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So I have a folder that has a lot of folders that have a lot of folders and so on.
I made a bunch of edits to some files that are in many of these folders, but I have no idea what files they were. Is there any program that will recursively go through the folder and show me all the files sorted by their last modified date? I am on Windows XP.
Paolo Bergantino
Posted 2009-07-18T07:05:43.710
Reputation: 2 809
10
Did you try to use the built-in Windows Search (wildcard search on that folder, then sorting the result by modify date).
As alternative, there is a little freeware tool you could use: "Last Changed Files." Here is a description of the software.
splattne
Posted 2009-07-18T07:05:43.710
Reputation: 14 208
3
Use Total Commander. :) I'm serious.
Enter the main folder you want to see and Ctrl+B. That will list all files within the main folder and all of its subfolders. And then you know how to sort by date A-Z or Z-A. Someone explained that above.
Forget about Windows Explorer when it comes to file management. If you ask me, avoid Windows Explorer unless you really have to use it (e.g. when saving something from the internet to a specific place).
Vladimir
Posted 2009-07-18T07:05:43.710
Reputation: 31
3
The dir command,
dir /od /S
was something i used long back.
Since then, I have shifted to Cygwin.
find . -type f -exec ls -lsrt {} +
Note: The 'r' makes 'ls' reverse sort; latest files at the bottom.
nik
Posted 2009-07-18T07:05:43.710
Reputation: 50 788
This works, but it groups the files by folder. There are a LOT of folders, so I have to go through each one and see when the latest file was edited. Is there a version of this comment that will just group all the files together? – Paolo Bergantino – 2009-07-18T07:13:01.447
yeah, I recollect. That is why the Cygwin reference. There may be some DOS/Windows trick, but I find peace in the Cygwin unix shell. – nik – 2009-07-18T07:14:04.313
I was halfway through downloading Cygwin when the Windows search was suggested. Thank you, however, as I think I'll check it out anyways. – Paolo Bergantino – 2009-07-18T07:31:07.283
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DIR /S /OD
The Windows search is probably better for this, just browse to the top directory you wish to start at, and leave the filename blank. It will list all files, then simply click "Date Modified" as shown here:
John T
Posted 2009-07-18T07:05:43.710
Reputation: 149 037
This works, but it groups the files by folder. There are a LOT of folders, so I have to go through each one and see when the latest file was edited. Is there a version of this comment that will just group all the files together? – Paolo Bergantino – 2009-07-18T07:12:29.420
add the /B switch – John T – 2009-07-18T07:13:31.260
I just did "dir /OD /S /B" but it doesn't have any data besides the file name and the sorting is definitely not right... Mmm. – Paolo Bergantino – 2009-07-18T07:17:24.383
whoops! that just strips headers such as folder name it recursed into etc. Cygwin is probably the easiest for this to tell you the truth. – John T – 2009-07-18T07:21:35.827
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instead of searching look in every single folder for the file you are looking for. That is the solution I have found that works best since nothing I have seen really answers the problem
james blair
Posted 2009-07-18T07:05:43.710
Reputation: 1
Use Windows Search! BUT OF COURSE. I feel like an idiot now. This did the trick, although I'm not on Vista. – Paolo Bergantino – 2009-07-18T07:29:59.690