How to copy multiple file names in folder
Do you want to copy all file names in a specific folder and save it as a text file? If so, you don’t need any special tools, all you need is Windows and a command prompt. How-to guide after the break.
Copying the file names in a folder is relatively easy. It can always be handy to know how to do this, you never know when you will need this. For example if you want to upload multiple files to a website, but you are too lazy to copy the file names of all pictures individually, then you will need to know this.
Anyway, let’s get started:
1. Open the Windows Explorer (Windows key + E)
2. Browse to your folder with all the files, e.g. C:\Users\[yourusername]\Pictures
3. Click on the address bar, select it and copy the entire address via CTRL + C (hold both)
4. Open up a command prompt (click on the link if you don’t know how)
5. Enter cd, then hold CTRL + V to insert the address that we copied into our clipboard in step 3.
6. Hit enter
7. Enter DIR /B /O:N > filenames.txt (filenames.txt is the name of the txt file)
8. Now open the folder where your files are stored and open the text file filenames.txt
9. Congratz, you have just copied all file names from a folder and stored them into a text file.
Tip:
Should you want to copy files names not only from a folder, but from sub-folders as well, you simply add a /S for subdirectories to the command: DIR /B /O:N /S > filename.txt
Last Modified: September 12, 2010
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Need help? Ask a question at our QA site, click the red button to get started:
I am trying to get a txt file containing a list of all the mp3 files in a file on my desktop.
I typed C:/USERS/FRANK/DESKTOP/PZR MUSIC/dir/b/O:N>filenames.txt and clicked enter and it just said file path and syntax error.
I am running Windows 7 Professional for an operating system.
Peggy, I’m also on Windows 7 Professional and it works just fine here, tried it again. You have a syntax error, so you are doing something wrong.
1. There are missing spaces between the path and the command. It needs to be DIR /B /O:N > filenames.txt
2. You need to cd into the folder first, e.g. CD C:/USERS/FRANK/DESKTOP/PZR MUSIC then you can run the command above
By the way, a change of attitude might be great, instead of blaming others for your incapability. Copying file names into a text is really simple and everyone should be able to follow the tutorial, but if you don’t read it carefully you will fail.
Definitely works! I like peggy misread the tutorial and was feeling very blameful as well :P, however your comment cleared it up for me right away, was not looking forward to typing for 30 mins instead of 1. Many thanks sOliver!
Cannot copy Asian text characters, eg chinese,korean, japanese,etc except english characters.
Anywhere I can find what I wanted?
Thank you.
What if my files are in the other partition of the hard disk? It said that the system cannot find the drive specified.
I don’t get this.
I am on Windows 7 Professional (64-bit). I am trying to copy just the file names from a list of adobe PDF files. The list is on an ‘H’ drive on a network. I want to paste the file names (with no extensions) into an Excel spreadsheet.
I click on the address bar and select copy with Control + C. I open up the command prompt (DOS). The command prompt has: c:\users\Peter\>
I enter cd
I then try to paste into the command prompt (next to ‘cd’) but all it does is show ^V.
Fine. So I try with the mouse button. I right click ‘copy’ and then paste the file path into the command prompt. I hit enter.
It says: ‘CMD does not support UNC paths as current directories’.
What did I do wrong?
CTRL+V doesn’t work in DOS. type cd and then the folder to add a folder or cd.. to clear the folder. I had to handjam it in to get it to work. Since I’m doing this to make M3U files I wish someone would make a BAT file that would just do this if it was in the right folder
Hey I made a BAT file for this! That way you don’t have to mess with DOS at all.
1. Go to the folder you want to make a text file.
2. Right click and select new
3. select notepad
4. with new notepad file open type ::MyBat4Text Command will not operate anything with a double “::” at the beginning of the line. This line lets you know what the batch file will do. Press Return or Enter.
5. Type “@echo off” then press Return or Enter and type, DIR /B /O:N /S > filename.txt
6. Press Return or Enter and type “pause” then press Return
7. Save the note pad file and name it what you want
8. click on the notepad file and changed the extension from txt to bat.
9. Now any time you put this bat file in a folder and double click it it will make the text file for you (an for me I rename the text file to M3u)
More easy on Windows 7… on the Explorer over the selected files:
Shit + Right Click —> Copy As Path
Thank you! The “cd” first, and THEN paste the path… that was the trick. Thanks again!
I’ve only been searching on various forums for several week’s trying to accomplish the impossible. With your above suggestion I was able to capture 65,000+ filenames in less than 30 seconds.
Thanks for making my,what, month. I have never been here before today but now you’re on top of my list.
Bob
Thanks Bob, I suggest you subscribe or bookmark this page then with latest productivity tips:
http://windows7themes.net/category/windows-7-tweaks/productivity-tips
I’ll be writing more on this, I still know a couple more handy tricks ;)