diff --git a/src/generator.ts b/src/generator.ts
index 7247b26..4480e6d 100644
--- a/src/generator.ts
+++ b/src/generator.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { App, Modal, Notice, Setting, TFile, TFolder } from 'obsidian';
 import ClaudeContextPlugin from './main';
 import { createFreetextSource, SourcePosition } from './sources';
 import { estimateTokens } from './history';
-import { OutputTarget, getTargetIcon, formatTokenCount } from './targets';
+import { OutputTarget, OutputFormat, getTargetIcon, formatTokenCount } from './targets';
 
 interface FolderConfig {
 	name: string;
@@ -87,10 +87,26 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 	selectedTemplateId: string | null = null;
 	selectedTargetIds: Set<string> = new Set();
 
+	// Preview pane state
+	private previewContent: HTMLElement | null = null;
+	private previewLineInfo: HTMLElement | null = null;
+	private debounceTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
+	private previewOpen: boolean = false;
+	private static readonly PREVIEW_LINES = 30;
+	private static readonly DEBOUNCE_MS = 300;
+
+	// Status bar DOM references
+	private statusFileCount: HTMLElement | null = null;
+	private statusTokens: HTMLElement | null = null;
+	private statusTarget: HTMLElement | null = null;
+	private statusFormat: HTMLElement | null = null;
+	private targetsHeadingEl: HTMLElement | null = null;
+
 	constructor(app: App, plugin: ClaudeContextPlugin) {
 		super(app);
 		this.plugin = plugin;
 		this.config = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(DEFAULT_CONFIG));
+		this.previewOpen = this.plugin.settings.generatorPreviewOpen ?? false;
 		this.config.folders = this.scanVaultStructure().map(name => ({ name, purpose: '' }));
 		// Initialize with default template
 		this.selectedTemplateId = this.plugin.settings.defaultTemplateId;
@@ -108,6 +124,39 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 
 		contentEl.createEl('h2', { text: 'Context Generator' });
 
+		// === STATUS BAR ===
+		const statusBar = contentEl.createDiv({ cls: 'cc-gen-statusbar' });
+
+		this.statusFileCount = statusBar.createEl('span', { cls: 'cc-statusbar-item' });
+		statusBar.createEl('span', { cls: 'cc-statusbar-sep', text: '\u00B7' });
+		this.statusTokens = statusBar.createEl('span', { cls: 'cc-statusbar-item cc-statusbar-tokens' });
+		statusBar.createEl('span', { cls: 'cc-statusbar-sep', text: '\u00B7' });
+		this.statusTarget = statusBar.createEl('span', { cls: 'cc-statusbar-item cc-statusbar-clickable' });
+		statusBar.createEl('span', { cls: 'cc-statusbar-sep', text: '\u00B7' });
+		this.statusFormat = statusBar.createEl('span', { cls: 'cc-statusbar-item cc-statusbar-clickable' });
+
+		// Click target label → scroll to Output Targets section
+		this.statusTarget.addEventListener('click', () => {
+			if (this.targetsHeadingEl) {
+				this.targetsHeadingEl.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'start' });
+			}
+		});
+
+		// Click format label → cycle through formats on primary target
+		this.statusFormat.addEventListener('click', () => {
+			const primary = this.getPrimaryTarget();
+			if (!primary) return;
+			const formats: OutputFormat[] = ['markdown', 'xml', 'plain'];
+			const idx = formats.indexOf(primary.format);
+			primary.format = formats[(idx + 1) % formats.length] ?? 'markdown';
+			this.plugin.saveSettings();
+			this.updateStatusBar();
+			this.schedulePreviewUpdate();
+		});
+
+		// Initial status bar render
+		this.updateStatusBar();
+
 		// === TWO-ZONE GRID LAYOUT ===
 		const layout = contentEl.createDiv({ cls: 'cc-gen-layout' });
 		const selectionZone = layout.createDiv({ cls: 'cc-gen-zone cc-gen-selection' });
@@ -124,31 +173,31 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 			.setName('conventions.md')
 			.addToggle(toggle => toggle
 				.setValue(this.config.generateFiles.conventions)
-				.onChange(v => this.config.generateFiles.conventions = v));
+				.onChange(v => { this.config.generateFiles.conventions = v; this.schedulePreviewUpdate(); }));
 
 		new Setting(selectionZone)
 			.setName('structure.md')
 			.addToggle(toggle => toggle
 				.setValue(this.config.generateFiles.structure)
-				.onChange(v => this.config.generateFiles.structure = v));
+				.onChange(v => { this.config.generateFiles.structure = v; this.schedulePreviewUpdate(); }));
 
