Attempt To Use Batch Files While Keep Structure





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I wanted to use robocopy, but it is not possible due to my text file has filenames attached.
I ended up have to use copy instead.



I wanted to copy files like this...



Source: S:folderABCDEproduct_pdfDriveDriveDeluxeAluminumBathChair_RTL12202KDR.pdf
Destination: C:wamp64FGproduct_pdfDriveDriveDeluxeAluminumBathChair_RTL12202KDR.pdf


Here is how my text file (ActivePDF.txt) listed..



product_pdfDriveDriveDeluxeAluminumBathChair_RTL12202KDR.pdf
product_pdfDriveDriveCommodesNRS185007-11117N.pdf
product_pdfDriveDriveCommodes11125Series.pdf
product_pdfDriveDriveSuctionCupGrabBar_RTL13082.pdf
product_pdfDriveDriveChromeKnurledGrabBar.pdf


My attempted batch file is looked like this



@echo on
enableextensions
set main_folder=S:folderABCDE
set my_folder=C:wamp64FG
set log_file="%main_folder%CopyLog.txt"
for /f "delims=" %%a in (ActivePDF.txt) do if exist "%main_folder%%%a" (
md "%my_folder%%%a" 2>nul
copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%%%a"
)


It did copied, but it ended up created folder with ".pdf" and actual PDF files are inside that ".pdf" folders. (Therefore, each PDF contained in the own folder...)



I think I'm getting there... but I do wonder if there is any cleaner way to do it.










share|improve this question























  • It's md "%my_folder%%%a" 2>nul that's creating the subdirectories and causing your problem: omit this line and all your files will be copied to %my_folder%. To emphasise the point, you can omit %%a from the copy target, ie copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%".

    – AFH
    Feb 6 at 22:02













  • If you need to make sure that the directory path exists in the target, replace the md line by md "%my_folder%%%a.." 2>nul (this is a trick to avoid parsing the %%a variable).

    – AFH
    Feb 6 at 22:13











  • It ended up copy "my_folder" without sub directories that I'm intended to put into. I do needed those PDF files into sub directories as stated in text files.

    – PanK
    Feb 11 at 21:26













  • If you want the source directory structure recreated in "%my_folder%", then you can use the same trick with the md on the copy command: copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%%%a..".

    – AFH
    Feb 11 at 22:46











  • Yep, this copy command is the answer! copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%%%a.." So, all I truly need is the .. part to go up by one folder!

    – PanK
    Feb 12 at 15:27




















0















I wanted to use robocopy, but it is not possible due to my text file has filenames attached.
I ended up have to use copy instead.



I wanted to copy files like this...



Source: S:folderABCDEproduct_pdfDriveDriveDeluxeAluminumBathChair_RTL12202KDR.pdf
Destination: C:wamp64FGproduct_pdfDriveDriveDeluxeAluminumBathChair_RTL12202KDR.pdf


Here is how my text file (ActivePDF.txt) listed..



product_pdfDriveDriveDeluxeAluminumBathChair_RTL12202KDR.pdf
product_pdfDriveDriveCommodesNRS185007-11117N.pdf
product_pdfDriveDriveCommodes11125Series.pdf
product_pdfDriveDriveSuctionCupGrabBar_RTL13082.pdf
product_pdfDriveDriveChromeKnurledGrabBar.pdf


My attempted batch file is looked like this



@echo on
enableextensions
set main_folder=S:folderABCDE
set my_folder=C:wamp64FG
set log_file="%main_folder%CopyLog.txt"
for /f "delims=" %%a in (ActivePDF.txt) do if exist "%main_folder%%%a" (
md "%my_folder%%%a" 2>nul
copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%%%a"
)


It did copied, but it ended up created folder with ".pdf" and actual PDF files are inside that ".pdf" folders. (Therefore, each PDF contained in the own folder...)



