How to create a text file listing of all files in a specific folder?

Question

I have a large MP3 files collection that is about 80 GB, approximately 16000 songs. A friend of mine wants a list of my music to start a collection of his own. Bringing them over on an USB drive is not possible as we live in different continents and he has no problem gathering them on his own anyway.

Is there an easy way to get just the names of all files in a directory, without getting directory names too?

I don't mind installing software if it's needed, but I would prefer not to.

Answer 1

You can use the dir command. First navigate to the folder with all of the files with command prompt, you can copy a directory from explorer and paste it in by right-clicking if you don't wish to type.

To exclude directory names but recurse into subdirectories:

dir /a-d /s *.mp3 > mp3s.txt

although the above will show hidden files (thumbs.db among other things from album art) so you may want to hide those:

dir /a-d-h /s *.mp3 > mp3s.txt

both of the above approaches will make a text file called mp3s.txt in your mp3 folder.

For a GUI approach, you can use DirPrint, The How-To Geek recently wrote an article on it:

Answer 2

For those who use Total Commander, there are menu items for this:

• Copy Selected Names To Clipboard
• Copy Names With Paths To Clipboard
• Copy to Clipboard With all Details
• Copy to Clipboard With Path+Details

It's in the Mark menu and work with selected files. Select them all ("+" on the numeric pad, "*.mp3" as filter) if you need to copy the names of all MP3 files in the directory.

Answer 3

The JR Directory Printer utility allows you to print a listing of every subdirectory and/or file contained within a directory and/or subdirectory. It supports lowercase/dos style filename, file size in KB/bytes, attributes, custom file length, etc.

The result displayed in NotePad or default text editor as "dirprint.txt" file. This file is created in "JR Directory Printer" installtion folder, each time you click "Start" button.

Options:

• Check Recurse Sub-directories option to see a complete list of all subdirectories and all files in all directories.

• The Lowercase Filename option will force all file names into lowercase regardless of the actual file name.

• DOS style filename option will limit the file name length within 8 chars.

• Display Sub-directories will result in a list of all subdirectories contained under the selected directory along with a list of all individual files contained under the root directory. It will not list all subdirectories or individual files contained in the main subdirectories. To see a complete list of all subdirectories and all files in all directories, you would check the Recurse Sub-directories option and click on the Start button. This would rewrite the"dirprint.txt" file using the new options.

• You can limit length file names so that they fits properly in list. By default this value is 35 chars.

• You can check/uncheck Display Size, DateTime and Attributes option to list/unlist the file size, modified date/time and file attributes (a - Archives, r - Read Only, s - System, h - Hidden).

Answer 4

If you have Winamp, there's an option to save a playlist as an HTML page with all the songs in the playlist. That way, if your songs are labeled ok, you'll have a nicely formatted list, with no folder names.

Answer 5

FreeCommander would be my weapon of choice to do this. Folder --> Make Folder List. Alos has options to copy selected files to clipboard. Great tool and it's free.