create multiply dated folders

[graygray1]

Hi there,

 

I'm ok on a computer and have tried google for help on this but I need some help and someone to break it down for me in newbie terms. :)

 

Basically I want to create a folder to store pictures for every day for the next five years by month.

 

So .... November 2010 folder would have all the days inside as folders tfrom 01/11/10 thru 31/11/10 and so on and on..... Until December 2015

 

I really don't want to right click (create) and name over 1800 folders... ha ha...

 

many thanks for the help in advanced!

 

Cheers

[BeeCeeBee]

Unless there is some software out there that will do that for you. (I sort of doubt it since it would really have to be fairly complex to go into your files and both sort and rename them) I think you are out of luck.

 

If these pictures are from a camera most of them have software that dates and creates a folder for new pictures. That will not solve the issue regarding what to do with old files.

[graygray1]

Unless there is some software out there that will do that for you. (I sort of doubt it since it would really have to be fairly complex to go into your files and both sort and rename them) I think you are out of luck.

 

If these pictures are from a camera most of them have software that dates and creates a folder for new pictures. That will not solve the issue regarding what to do with old files.

 

 

Thanks, I don't really need it for files I already have - Just going forward...... I use a card reader so the camera does not have that functionality.

 

Most businesses must have data folders for ever day of the year and I can't believe someone creates a new folder each time they want to set up a new day.... Surely there is a work around this??

[BeeCeeBee]

Most businesses must have data folders for ever day of the year

In this case I just think your analogy is flawed. Most business software will of course date entries. Even the basics like Quickbooks will do that.

 

Otherwise, I don't know of any business software that creates a new folder for all work on a certain day. In fact I can see where that would create some real problems. Most large businesses that use a server can isolate daily activity but that is not what you are looking for.

 

Unless I am missing something (which is not unusual :) ) It only takes seconds to create and name a folder. After that just save everything that you do to that folder.

[graygray1]

In this case I just think your analogy is flawed. Most business software will of course date entries. Even the basics like Quickbooks will do that.

 

Otherwise, I don't know of any business software that creates a new folder for all work on a certain day. In fact I can see where that would create some real problems. Most large businesses that use a server can isolate daily activity but that is not what you are looking for.

 

Unless I am missing something (which is not unusual :) ) It only takes seconds to create and name a folder. After that just save everything that you do to that folder.

 

Ok, So say I work for a company and I create daily sales figures in excel and then put them in a folder - eg CD sales 01.11.10. I'm struggling with that this is the only way to create a folder & everyday someone has to create a new folder and name it and theres no quick fix to make 365 dated folders.

Of course your right it only takes a second to create a folder but 1 years worth would take

ages.... I do need this for a reason.

 

Maybe there is nothing that can be done?

[BeeCeeBee]

OK I am confused. If you are just going forward you would only have to create one new folder each day.

 

As for excel. In most instances there would be a single spreadsheet that covers a time period for sales. It could be a week, month etc. That spreadsheet can then filter out any given day for viewing. That being said you still have to manually create the spreadsheet and set the parameters such as time period.

[PseFrank]

Edit: To reflect that BeeCeeBee posted while I was typing.

 

Hi Graygray, welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help

 

This can be done in Windows XP, and I see no reason why it wouldn't work in Vista. But I have no way of testing this. Be aware that Windows has a maximum file path of 250 characters (Including spaces in file names)...after which you will lose the ability to Copy, Move, Delete, Open, etc.

 

To rename multiple folders do this:

 

1. Open the holding folder and hit Ctrl + A to select all of the folders.

 

2. Right click on the first folder and choose Rename.

 

3. Whatever name you choose will be repeated for all the selected folders. But each one will be numbered, starting at (1)

 

So if you name your first folder "January2011".....the second ones name will be "January2011(1)" and the third "January2011(2)" and so on and so forth.....