I think I'm getting there... but I do wonder if there is any cleaner way to do it.










share|improve this question























  • It's md "%my_folder%%%a" 2>nul that's creating the subdirectories and causing your problem: omit this line and all your files will be copied to %my_folder%. To emphasise the point, you can omit %%a from the copy target, ie copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%".

    – AFH
    Feb 6 at 22:02













  • If you need to make sure that the directory path exists in the target, replace the md line by md "%my_folder%%%a.." 2>nul (this is a trick to avoid parsing the %%a variable).

    – AFH
    Feb 6 at 22:13











  • It ended up copy "my_folder" without sub directories that I'm intended to put into. I do needed those PDF files into sub directories as stated in text files.

    – PanK
    Feb 11 at 21:26













  • If you want the source directory structure recreated in "%my_folder%", then you can use the same trick with the md on the copy command: copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%%%a..".

    – AFH
    Feb 11 at 22:46











  • Yep, this copy command is the answer! copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%%%a.." So, all I truly need is the .. part to go up by one folder!

    – PanK
    Feb 12 at 15:27
















0












0








0








I wanted to use robocopy, but it is not possible due to my text file has filenames attached.
I ended up have to use copy instead.



I wanted to copy files like this...



Source: S:folderABCDEproduct_pdfDriveDriveDeluxeAluminumBathChair_RTL12202KDR.pdf
Destination: C:wamp64FGproduct_pdfDriveDriveDeluxeAluminumBathChair_RTL12202KDR.pdf


Here is how my text file (ActivePDF.txt) listed..



product_pdfDriveDriveDeluxeAluminumBathChair_RTL12202KDR.pdf
product_pdfDriveDriveCommodesNRS185007-11117N.pdf
product_pdfDriveDriveCommodes11125Series.pdf
product_pdfDriveDriveSuctionCupGrabBar_RTL13082.pdf
product_pdfDriveDriveChromeKnurledGrabBar.pdf


My attempted batch file is looked like this



@echo on
enableextensions
set main_folder=S:folderABCDE
set my_folder=C:wamp64FG
set log_file="%main_folder%CopyLog.txt"
for /f "delims=" %%a in (ActivePDF.txt) do if exist "%main_folder%%%a" (
md "%my_folder%%%a" 2>nul
copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%%%a"
)


It did copied, but it ended up created folder with ".pdf" and actual PDF files are inside that ".pdf" folders. (Therefore, each PDF contained in the own folder...)



I think I'm getting there... but I do wonder if there is any cleaner way to do it.










share|improve this question














I wanted to use robocopy, but it is not possible due to my text file has filenames attached.
I ended up have to use copy instead.



I wanted to copy files like this...



Source: S:folderABCDEproduct_pdfDriveDriveDeluxeAluminumBathChair_RTL12202KDR.pdf
Destination: C:wamp64FGproduct_pdfDriveDriveDeluxeAluminumBathChair_RTL12202KDR.pdf


Here is how my text file (ActivePDF.txt) listed..



product_pdfDriveDriveDeluxeAluminumBathChair_RTL12202KDR.pdf
product_pdfDriveDriveCommodesNRS185007-11117N.pdf
product_pdfDriveDriveCommodes11125Series.pdf
product_pdfDriveDriveSuctionCupGrabBar_RTL13082.pdf
product_pdfDriveDriveChromeKnurledGrabBar.pdf


My attempted batch file is looked like this



@echo on
enableextensions
set main_folder=S:folderABCDE
set my_folder=C:wamp64FG
set log_file="%main_folder%CopyLog.txt"
for /f "delims=" %%a in (ActivePDF.txt) do if exist "%main_folder%%%a" (
md "%my_folder%%%a" 2>nul
copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%%%a"
)


It did copied, but it ended up created folder with ".pdf" and actual PDF files are inside that ".pdf" folders. (Therefore, each PDF contained in the own folder...)



I think I'm getting there... but I do wonder if there is any cleaner way to do it.







windows batch file-transfer robocopy xcopy






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked Feb 6 at 21:36









PanKPanK

32




32













  • It's md "%my_folder%%%a" 2>nul that's creating the subdirectories and causing your problem: omit this line and all your files will be copied to %my_folder%. To emphasise the point, you can omit %%a from the copy target, ie copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%".

