rootDir.entryList(filters, QDir::Files);
+    for (auto const & fileName : fileList) {
+        VNoteFile *file = new VNoteFile(ret,
+                                        fileName,
+                                        FileType::Note,
+                                        true,
+                                        dateTime,
+                                        dateTime);
+        if (!file) {
+            VUtils::addErrMsg(p_errMsg, tr("Skip file %1.").arg(rootDir.absoluteFilePath(fileName)));
+        } else {
+            files.append(file);
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (subdirs.isEmpty() && files.isEmpty()) {
+        delete ret;
+        VUtils::addErrMsg(p_errMsg, tr("Skip folder %1.").arg(p_path));
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    if (!ret->writeToConfig()) {
+        delete ret;
+        VUtils::addErrMsg(p_errMsg, tr("Fail to write configuration of folder %1.").arg(p_path));
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    return ret;
+}
diff --git a/src/vdirectory.h b/src/vdirectory.h
index 5c431540..52a9700f 100644
--- a/src/vdirectory.h
+++ b/src/vdirectory.h
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ public:
                               QString *p_errMsg = NULL);
 
     const QVector<VDirectory *> &getSubDirs() const;
+    QVector<VDirectory *> &getSubDirs();
 
     const QString &getName() const;
     void setName(const QString &p_name);
@@ -76,7 +77,11 @@ public:
     const VDirectory *getParentDirectory() const;
     VNotebook *getNotebook();
     const VNotebook *getNotebook() const;
+
     const QVector<VNoteFile *> &getFiles() const;
+
+    QVector<VNoteFile *> &getFiles();
+
     QString fetchPath() const;
     QString fetchBasePath() const;
     QString fetchRelativePath() const;
@@ -122,6 +127,10 @@ public:
                                 bool p_skipRecycleBin = false,
                                 QString *p_errMsg = NULL);
 
+    static VDirectory *buildDirectory(const QString &p_path,
+                                      VDirectory *p_parent,
+                                      QString *p_errMsg);
+
 private:
     // Get the path of @p_dir recursively
     QString fetchPath(const VDirectory *p_dir) const;
@@ -173,6 +182,11 @@ inline const QVector<VDirectory *> &VDirectory::getSubDirs() const
     return m_subDirs;
 }
 
+inline QVector<VDirectory *> &VDirectory::getSubDirs()
+{
+    return m_subDirs;
+}
+
 inline const QString &VDirectory::getName() const
 {
     return m_name;
@@ -203,6 +217,11 @@ inline const QVector<VNoteFile *> &VDirectory::getFiles() const
     return m_files;
 }
 
+inline QVector<VNoteFile *> &VDirectory::getFiles()
+{
+    return m_files;
+}
+
 inline QString VDirectory::getNotebookName() const
 {
     return m_notebook->getName();
diff --git a/src/vnotebook.cpp b/src/vnotebook.cpp
index 227defcc..11b5736e 100644
--- a/src/vnotebook.cpp
+++ b/src/vnotebook.cpp
@@ -457,3 +457,43 @@ void VNotebook::removeTag(const QString &p_tag)
         }
     }
 }
+
+bool VNotebook::buildNotebook(const QString &p_name,
+                              const QString &p_path,
+                              const QString &p_imgFolder,
+                              const QString &p_attachmentFolder,
+                              QString *p_errMsg)
+{
+    VNotebook *nb = new VNotebook(p_name, p_path);
+    nb->setImageFolder(p_imgFolder);
+
+    QString attachmentFolder = p_attachmentFolder;
+    if (p_attachmentFolder.isEmpty()) {
+        nb->setAttachmentFolder(g_config->getAttachmentFolder());
+    } else {
+        nb->setAttachmentFolder(p_attachmentFolder);
+    }
+
+    // Process all the folders.
+    QVector<VDirectory *> &subdirs = nb->getRootDir()->getSubDirs();
+    QDir rootDir(p_path);
+    QFileInfoList dirList = rootDir.entryInfoList(QDir::AllDirs | QDir::NoDotAndDotDot);
+    for (auto const & sub : dirList) {
+        VDirectory *dir = VDirectory::buildDirectory(sub.absoluteFilePath(),
+                                                     nb->getRootDir(),
+                                                     p_errMsg);
+        if (dir) {
+            subdirs.append(dir);
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (!nb->writeToConfig()) {
+        delete nb;
+        VUtils::addErrMsg(p_errMsg,
+                          tr("Fail to write notebook configuration file."));
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    delete nb;
+    return true;
+}
diff --git a/src/vnotebook.h b/src/vnotebook.h
index 5d94d13e..891367bf 100644
--- a/src/vnotebook.h
+++ b/src/vnotebook.h
@@ -111,6 +111,14 @@ public:
 
     QList<QString> collectFiles();
 
