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    Software to restructure my folders?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by KarenA, Jun 7, 2008.

  1. KarenA

    KarenA Notebook Evangelist

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    I need a software which allows to restructure my folders. Currently, my folders is dump into one big folder with these kind of folder names:

    AAA - Name 1
    AAA - Name 2
    ABC - Name 1
    BBB - Name 1
    BBB - Name 2

    I need a software which can automatically restructure it as:
    A
    AAA
    AAA - Name 1 (or just Name 1)
    AAA - Name 2​
    ABC
    ABC - Name 1​
    B
    BBB
    BBB - Name 1
    BBB - Name 2​

    I need to change the folder structures because I now realize that by lumping it all to the same folder is cluttering(a bit unorganized) and now there are thousand of folders located in the same folder. I can't do it myself because it will take too much time and there are just too many folders.

    Anyone knows of a software which does this? Freeware is preferred. Thanks. :)
     
  2. stewie

    stewie What the deuce?

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  3. stewie

    stewie What the deuce?

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    hmmm... just reread your post, maybe it's not exactly what you're looking for. :/
     
  4. KarenA

    KarenA Notebook Evangelist

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    Thank you for the recommendation. :)

    I've downloaded the file and checked the help file. However, it seems only be able to do folder renaming instead of creating the folders tree and moves the existing folder there. Or is it just me doesn't know how to do it using the program?
     
  5. stewie

    stewie What the deuce?

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    Sorry for the confusion, yeah this program is more for renaming files/folders instead of restructuring them. I haven't seen any decent tool for that yet to be honest, if I find something, I will let you know.

    :)
     
  6. KarenA

    KarenA Notebook Evangelist

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    I see, thanks for the help! :)
     
  7. qhn

    qhn Notebook User

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    writing urself a batch file?
    . go thru the alphabets and create new folders
    . then read thru the current folder list and "ren" or "mov" them into place?
    . rudimentaire, but might work

    cheers ...
     
  8. KarenA

    KarenA Notebook Evangelist

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    Thanks for the recommendation, qhn. Unfortunately, I don't know how to write a batch file. I'm completely blank on how to do it. I really appreciate it if you can teach me from point zero or even better, write the batch file for me. If you are willing to and have a free time of course! :)
     
  9. Nocturnal310

    Nocturnal310 Notebook Virtuoso

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    batch file is written using a Notepad.

    then saved as file.bat .bat is the extension.

    What you fill in it can be found on google or forums.

    Fellow members will tell u how to make a Batch file for your purpose.
     
  10. surfasb

    surfasb Titles Shmm-itles

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    For loops baby!!

    You should make a picture of your folders and then maybe we can write you something.

    You can go to the command prompt and go to the folder where all these folders are stored. Then you can type
    Edit
    <del> dir /a:d > "Karen's long list of folders.txt" </del>
    dir /a:d > %userprofile%\"Karen's long list of folders.txt"

    I added the user profile enviromental label to help you find the file easeir.
    then upload the txt file. Hopefully there is some kind of pattern to these files.
     
  11. Bart Simpson

    Bart Simpson Notebook Consultant

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    [​IMG]

    I don't think you want to do this with batch files if you have anything sizable because you'll want some exception handling and doing it with VBS can be kind of frustrating. For example, you can't name a folder "CON" in Windows.

    I've created a program in C# that will do what you specified. Let me know if you need the source code.

    The attached Zip file contains the program and a test directory I used to test the program. I also ran it through my Photoshops and pictures directory without problems and they total about 1 GB.
     

    Attached Files:

  12. KarenA

    KarenA Notebook Evangelist

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    surfasb, I don't think there is a kind of pattern within my folder names, since I will use it not only for one folder. :( The only pattern I can think of is:
    dash (-), example:
    Baron - How to Pass TOEFL iBT [Study English]
    For Dummies - Slang phrasebook [Study English]


    Thanks Bart~! :)

    I've tried the program and there are several problems I've found:

    It makes new folder inside the alphabet by only taking the three first characters of the folder and make it caps. For example:
    Lotus Notes Domino - Aria & Partners
    becomes
    L
    LOT
    Lotus Notes Domino - Aria & Partners​

    I don't know how it works in C#, but maybe the check or strings to be matched (separator?) can be " - " (with space before and after, because there are several folder names with - before the " - " separator) instead of the first three characters.

    If there are more than one folder with the same three first characters, it will only copy the first folder, the rest of the folders are not copied.

    If you don't mind, can I also see the source code? :)
     
  13. Bart Simpson

    Bart Simpson Notebook Consultant

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    Oh, from your first post, I thought that there would only be 3 alphabetic characters before the hyphen. It looked like you were using 3 character prefixes for each file. Give me a little bit and I'll make the changes. I'm thinking you want:

    L
    Lotus Notes Domino​
    Lotus Notes Domino - Aria & Partners​
     
  14. qhn

    qhn Notebook User

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    u r in good hands with Bart ...

    cheers ...
     
  15. KarenA

    KarenA Notebook Evangelist

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    Yes, that is correct. :)
     
  16. surfasb

    surfasb Titles Shmm-itles

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    Yeah, programming isn't my forte. I prefer to write really hard to understand Group Policies. And when I'm not doing that, hitting on my local Best Buy cashiers.
     
  17. Bart Simpson

    Bart Simpson Notebook Consultant

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    Alrighty, the changes have been made. You can grab the zip file from http://videoinpicture.wikidot.com/download-file-restructurer. This includes the source code which makes it around 800 kb now. You will need a copy of Visual C# Express from Microsoft to edit the source code. Here is the main portion of the code that actually determines what to create and where to move it:

     
  18. KarenA

    KarenA Notebook Evangelist

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    Thank you everyone (especially Bart) for helping me. I think the program is perfect now, seems like it don't miss any folder or file. :)
     
  19. surfasb

    surfasb Titles Shmm-itles

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    You can just thank Bart, really. You could say I was helping out while Bart was coding away. Helpful stuff like Rainbow Six Vegas 2, Doom 3, going to see Indiana Jones and, well, sleeping. I'm glad my contribution got noticed though!!!!
     
  20. swarmer

    swarmer beep beep

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    Instead of making folders, try this:

    In Explorer, in the directory window, right-click some empty space, and select:
    Stack by -> Name

    If you prefer, you can also do: Group by -> Name.

    This won't always do what you need... but sometimes it will, and it's a cool trick to know in any case.
     
  21. KarenA

    KarenA Notebook Evangelist

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    You did try to help. :)

    Thank you. Nice trick to know. :)