 		new Setting(selectionZone)
 			.setName('workflows.md')
 			.addToggle(toggle => toggle
 				.setValue(this.config.generateFiles.workflows)
-				.onChange(v => this.config.generateFiles.workflows = v));
+				.onChange(v => { this.config.generateFiles.workflows = v; this.schedulePreviewUpdate(); }));
 
 		new Setting(selectionZone)
 			.setName('templates.md')
 			.addToggle(toggle => toggle
 				.setValue(this.config.generateFiles.templates)
-				.onChange(v => this.config.generateFiles.templates = v));
+				.onChange(v => { this.config.generateFiles.templates = v; this.schedulePreviewUpdate(); }));
 
 		new Setting(selectionZone)
 			.setName('examples.md')
 			.addToggle(toggle => toggle
 				.setValue(this.config.generateFiles.examples)
-				.onChange(v => this.config.generateFiles.examples = v));
+				.onChange(v => { this.config.generateFiles.examples = v; this.schedulePreviewUpdate(); }));
 
 		// === FOLDER STRUCTURE ===
 		selectionZone.createEl('h3', { text: 'Folder structure' });
@@ -170,7 +219,7 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 				.addOption('flat', 'Flat (#tag)')
 				.addOption('none', 'No tags')
 				.setValue(this.config.tagsStyle)
-				.onChange(v => this.config.tagsStyle = v));
+				.onChange(v => { this.config.tagsStyle = v; this.schedulePreviewUpdate(); }));
 
 		new Setting(selectionZone)
 			.setName('Predefined tags')
@@ -180,6 +229,7 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 				.setValue(this.config.customTags.join(', '))
 				.onChange(v => {
 					this.config.customTags = v.split(',').map(s => s.trim()).filter(s => s);
+					this.schedulePreviewUpdate();
 				}));
 
 		// === FRONTMATTER SECTION ===
@@ -192,6 +242,7 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 				.setValue(this.config.frontmatterFields.join(', '))
 				.onChange(v => {
 					this.config.frontmatterFields = v.split(',').map(s => s.trim()).filter(s => s);
+					this.schedulePreviewUpdate();
 				}));
 
 		// === NOTE TEMPLATES ===
@@ -229,7 +280,7 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 			.addTextArea(text => {
 				text.setPlaceholder('e.g. Personal Zettelkasten for development and knowledge management')
 					.setValue(this.config.vaultDescription)
-					.onChange(v => this.config.vaultDescription = v);
+					.onChange(v => { this.config.vaultDescription = v; this.schedulePreviewUpdate(); });
 				text.inputEl.rows = 2;
 				text.inputEl.style.width = '100%';
 			});
@@ -240,7 +291,7 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 				.addOption('english', 'English')
 				.addOption('german', 'Deutsch')
 				.setValue(this.config.language)
-				.onChange(v => this.config.language = v));
+				.onChange(v => { this.config.language = v; this.schedulePreviewUpdate(); }));
 
 		// === FORMATTING ===
 		configZone.createEl('h3', { text: 'Formatting' });
@@ -253,7 +304,7 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 				.addOption('camelCase', 'camelCase')
 				.addOption('free', 'Free / no convention')
 				.setValue(this.config.fileNaming)
-				.onChange(v => this.config.fileNaming = v));
+				.onChange(v => { this.config.fileNaming = v; this.schedulePreviewUpdate(); }));
 
 		new Setting(configZone)
 			.setName('Link style')
@@ -261,7 +312,7 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 				.addOption('wikilinks', '[[Wikilinks]]')
 				.addOption('markdown', '[Markdown](links)')
 				.setValue(this.config.linkStyle)
-				.onChange(v => this.config.linkStyle = v));
+				.onChange(v => { this.config.linkStyle = v; this.schedulePreviewUpdate(); }));
 
 		new Setting(configZone)
 			.setName('Heading depth')
@@ -271,7 +322,7 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 				.addOption('h4', 'H1 - H4')
 				.addOption('h6', 'Unlimited')
 				.setValue(this.config.headingDepth)
-				.onChange(v => this.config.headingDepth = v));
+				.onChange(v => { this.config.headingDepth = v; this.schedulePreviewUpdate(); }));
 
 		new Setting(configZone)
 			.setName('Date format')
@@ -280,7 +331,7 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 				.addOption('DD.MM.YYYY', 'DD.MM.YYYY')
 				.addOption('MM/DD/YYYY', 'MM/DD/YYYY')
 				.setValue(this.config.dateFormat)
-				.onChange(v => this.config.dateFormat = v));
+				.onChange(v => { this.config.dateFormat = v; this.schedulePreviewUpdate(); }));
 