+    // Create configuration files recursively to build a notebook based on
+    // a external directory.
+    static bool buildNotebook(const QString &p_name,
+                              const QString &p_path,
+                              const QString &p_imgFolder,
+                              const QString &p_attachmentFolder,
+                              QString *p_errMsg = NULL);
+
 private:
     // Serialize current instance to json.
     QJsonObject toConfigJson() const;
diff --git a/src/vnotebookselector.cpp b/src/vnotebookselector.cpp
index 24d6bcd8..c1f50d42 100644
--- a/src/vnotebookselector.cpp
+++ b/src/vnotebookselector.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 #include "vnotebookselector.h"
 #include <QDebug>
 #include <QJsonObject>
-#include <QJsonArray>
 #include <QListWidget>
 #include <QAction>
 #include <QMenu>
@@ -10,6 +9,7 @@
 #include <QLabel>
 #include <QDesktopServices>
 #include <QUrl>
+
 #include "vnotebook.h"
 #include "vconfigmanager.h"
 #include "dialog/vnewnotebookdialog.h"
@@ -119,46 +119,6 @@ int VNotebookSelector::itemIndexOfNotebook(const VNotebook *p_notebook) const
     return -1;
 }
 
-void VNotebookSelector::createConfigFiles(const QString &p_path)
-{
-    QDir root(p_path);
-    QStringList filters;
-    filters << "*.md" << "*.markdown";
-
-    QJsonObject dirJson;
-    dirJson[DirConfig::c_version] = "1";
-    dirJson[DirConfig::c_createdTime] = QDateTime::currentDateTime().toString(Qt::ISODate);
-
-    QJsonArray subDirs;
-    QJsonArray files;
-
-    QFileInfoList dirInfoList = root.entryInfoList(QDir::Dirs | QDir::NoDotAndDotDot);
-    QFileInfoList fileInfoList = root.entryInfoList(filters,QDir::Files);
-
-    for(const QFileInfo &dirInfo : dirInfoList) {
-        const QString dirname = dirInfo.fileName();
-        if (dirname != "_v_recycle_bin") {
-            QJsonObject item;
-            item[DirConfig::c_name] = dirname;
-            subDirs.append(item);
-
-            createConfigFiles(dirInfo.absoluteFilePath());
-        }
-    }
-
-    for(const QFileInfo &fileInfo : fileInfoList) {
-        QJsonObject item;
-        item[DirConfig::c_createdTime] = fileInfo.created().toString(Qt::ISODate);
-        item[DirConfig::c_name] = fileInfo.fileName();
-        files.append(item);
-    }
-
-    dirJson[DirConfig::c_subDirectories] = subDirs;
-    dirJson[DirConfig::c_files] = files;
-
-    g_config->writeDirectoryConfig(p_path,dirJson);
-}
-
 void VNotebookSelector::insertAddNotebookItem()
 {
     QListWidgetItem *item = new QListWidgetItem();
@@ -230,6 +190,9 @@ bool VNotebookSelector::newNotebook()
     info += "\n";
     info += tr("* A previously created notebook could be imported into VNote "
                "by choosing its root folder.");
+    info += "\n";
+    info += tr("* When a non-empty folder is chosen, VNote will create a notebook "
+               "based on the folders and files in it recursively.");
 
     // Use empty default name and path to let the dialog to auto generate a name
     // under the default VNote notebook folder.
@@ -240,18 +203,51 @@ bool VNotebookSelector::newNotebook()
                               m_notebooks,
                               this);
     if (dialog.exec() == QDialog::Accepted) {
-
+        bool isImport = dialog.isImportExistingNotebook();
         if(dialog.isImportExternalProject()) {
-            createConfigFiles(dialog.getPathInput());
+            QString msg;
+            bool ret = VNotebook::buildNotebook(dialog.getNameInput(),
+                                                dialog.getPathInput(),
+                                                dialog.getImageFolder(),
+                                                dialog.getAttachmentFolder(),
+                                                &msg);
+
+            QList<QString> suffixes = g_config->getDocSuffixes()[(int)DocType::Markdown];
+            QString sufs;
+            for (auto const & suf : suffixes) {
+                if (sufs.isEmpty()) {
+                    sufs = "*." + suf;
+                } else {
+                    sufs += ",*." + suf;
+                }
+            }
+
+            QString info = ret ? tr("Successfully build notebook recursively (%1).").arg(sufs)
+                               : tr("Fail to build notebook recursively.");
+            if (!ret || !msg.isEmpty()) {
+                VUtils::showMessage(ret ? QMessageBox::Information : QMessageBox::Warning,
+                                    ret ? tr("Information") : tr("Warning"),
+                                    info,
+                                    msg,
+                                    QMessageBox::Ok,
+                                    QMessageBox::Ok,
+                                    this);
+            }
+
+            if (!ret) {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            isImport = true;
         }
 
         createNotebook(dialog.getNameInput(),
                        dialog.getPathInput(),
-                       dialog.isImportExistingNotebook(),
+                       isImport,
                        dialog.getImageFolder(),
                        dialog.getAttachmentFolder());
 
-        emit notebookCreated(dialog.getNameInput(), dialog.isImportExistingNotebook());
+        emit notebookCreated(dialog.getNameInput(), isImport);
         return true;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/vnotebookselector.h b/src/vnotebookselector.h
index 35605078..43985a2c 100644
--- a/src/vnotebookselector.h
+++ b/src/vnotebookselector.h
@@ -71,9 +71,6 @@ private:
     // Return the item index of @p_notebook.
     int itemIndexOfNotebook(const VNotebook *p_notebook) const;
 
-    // Recursively create config files
-    void createConfigFiles(const QString &p_path);
-
     // If @p_import is true, we will use the existing config file.
     // If @p_imageFolder is empty, we will use the global one.
     // If @p_attachmentFolder is empty, we will use the global one.