    – AFH
    Feb 6 at 22:02













  • If you need to make sure that the directory path exists in the target, replace the md line by md "%my_folder%%%a.." 2>nul (this is a trick to avoid parsing the %%a variable).

    – AFH
    Feb 6 at 22:13











  • It ended up copy "my_folder" without sub directories that I'm intended to put into. I do needed those PDF files into sub directories as stated in text files.

    – PanK
    Feb 11 at 21:26













  • If you want the source directory structure recreated in "%my_folder%", then you can use the same trick with the md on the copy command: copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%%%a..".

    – AFH
    Feb 11 at 22:46











  • Yep, this copy command is the answer! copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%%%a.." So, all I truly need is the .. part to go up by one folder!

    – PanK
    Feb 12 at 15:27





















  • It's md "%my_folder%%%a" 2>nul that's creating the subdirectories and causing your problem: omit this line and all your files will be copied to %my_folder%. To emphasise the point, you can omit %%a from the copy target, ie copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%".

    – AFH
    Feb 6 at 22:02













  • If you need to make sure that the directory path exists in the target, replace the md line by md "%my_folder%%%a.." 2>nul (this is a trick to avoid parsing the %%a variable).

    – AFH
    Feb 6 at 22:13











  • It ended up copy "my_folder" without sub directories that I'm intended to put into. I do needed those PDF files into sub directories as stated in text files.

    – PanK
    Feb 11 at 21:26













  • If you want the source directory structure recreated in "%my_folder%", then you can use the same trick with the md on the copy command: copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%%%a..".

    – AFH
    Feb 11 at 22:46











  • Yep, this copy command is the answer! copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%%%a.." So, all I truly need is the .. part to go up by one folder!

    – PanK
    Feb 12 at 15:27



















It's md "%my_folder%%%a" 2>nul that's creating the subdirectories and causing your problem: omit this line and all your files will be copied to %my_folder%. To emphasise the point, you can omit %%a from the copy target, ie copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%".

– AFH
Feb 6 at 22:02







It's md "%my_folder%%%a" 2>nul that's creating the subdirectories and causing your problem: omit this line and all your files will be copied to %my_folder%. To emphasise the point, you can omit %%a from the copy target, ie copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%".

– AFH
Feb 6 at 22:02















If you need to make sure that the directory path exists in the target, replace the md line by md "%my_folder%%%a.." 2>nul (this is a trick to avoid parsing the %%a variable).

– AFH
Feb 6 at 22:13





If you need to make sure that the directory path exists in the target, replace the md line by md "%my_folder%%%a.." 2>nul (this is a trick to avoid parsing the %%a variable).

– AFH
Feb 6 at 22:13













It ended up copy "my_folder" without sub directories that I'm intended to put into. I do needed those PDF files into sub directories as stated in text files.

– PanK
Feb 11 at 21:26







It ended up copy "my_folder" without sub directories that I'm intended to put into. I do needed those PDF files into sub directories as stated in text files.

– PanK
Feb 11 at 21:26















If you want the source directory structure recreated in "%my_folder%", then you can use the same trick with the md on the copy command: copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%%%a..".

– AFH
Feb 11 at 22:46





If you want the source directory structure recreated in "%my_folder%", then you can use the same trick with the md on the copy command: copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%%%a..".

– AFH
Feb 11 at 22:46













Yep, this copy command is the answer! copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%%%a.." So, all I truly need is the .. part to go up by one folder!

– PanK
Feb 12 at 15:27







Yep, this copy command is the answer! copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%%%a.." So, all I truly need is the .. part to go up by one folder!

– PanK
Feb 12 at 15:27












1 Answer
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oldest

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It's the commands in the for loop that are causing the problem: %%a contains both the subdirectory path and the PDF file name, so md "%my_folder%%%a" 2>nul will create in the target folder a directory path which includes the PDF name as the last subdirectory.