 		// === RULES ===
 		configZone.createEl('h3', { text: 'Rules' });
@@ -293,6 +344,7 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 					.setValue(this.config.customRules.join('\n'))
 					.onChange(v => {
 						this.config.customRules = v.split('\n').map(s => s.trim()).filter(s => s);
+						this.schedulePreviewUpdate();
 					});
 				text.inputEl.rows = 3;
 				text.inputEl.style.width = '100%';
@@ -305,6 +357,7 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 				.setValue(this.config.forbiddenActions.join(', '))
 				.onChange(v => {
 					this.config.forbiddenActions = v.split(',').map(s => s.trim()).filter(s => s);
+					this.schedulePreviewUpdate();
 				}));
 
 		// === ADDITIONAL CONTEXT ===
@@ -316,7 +369,7 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 			.addTextArea(text => {
 				text.setPlaceholder('Enter additional context that will be included when copying...')
 					.setValue(this.temporaryFreetext)
-					.onChange(v => this.temporaryFreetext = v);
+					.onChange(v => { this.temporaryFreetext = v; this.schedulePreviewUpdate(); });
 				text.inputEl.rows = 4;
 				text.inputEl.style.width = '100%';
 			});
@@ -327,7 +380,7 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 				.addOption('prefix', 'Prefix (before vault content)')
 				.addOption('suffix', 'Suffix (after vault content)')
 				.setValue(this.temporaryPosition)
-				.onChange(v => this.temporaryPosition = v as SourcePosition));
+				.onChange(v => { this.temporaryPosition = v as SourcePosition; this.schedulePreviewUpdate(); }));
 
 		new Setting(configZone)
 			.setName('Save as default')
@@ -357,6 +410,7 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 				dropdown.setValue(this.selectedTemplateId || '');
 				dropdown.onChange(v => {
 					this.selectedTemplateId = v || null;
+					this.schedulePreviewUpdate();
 				});
 			});
 
@@ -369,7 +423,7 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 
 		// === OUTPUT TARGETS ===
 		if (this.plugin.settings.targets.length > 0) {
-			configZone.createEl('h3', { text: 'Output Targets' });
+			this.targetsHeadingEl = configZone.createEl('h3', { text: 'Output Targets' });
 
 			const targetsContainer = configZone.createDiv({ cls: 'targets-checkboxes' });
 			targetsContainer.style.display = 'flex';
@@ -397,6 +451,7 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 					} else {
 						this.selectedTargetIds.delete(target.id);
 					}
+					this.schedulePreviewUpdate();
 				});
 
 				const icon = row.createEl('span', { text: getTargetIcon(target.format) });
@@ -436,6 +491,42 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 		// === TOKEN ESTIMATE ===
 		this.renderTokenEstimate(configZone);
 
+		// =============================================
+		// PREVIEW PANE (full-width, between grid and footer)
+		// =============================================
+		const previewSection = contentEl.createDiv({
+			cls: `cc-section cc-preview-section${this.previewOpen ? '' : ' is-collapsed'}`,
+		});
+
+		const previewHeader = previewSection.createDiv({ cls: 'cc-section-header' });
+		const previewTitle = previewHeader.createEl('span', {
+			text: this.previewOpen ? 'Hide Preview' : 'Show Preview',
+			cls: 'cc-section-title',
+		});
+		previewHeader.createEl('span', { text: '\u203A', cls: 'cc-section-chevron' });
+
+		const previewBody = previewSection.createDiv({ cls: 'cc-section-content cc-preview-body' });
+		this.previewContent = previewBody.createEl('pre', { cls: 'cc-preview-code' });
+		this.previewLineInfo = previewBody.createDiv({ cls: 'cc-preview-line-info' });
+
+		previewHeader.addEventListener('click', async () => {
+			this.previewOpen = !this.previewOpen;
+			if (this.previewOpen) {
+				previewSection.removeClass('is-collapsed');
+				previewTitle.textContent = 'Hide Preview';
+				this.updatePreview();
+			} else {
+				previewSection.addClass('is-collapsed');
+				previewTitle.textContent = 'Show Preview';
+			}
+			this.plugin.settings.generatorPreviewOpen = this.previewOpen;
+			await this.plugin.saveSettings();
+		});
+
+		if (this.previewOpen) {
+			this.updatePreview();
+		}
+
 		// =============================================
 		// FOOTER (full-width, below both zones)
 		// =============================================
@@ -507,6 +598,7 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 			input.style.flex = '1';
 			input.addEventListener('input', () => {
 				folder.purpose = input.value;
+				this.schedulePreviewUpdate();
 			});
 		}
 	}
@@ -526,6 +618,7 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 			nameInput.style.flex = '1';
 			nameInput.addEventListener('input', () => {
 				template.name = nameInput.value;
+				this.schedulePreviewUpdate();
 			});
 
