MS Windows Question - Copying Multiple File names

[DarkFury]

Anyone know of any way or program that will allow you to copy the names and extensions of files from Windows Explorer?

The reason I ask is... I'm workin' on a project right now that requires me to record certain files found in a search and document each file. The names of these files need to recorded in a text format, however as of right now I can only screen print the filenames and then have to go back and type them in manually.

There has gotta be some way to copy the file names and electronically capture the text to be pasted into a text file.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give. :D

[Cubsfan]

So all you need to do is a search in some directories for files, and then put them into a text document? Be really easy to do if you use cygwin or similar, and probably pretty easy to do with vbs (I don't know vbs really well, but I'll be someone here does)

[InfiniteNothing]

The hard way, take a screen shot and OCR it.
The easy way. Write a quick program.
The lazy way, copy all of files over to a folder (search, ctrl-a,ctrl-c, open new temp folder, ctrl-v), use dos to list the files, copy and paste

[DarkFury]

The hard way, take a screen shot and OCR it.
The easy way. Write a quick program.
The lazy way, copy all of files over to a folder (search, ctrl-a,ctrl-c, open new temp folder, ctrl-v), use dos to list the files, copy and paste

hard way: tried it.. but the dayuum Search screen shot would only print to my printer and not to my OCR reader (I tried to print it as an Adobe PDF, but for some reason it keeps defaulting back to my local printer.)

Easy way: I'm not a programmer... therefore I don't know how to "write a program" to do this. Hence me asking.

Lazy way: Is what I'm doing now... one file at a time. Takes FOREVER. I dunno if it is "lazy" to do it this way.. cause it sure does take a long time to gather the data.

And yes.. I'm using "Search" to pick out the certain files that I need to capture... so going from DOS to do a list doesn't quite get it for me either.

[mechmike0034]

Print Folder 1.2: http://no-nonsense-software.com/freeware/

Karen's Directory Printer: http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptdirprn.asp

Print Directory v3.1: http://www.widgetech.com/freeware/printdir3_1.shtml

[DarkFury]

Sweet.. I'll have to check into those. :thumb:

Heh... MM0034, you must have the hookup on just about everything. ;)

[Paymaster]

You just want all the matching file names?

From the command prompt:
tree /F | findstr "mp3"

The above command would find all mp3 files on a disk and print the names. You could send the output to a file and you are pretty much done.

[DarkFury]

You just want all the matching file names?

From the command prompt:
tree /F | findstr "mp3"

The above command would find all mp3 files on a disk and print the names. You could send the output to a file and you are pretty much done.

No, that's not quite what I'm trying to do. The files I'm looking at are .txt files and there are "global replace" items in them that we search for. After generating a list of these files, we need to record the names and directories of each file that met the criteria... however with normal Windows Explorer there is no "simple" way to do this other than cut and paste each individual file and location from the properties.

I was just looking for a faster way to do this... MM0034's suggestions above might work, however new rules in the Gubment prevent us from using "freeware" now (they fear that freeware can compromise the security networks in place through hidden code and whatnot) therefore I was just looking for a "built in" or possibly "cheap" alternative that could handle the problem. But then again... by the time I would have cut through all the "red tape" to purchase software, I'll probably be done doing it manually. :heh:

Gotta love the Gubment. :D

[InfiniteNothing]

So, if I catch your drift, we've always been at war with eurasia?

[gwilks98]

No, that's not quite what I'm trying to do. The files I'm looking at are .txt files and there are "global replace" items in them that we search for. After generating a list of these files, we need to record the names and directories of each file that met the criteria... however with normal Windows Explorer there is no "simple" way to do this other than cut and paste each individual file and location from the properties.

I was just looking for a faster way to do this... MM0034's suggestions above might work, however new rules in the Gubment prevent us from using "freeware" now (they fear that freeware can compromise the security networks in place through hidden code and whatnot) therefore I was just looking for a "built in" or possibly "cheap" alternative that could handle the problem. But then again... by the time I would have cut through all the "red tape" to purchase software, I'll probably be done doing it manually. :heh:

Gotta love the Gubment. :D

Write yourself a batch file. Did I get this correctly? You're trying to put the contents of a folder into a text file, then you want to analyze that data?

Why not do a
dir *.* > darkfury.txt
in a command prompt?

You could then parse the text file however you need from there.

I'm pretty good at writing batches. I've got some neat sites full of tricks and tips if you're interested.

[InfiniteNothing]

I'm interested. What's the site? :)

[Paymaster]

Heh- this was one of the google ads at the top of the page... sounds like exactly what you want!
http://www.deskperience.com/aqua/index.html

I understand about the red tape involved to purchase software. In the past I have just shelled out my own dollars for small stuff like this where I work. I figure that if it helps me get the job done sooner so I can enjoy the rest of my life a little more, then it is worth it.

[gwilks98]

I'm interested. What's the site? :)


Here's one.
http://www.robvanderwoude.com/

I've got more on my work machine. I'll post 'em tomorrow.

[DarkFury]

Write yourself a batch file. Did I get this correctly? You're trying to put the contents of a folder into a text file, then you want to analyze that data?

Why not do a
dir *.* > darkfury.txt
in a command prompt?

You could then parse the text file however you need from there.

I'm pretty good at writing batches. I've got some neat sites full of tricks and tips if you're interested.
Thank you for your help... however I think that your potential solution might be overkill for what I'm really trying to do.

Pretty much, the "search" feature of Windows Explorer already identifies the files that we are looking for... the only problem is, when it comes back with the results of its search I am unable to print the filenames and directories from which the results were positive (other than taking a screen shot print.)

I thought it would be something minor/simple that would be able to capture the search's results as data... but I guess it's more complex than I had originally thought.

But seriously, I do appreciate the thoughts you have shared here today. :D

[Devhux]

Print Folder 1.2: http://no-nonsense-software.com/freeware/

Karen's Directory Printer: http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptdirprn.asp

Print Directory v3.1: http://www.widgetech.com/freeware/printdir3_1.shtml

FINALLY! I was looking for Karen's PowerTools for a while -- IIRC, she was with the old Windows Magazine (at the very least, I'm sure I heard about the Powertools from Fred Langa).

[seqiro]

This free explorer shell extension does exactly what you want.

Ninotech Path Copy 4 (http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/tools/13986.html)

Do your search, highlight all of the files, right-click and choose Copy Path -> and then pick your method. It's highly configurable, but right out of the box you can choose "Long Name" for just the file name, "Long Folder" for just the folder, or "Long Path" for the full path and filename. You can then paste it into your app of choice.