When the target path is a directory the copy command copies the source file(s) into it, with the result you observed.



While it is possible to parse %%a to extract the directory path and file names, there is a trick that can be used to reference the directory path without parsing: if %%a contains a file name with directory path, then %%a.. will reference the directory path. Even though %%a is a file path, the parsing of %%a.. will identify the containing directory without checking whether the last element of %%a is a file or directory.



So the commands in the for loop become:-



md "%my_folder%%%a.." 2>nul
copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%%%a.."


The md is needed to create the target subdirectory if it does not exist.






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    It's the commands in the for loop that are causing the problem: %%a contains both the subdirectory path and the PDF file name, so md "%my_folder%%%a" 2>nul will create in the target folder a directory path which includes the PDF name as the last subdirectory.



    When the target path is a directory the copy command copies the source file(s) into it, with the result you observed.



    While it is possible to parse %%a to extract the directory path and file names, there is a trick that can be used to reference the directory path without parsing: if %%a contains a file name with directory path, then %%a.. will reference the directory path. Even though %%a is a file path, the parsing of %%a.. will identify the containing directory without checking whether the last element of %%a is a file or directory.



    So the commands in the for loop become:-



    md "%my_folder%%%a.." 2>nul
    copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%%%a.."


    The md is needed to create the target subdirectory if it does not exist.






    share|improve this answer




























      0














      It's the commands in the for loop that are causing the problem: %%a contains both the subdirectory path and the PDF file name, so md "%my_folder%%%a" 2>nul will create in the target folder a directory path which includes the PDF name as the last subdirectory.



      When the target path is a directory the copy command copies the source file(s) into it, with the result you observed.



      While it is possible to parse %%a to extract the directory path and file names, there is a trick that can be used to reference the directory path without parsing: if %%a contains a file name with directory path, then %%a.. will reference the directory path. Even though %%a is a file path, the parsing of %%a.. will identify the containing directory without checking whether the last element of %%a is a file or directory.



      So the commands in the for loop become:-



      md "%my_folder%%%a.." 2>nul
      copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%%%a.."


      The md is needed to create the target subdirectory if it does not exist.






      share|improve this answer


























        0












        0








        0







        It's the commands in the for loop that are causing the problem: %%a contains both the subdirectory path and the PDF file name, so md "%my_folder%%%a" 2>nul will create in the target folder a directory path which includes the PDF name as the last subdirectory.



        When the target path is a directory the copy command copies the source file(s) into it, with the result you observed.



        While it is possible to parse %%a to extract the directory path and file names, there is a trick that can be used to reference the directory path without parsing: if %%a contains a file name with directory path, then %%a.. will reference the directory path. Even though %%a is a file path, the parsing of %%a.. will identify the containing directory without checking whether the last element of %%a is a file or directory.



        So the commands in the for loop become:-



        md "%my_folder%%%a.." 2>nul
        copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%%%a.."


        The md is needed to create the target subdirectory if it does not exist.






        share|improve this answer













        It's the commands in the for loop that are causing the problem: %%a contains both the subdirectory path and the PDF file name, so md "%my_folder%%%a" 2>nul will create in the target folder a directory path which includes the PDF name as the last subdirectory.



        When the target path is a directory the copy command copies the source file(s) into it, with the result you observed.



        While it is possible to parse %%a to extract the directory path and file names, there is a trick that can be used to reference the directory path without parsing: if %%a contains a file name with directory path, then %%a.. will reference the directory path. Even though %%a is a file path, the parsing of %%a.. will identify the containing directory without checking whether the last element of %%a is a file or directory.



        So the commands in the for loop become:-



        md "%my_folder%%%a.." 2>nul
        copy /v /y "%main_folder%%%a" "%my_folder%%%a.."


        The md is needed to create the target subdirectory if it does not exist.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Feb 12 at 17:39









        AFHAFH

        14.6k31939




        14.6k31939






























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