 			const folderInput = row.createEl('input', { type: 'text' });
@@ -534,6 +627,7 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 			folderInput.style.flex = '1';
 			folderInput.addEventListener('input', () => {
 				template.folder = folderInput.value;
+				this.schedulePreviewUpdate();
 			});
 
 			const tagInput = row.createEl('input', { type: 'text' });
@@ -542,12 +636,14 @@ export class ContextGeneratorModal extends Modal {
 			tagInput.style.flex = '1';
 			tagInput.addEventListener('input', () => {
 				template.tag = tagInput.value;
+				this.schedulePreviewUpdate();
 			});
 
 			const removeBtn = row.createEl('button', { text: '✕' });
 			removeBtn.addEventListener('click', () => {
 				this.config.templates.splice(index, 1);
 				this.renderTemplates(container);
+				this.schedulePreviewUpdate();
 			});
 		});
 	}
@@ -850,7 +946,125 @@ Here is the content with a link to ${link}.
 `;
 	}
 
+	private getPrimaryTarget(): OutputTarget | null {
+		const primaryId = this.plugin.settings.primaryTargetId;
+		const targets = this.plugin.settings.targets;
+		if (primaryId) {
+			return targets.find(t => t.id === primaryId && this.selectedTargetIds.has(t.id)) ?? null;
+		}
+		return targets.find(t => this.selectedTargetIds.has(t.id)) ?? null;
+	}
+
+	private static readonly FORMAT_LABELS: Record<OutputFormat, string> = {
+		markdown: 'Markdown',
+		xml: 'XML',
+		plain: 'Plain Text',
+	};
+
+	private updateStatusBar() {
+		if (!this.statusFileCount || !this.statusTokens || !this.statusTarget || !this.statusFormat) return;
+
+		// File count: VAULT.md + enabled optional files
+		const gf = this.config.generateFiles;
+		const fileCount = 1
+			+ (gf.conventions ? 1 : 0)
+			+ (gf.structure ? 1 : 0)
+			+ (gf.workflows ? 1 : 0)
+			+ (gf.templates ? 1 : 0)
+			+ (gf.examples ? 1 : 0);
+		this.statusFileCount.textContent = `${fileCount} file${fileCount !== 1 ? 's' : ''}`;
+
+		// Token estimate from generated output
+		const output = this.generatePreviewOutput();
+		const tokens = estimateTokens(output);
+		const primary = this.getPrimaryTarget();
+
+		const tokenText = `~${(tokens / 1000).toFixed(1)}k tokens`;
+		this.statusTokens.textContent = tokenText;
+
+		// Token warning color
+		if (primary && tokens > primary.maxTokens) {
+			this.statusTokens.addClass('is-warning');
+		} else {
+			this.statusTokens.removeClass('is-warning');
+		}
+
+		// Target name
+		this.statusTarget.textContent = primary
+			? `Target: ${primary.name}`
+			: 'Target: None';
+
+		// Format
+		if (primary) {
+			this.statusFormat.textContent = `Format: ${ContextGeneratorModal.FORMAT_LABELS[primary.format]}`;
+		} else {
+			this.statusFormat.textContent = 'Format: —';
+		}
+	}
+
+	private schedulePreviewUpdate() {
+		if (this.debounceTimer) {
+			clearTimeout(this.debounceTimer);
+		}
+		this.debounceTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+			this.debounceTimer = null;
+			this.updatePreview();
+			this.updateStatusBar();
+		}, ContextGeneratorModal.DEBOUNCE_MS);
+	}
+
+	private updatePreview() {
+		if (!this.previewOpen || !this.previewContent || !this.previewLineInfo) return;
+
+		const fullOutput = this.generatePreviewOutput();
+		const allLines = fullOutput.split('\n');
+		const maxLines = ContextGeneratorModal.PREVIEW_LINES;
+		const truncated = allLines.length > maxLines;
+		const displayLines = truncated ? allLines.slice(0, maxLines) : allLines;
+
+		this.previewContent.textContent = displayLines.join('\n');
+		this.previewLineInfo.textContent = truncated
+			? `Showing ${maxLines} of ~${allLines.length} lines`
+			: `${allLines.length} lines`;
+	}
+
+	private generatePreviewOutput(): string {
+		const parts: string[] = [];
+
+		// VAULT.md is always included
+		parts.push(this.generateVaultMd());
+
+		if (this.config.generateFiles.conventions) {
+			parts.push(this.generateConventionsMd());
+		}
+		if (this.config.generateFiles.structure) {
+			parts.push(this.generateStructureMd());
+		}
+		if (this.config.generateFiles.workflows) {
+			parts.push(this.generateWorkflowsMd());
+		}
+		if (this.config.generateFiles.templates) {
+			parts.push(this.generateTemplatesMd());
+		}
+		if (this.config.generateFiles.examples) {
+			parts.push(this.generateExamplesMd());
+		}
+
+		return parts.join('\n\n---\n\n');
+	}
+
 	onClose() {
+		if (this.debounceTimer) {
+			clearTimeout(this.debounceTimer);
+			this.debounceTimer = null;
+		}
+		this.previewContent = null;
+		this.previewLineInfo = null;
+		this.statusFileCount = null;
+		this.statusTokens = null;
+		this.statusTarget = null;
+		this.statusFormat = null;
+		this.targetsHeadingEl = null;
 		const { contentEl } = this;
 		contentEl.empty();
 	}
diff --git a/src/settings.ts b/src/settings.ts
index 4728b48..001f001 100644
--- a/src/settings.ts
+++ b/src/settings.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ export interface ClaudeContextSettings {
 	targetOutputFolder: string;
 	lastSettingsTab: string;
 	collapsedSections: string[];
+	generatorPreviewOpen: boolean;
 }
 
