Hi @deng_dev ,
When cloudFiles.useIncrementalListing is set to auto, Auto Loader automatically detects whether a given directory is applicable for incremental listing by checking and comparing file paths of previously completed directory listings.
To ensure eventual completeness of data in auto mode, Auto Loader automatically triggers a full directory list after completing 7 consecutive incremental lists.
So, in other words. This option makes a best effort to incrementally list your files. But once in a while it will perform full directory list to backfill missing files.
Last but not least - incorrectly enabling incremental listing on a non-lexically ordered directory prevents Auto Loader from discovering new files!
Auto Loader options | Databricks on AWS
