Hi,

I have about 400 folders with the following directory depth:
Level1\Level2\Level3\*.files

I need to move all of the *.files up one directory so that they are:
Level1\Level2\*.files

It would also be extremely helpful if I could limit the *.files to specific types of files, namely *.MP3 and then if I could delete the "Level3" directories and any remaining junk files they contain.

I'm sure this solution is possible in with a BAT file?

Thank you.
I would not recommend a bat file.
Do you have a backup device?
Do you have lots of free space on your disk?
Rather that move, you should copy.

But if you insist. You are gong to skip over one on folder, the top one.
Level1\Level2\Level3\*.files

The Level1 folder will not be moved.

We shall move the contents of the next folder down to a new, higher location. Later you can rename the folders, if you wish.


Make a new folder. call it Level2New.
This is going to be the target folder. Make it at the highest level.

In windows explore open the the Level2 fonder.
Now look up on the tool bar. See the 'Edit' tab?
Click on Edit, Select all.
Then Click on Move to folder.
Select the Level2New as the target.
If you do it right the contents of Level2 and everything below will be in Level2New.
Level1 will still have its contents.
Practice on some dummy folders first.
the folders aren't being moved... the files are.



Code: [Select]@echo off
for /f %%P in ('dir /b /od') do copy %%P\*.* .
REM for /f %%P in (dir /b /od') do RMDIR /s /q %%P

Run this batch file from within the "level2" folder. what it does is copy all files from the folders within level2 into the level2 folder itself. (as I understand your issue, you have many folders within this level2 folder, and wish to copy the files from each of these folders to the parent folder.

Note that I am using the "copy" command, at this point. the loop that removes the directories is commented out. I recommend making a complete backup, if at all possible, before deleting them. Or, you could change the command to move. a Move is faster then a copy and delete on the same drive. Also, you can easily change the filemask by changing the %%P\*.* to %%P\*.mp3, for example.

also, remember that if any of these folders has filenames that are the same as files in any other folder, you should rename them. the copy command as written will prompt you to overwrite if any names conflict.

Code: [Select]@echo off
cd "C:\Documents and Settings\cameronyoung\Level1\Level2\Level3\"

copy *.mp3 "C:\Documents and Settings\cameronyoung\Level1\Level2\"

delete *.*
Hi, I don't think I explained myself as clearly as I could have. I really need something that will loop through a number of folders, a better explanation of my 400 odd folders would be like this:

Level1\1Level2\Level3\*.files
Level1\2Level2\Level3\*.files
Level1\3Level2\Level3\*.files
Level1\4Level2\Level3\*.files
Level1\5Level2\Level3\*.files
Level1\6Level2\Level3\*.files

What I want to do is to remove all of the "Level 3" folders and move the contents (well, just .MP3 files if possible) back to the "Level 2" folders. It's easy to do it for one folder, but I've got about 400 folders at "Level 2" which each contain an extra, unwanted folder.

Even if the script or whatever doesn't delete the "Level 3" folders in the end, that's not a big deal, as I have a program that could remove them.. though it would be preferable.

Thanks for your help.Ahh, OK, guess I misunderstood

Code: [Select]@echo off
for /f %%P in ('dir /b /od') do copy %%P\level3\*.* .\%%P\
REM for /f %%P in (dir /b /od') do rmdir /s /q %%P\level3

Run this from within your "level1" folder. it will do something similar to the previous batch I provided; this one loops through all the folders ('dir /b /od') and copies the files from within the level3 folder of that folder "out" of the folder into the "level2" folder that it's looping through.

Again, the remarked out rmdir command will remove the level3 folders, as well. the first loop only copies. and change the "%%P\level3\*.*" to "%%P\level3\*.mp3" to only copy mp3 files. (as I'm sure your aware deleting the folder will result in the loss of other files that are not MP3 from within that folder.Now that we have all confused him,
If his file structure is in good shape ...
and if explorer is not bite by bugs.

He can do it in one drop and drag.
Quote from: Geek-9pm on January 11, 2010, 08:42:42 PM

Now that we have all confused him,
If his file structure is in good shape ...
and if explorer is not bite by bugs.

He can do it in one drop and drag.

Ahh, OK, guess I misunderstood

Code: [Select]@echo off
for /f %%P in ('dir /b /od') do copy %%P\level3\*.* .\%%P\
REM for /f %%P in (dir /b /od') do rmdir /s /q %%P\level3

Run this from within your "level1" folder. it will do something similar to the previous batch I provided; this one loops through all the folders ('dir /b /od') and copies the files from within the level3 folder of that folder "out" of the folder into the "level2" folder that it's looping through.

Again, the remarked out rmdir command will remove the level3 folders, as well. the first loop only copies. and change the "%%P\level3\*.*" to "%%P\level3\*.mp3" to only copy mp3 files. (as I'm sure your aware deleting the folder will result in the loss of other files that are not MP3 from within that folder.

Code: [Select]@echo off
cd "C:\Documents and Settings\cameronyoung\Level1\Level2\Level3\"

copy *.mp3 "C:\Documents and Settings\cameronyoung\Level1\Level2\"

delete *.*

Sorry you haven't read my post properly. BC_Programmer could you please check my reply? Thanks heaps.

Code: [Select]SETLOCAL ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION
for /f "usebackq delims=" %%P in (`dir /b /ad`) do (
pushd %%P
for /f "usebackq delims=" %%I in (`dir /b /ad`) do (
copy "%%I\*.*" .\
REM rd /s /q "%%I"
)
popd

)