 export const DEFAULT_SETTINGS: ClaudeContextSettings = {
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ export const DEFAULT_SETTINGS: ClaudeContextSettings = {
 	targetOutputFolder: '_claude/outputs',
 	lastSettingsTab: 'general',
 	collapsedSections: [],
+	generatorPreviewOpen: false,
 };
 
 export type SettingsTabId = 'general' | 'sources' | 'templates' | 'output' | 'history';
diff --git a/styles.css b/styles.css
index 1528168..55b3cb7 100644
--- a/styles.css
+++ b/styles.css
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@
 
 .cc-gen-modal .modal-content {
 	max-height: 80vh;
-	overflow: hidden;
+	overflow-y: auto;
 	display: flex;
 	flex-direction: column;
 }
@@ -131,6 +131,77 @@
 	margin-top: 8px;
 }
 
+/* Generator status bar */
+.cc-gen-statusbar {
+	display: flex;
+	align-items: center;
+	gap: 8px;
+	padding: 6px 12px;
+	margin-bottom: 12px;
+	background: var(--background-secondary);
+	border: 1px solid var(--background-modifier-border);
+	border-radius: 4px;
+	font-size: 12px;
+	color: var(--text-muted);
+}
+
+.cc-statusbar-item {
+	white-space: nowrap;
+}
+
+.cc-statusbar-sep {
+	color: var(--text-faint);
+	user-select: none;
+}
+
+.cc-statusbar-clickable {
+	cursor: pointer;
+	border-radius: 3px;
+	padding: 1px 4px;
+	transition: background 0.15s ease, color 0.15s ease;
+}
+
+.cc-statusbar-clickable:hover {
+	background: var(--background-modifier-hover);
+	color: var(--text-normal);
+}
+
+.cc-statusbar-tokens.is-warning {
+	color: var(--text-warning, #e0a526);
+	font-weight: 600;
+}
+
+/* Generator preview pane */
+.cc-preview-section {
+	margin-top: 12px;
+}
+
+.cc-preview-body {
+	border: 1px solid var(--background-modifier-border);
+	background: var(--background-secondary);
+	border-radius: 4px;
+	max-height: 300px;
+	overflow-y: auto;
+	padding: 10px;
+}
+
+.cc-preview-code {
+	font-family: var(--font-monospace);
+	font-size: 11px;
+	white-space: pre-wrap;
+	word-break: break-word;
+	background: transparent;
+	margin: 0;
+}
+
+.cc-preview-line-info {
+	font-size: 11px;
+	color: var(--text-muted);
+	font-style: italic;
+	text-align: right;
+	margin-top: 6px;
+}
+
 /* Stack on narrow viewports */
 @media (max-width: 768px) {
 	.cc-gen-modal {