How can I create a list of named folders in Windows automatically?

Question

So, I am studying an online course which has hundreds of sub lectures. I need to download the source code for each lecture in a corresponding sub-folder. With over 120 lectures, creating a sub-folder one by one is a painstaking process.

Here's my current folder structure:

Is there a way I can create all these sub-folders at once, along with the proper name, through a batch file or something similar.

Answer 1

How can I can create all these sub-folders at once, using my naming scheme?

If I were to create the sub-folders in a specific directory, such as C:\Dropbox\Development, would I need to cd to that directory first? Assuming I'm using the cmd shell?

To create the sub-folders (sub-directories) in a specific directory (that is not the current directory), you can do one of the following:

• cd C:\Dropbox\Development first or
• Change the md Lec-%%i command to md C:\Dropbox\Development\Lec-%%i.

Note:

• mkdir is a synonym for md and can be used in its place.

Below I show both alternatives, first from a cmd shell (command line), and second using a batch file.

As a bonus (although not asked for in the original question) there is a bash shell alternative as well.

---

From a cmd shell:

cd C:\Dropbox\Development
for /l %i in (9,1,120) do md Lec-%i

or

for /l %i in (9,1,120) do md C:\Dropbox\Development\Lec-%i

---

From a batch file:

@echo off
cd C:\Dropbox\Development
for /l %%i in (9,1,120) do md Lec-%%i

Or

@echo off
for /l %%i in (9,1,120) do md C:\Dropbox\Development\Lec-%%i

Notes:

• 9 is the start number. Change if necessary.
• 1 is the step. Do not change this.
• 120 the end number. Change if necessary to the number of the last directory you require.

• To create files in another directory, you can either

  • cd C:\Dropbox\Development\Lec-%%i first or
  • change the md command to md C:\Dropbox\Development\Lec-%%i.

---

Is there a way to do a similar thing for Mac OSX from the Mac terminal?

From a bash shell:

for i in {9..120}; do mkdir Lec-$i; done; 

Or (for a more portable version)

for i in `seq 9 120`; do mkdir Lec-$i; done;

---

Further Reading

• An A-Z Index of the Windows CMD command line - An excellent reference for all things Windows cmd line related.
• for - Conditionally perform a command several times.
• md - Make Directory - Creates a new folder.

Answer 2

There is another easy way, for limited number of folders. May be Useful here Or for someone else.

In Windows we can make numbered folder names by creating a folder "lec(1)" and copy pasting it how many time we want, if we paste 10 time there will be 11 folders with names "lect(1)" to "lec(10) - Copy"

Only trick here is that the first folder must include parentheses (n), where n is the number from where numbering starts.

Windows includes "- copy" at the and of pasted folder name "lec(1) - Copy" :(

If you don't like it, just select all and rename first lec(1) -> lec-(1) or anything.

All folder's names will be adjusted and "- copy" will be removed ;)

• Ctrl+C - Copy
• Ctrl+V - Paste
• F2 - rename
• Enter - to finish renaming.
• ESC- to cancel renaming.
• Ctrl+A or Ctrl+UP to select folders.

Answer 3

This won't be better than a script for your particular scenario, but it's kind of nice to know this when your folder names are unrelated: you can make multiple directories from the command line by separating them by a space:

C:\temp\animals>dir
 Volume in drive C is Windows
 Volume Serial Number is 82CB-BB0F

 Directory of C:\temp\animals

11/16/2015  03:55 PM    <DIR>          .
11/16/2015  03:55 PM    <DIR>          ..
               0 File(s)              0 bytes
               2 Dir(s)  1,636,846,243,840 bytes free

C:\temp\animals>mkdir cats dogs penguins

C:\temp\animals>dir
 Volume in drive C is Windows
 Volume Serial Number is 82CB-BB0F

 Directory of C:\temp\animals

11/16/2015  03:55 PM    <DIR>          .
11/16/2015  03:55 PM    <DIR>          ..
11/16/2015  03:55 PM    <DIR>          cats
11/16/2015  03:55 PM    <DIR>          dogs
11/16/2015  03:55 PM    <DIR>          penguins
               0 File(s)              0 bytes
               5 Dir(s)  1,636,846,178,304 bytes free

Answer 4

You might find that if you create numbered folders named like this, they won't display in the proper (expected) sort order:

C:\Dropbox\Development> dir /b
Lec-10
Lec-100
Lec-101
Lec-102
Lec-103
Lec-104
Lec-105
Lec-106
Lec-107
Lec-108
Lec-109
Lec-11
Lec-110
Lec-111
Lec-112
Lec-113
Lec-114
Lec-115
Lec-116
Lec-117
Lec-118
Lec-119
Lec-12
Lec-120
Lec-13
Lec-14
Lec-15
Lec-16
Lec-17
Lec-18
Lec-19
Lec-20
Lec-21
...
Lec-89
Lec-9
Lec-90
Lec-91
...

The problem is, the number portion of the foldernames is variable width, which affects how the folders are sorted.

If it's important to you that the folders are sorted properly, use the batch file below to create folders with the numbered portion of the foldernames padded with "0's" (zero's) so that all numbers are the same length, like this:

C:\Dropbox\Development> dir /b
Lec-009
Lec-010
Lec-011
Lec-012
Lec-013
Lec-014
Lec-015
Lec-016
Lec-017
Lec-018
Lec-019
Lec-020
Lec-021
...

Here is the batch file:

@echo off

for /L %%f in (9,1,120) do call :work 000%%f
goto :EOF


:work

set "dx=%~1"
set "dx=%dx:~-3%"

md "C:\Dropbox\Development\Lec-%dx%" >nul 2>&1

set "dx="
goto :EOF

Answer 5

You could run this batch file in the same folder as the files. Each file will be moved into a folder of the same name.

for /f "delims=" %%a in ('dir /b') do (
if not "%%~fa"=="%~f0" (
md "%%~na" 2>nul
if exist "%%a" move "%%~na.*" "%%~na"
)
)

I use it with a warning below to avoid accidental use.

@echo off
echo.
set sure=
set /p sure=you want to put each file in this folder into their own folders? 
if /i "%sure%"=="" exit
if /i "%sure:~0,1%"=="n" exit
if /i not "%sure:~0,1%"=="y" (exit) else (echo.&echo are you sure? Close window to cancel or..)
echo.&pause 
for /f "delims=" %%a in ('dir /b') do (
if not "%%~fa"=="%~f0" (
md "%%~na" 2>nul
if exist "%%a" move "%%~na.*" "%%~na"
)
)

Answer 6

First of all i didn't read your whole problem...but as far as i can figure it out...you want to rename folders on the basis of list...well there is two method

Method-1 -If you do not have folder list...there is workaround...you need to go to macOS with this Folder tree...and just copy whole folder tree...What macOS will do is they copy content as well as list of your all folders in terms of list as well...now paste in TextEdit or any software similar to Notepad.

-Now I am assuming you having that folder list is with you...you just need one third party software to do the job (Now all the Steps are for Windows) https://www.rename-expert.com -In terms of use this software you had to create new folder, new folder-2, new folder-4 as much as you wanted.

-Now in Rename Expert there is a Option to Rename Folders from the Basis of the List.

-Boom you are done.

Method-2 -If you want to create mirror copy of your whole folder tree without files in it.

-Beyond Compare is the software you need it. https://www.scootersoftware.com/support.php?zz=kb_copyfolderstructure