Need to write a batch file that moves files based on name

[chbck]

My music directory is a mess. I want to write a batch file that will list the files in my "music" folder and move those files to the corresponding folders that bear their name.

For instance: In "music" I have 10 tracks from BandA, 15 tracks from BandB, and 4 tracks from BandC. I will manually create folders called BandA, BandB, and BandC, and I want a batch file that can analyze the list of tracks and move each file to their folders based on the name of the bands.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Squashman]

Need to see the format of the file names before we could write any script for you.

[chbck]

Sorry about that.

The filenames would be:
BandA - Song Name 1.mp3
BandA - Song 1.mp3
BandA - Name of song1.mp3
BandB - Name of song2mp3
BandB - Name1.mp3
BandC - Name of song3.mp3
and so on...

Basically, random combinations of things because they are all song titles. But, they all follow the Band Name - Song title.mp3 naming convention.

[foxidrive]

Sorry about that.

The filenames would be:
BandA - Song Name 1.mp3
BandA - Song 1.mp3
BandA - Name of song1.mp3
BandB - Name of song2mp3
BandB - Name1.mp3
BandC - Name of song3.mp3
and so on...

Basically, random combinations of things because they are all song titles. But, they all follow the Band Name - Song title.mp3 naming convention.

If BandA B or C contain - characters then the code has to handle that. There are other situations where the names can break the code...

See here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6108

[penpen]

This may help you (untested):

Code: Select all

@for /D %%a in (*) do @(2>nul move "%%~a*" "%%~a")

penpen

[Squashman]

This may help you (untested):

Code: Select all

@for /D %%a in (*) do @(2>nul move "%%~a*" "%%~a")

penpen

I like that. That should be fairly foolproof.

[foxidrive]

This may help you (untested):

Code: Select all

@for /D %%a in (*) do @(2>nul move "%%~a*" "%%~a")

penpen

penpen, how is that going to move files into folders?

EDIT: Oh, he manually created all the band name folders - didn't see that bit.

[julesverne]

@for /D %%a in (*) do @(2>nul move "%%~a*" "%%~a")

what does the "@" symbol do? I tried googling that, I don't get it.

[penpen]

The command line interpreter has an echoing feature, which could be switched on (default) and off.
If this feature is enabled the command line interpreter:
- typically displays the full Path (for example "C:\temp>") within the shell.
- echoes a command before this command is executed.

In a batch program the @ character in front of a command tells the command line interpreter not to echo this command before executing it.

penpen

[Squashman]

what does the @ symbol mean in batch files

[Samir]

It's cool how @ can be put on the command line in modern DOS/Command line. I don't think you were able to do that back in the 3.3-5.0 days.

[foxidrive]

It's cool how @ can be put on the command line in modern DOS/Command line. I don't think you were able to do that back in the 3.3-5.0 days.

Download a dos boot disk, and maybe put it on a USB stick with the right tools, and try it.

[Samir]

It's cool how @ can be put on the command line in modern DOS/Command line. I don't think you were able to do that back in the 3.3-5.0 days.

Download a dos boot disk, and maybe put it on a USB stick with the right tools, and try it.

I remember it working in batch, but not command line. Have you had a different experience?