 

The thing to do then would be to delete the first folder "January2011" so that "January2011(1)" would become the folder that held all photos taken on Jan/01/2011.

[graygray1]

OK I am confused. If you are just going forward you would only have to create one new folder each day.

 

As for excel. In most instances there would be a single spreadsheet that covers a time period for sales. It could be a week, month etc. That spreadsheet can then filter out any given day for viewing. That being said you still have to manually create the spreadsheet and set the parameters such as time period.

 

 

Ok, I want to create a folder for Tom/Dick & Harry for Jan thru Dec '11 and in each month have a folder for all the days ....... So each person can save the photos they took on those relevent days in the relevant folder.

They can't use the computer so all the folders need to be made at once.

 

If you don't know, its cool.....I will just have to do something I found on google but its writing something in the command prompt which will take me forever.

 

Sorry maybe I wasn't very clear in my explantion

Edited November 20, 2010 by graygray1

[PseFrank]

I should have also explained above that to make multiple folders, all that needs to be done is to make a few (Any number) and then select/highlight them before hitting Ctrl + C on your keyboard to copy them. And then open the folder where you need the new folders to be housed, and hit Ctrl + V to paste them.

 

Example:

 

You make ten new folders.

 

You highlight and copy them.

 

Go to the holding folder and hit Ctrl + V.

 

Every time you hit Ctrl + V ten new folders will appear.

 

Then name them in the manner I described in my first post.

 

Hope this helps out...:-)

[Synapse]

You could use a piece of backup software to backup a specific folder at say 8pm every night to your selected PC, or location on same PC.

 

Backup software could copy pictures to backup PC in location A, creating a backup folder that is identified by current date and time. It automated so you can rely on being done 365 days a year.

 

If you want to throw something together or want to look further, have a look at Cobian Backup.

[graygray1]

I should have also explained above that to make multiple folders, all that needs to be done is to make a few (Any number) and then select/highlight them before hitting Ctrl + C on your keyboard to copy them. And then open the folder where you need the new folders to be housed, and hit Ctrl + V to paste them.

 

Example:

 

You make ten new folders.

 

You highlight and copy them.

 

Go to the holding folder and hit Ctrl + V.

 

Every time you hit Ctrl + V ten new folders will appear.

 

Then name them in the manner I described in my first post.

 

Hope this helps out...:-)

 

Thanks for all the help.....!

 

 

I've found a slighty quicker way of doing what I needed....I can do it for the months.

I doubt anyone will need this, but I did so maybe it might be helpful!??

 

For december In excel type out 01.12.10 in cell A1 then drag it up until 31.12.10.

Copy all these cells

 

Open Notepad - type - MD (and paste the cells here from excel)

 

Save as December.bat

 

Open this folder and you have 31 dated folders :) - It gets mixed up if you try for more than one month but this has save me lots of time. Hope it helps someone else!

[PseFrank]

Thanks for coming back and posting Gray. The method you've discovered sounds very good.

 

However, I feel that I have not explained myself clearly enough in the above posts. You can make and name all of the folders you require for the full five year period by a combination of copy and paste, and the technique I outlined in my first post.

 

I'd estimate that this could be done in under half an hour...I may even do it my self later on...just to satisfy my own curiousity.

[PseFrank]

Ok...I have now satisfied my own curiousity. I made the all the folders and gave them their appropriate names using the methods I have already outlined above.

 

Holding folder

 

A folder for each year named 2011, 2012, etc, etc.

 

Each yearly folder holds 12 folders with each month named....January, February, etc, etc.

 

Each monthly folder holds a folder for each day named this way...Jan (1), Feb (5), and so on.

 

All in all there are 1,926 folders

 

Time taken= 43 minutes

 

I am tempted to write a tutorial on how to do this, as I think it would be of benefit to other forum users. But at the moment I don't have the time.

 

If you wish it may be possible to send you the folder library I have constructed. But I should state that we do not normally do this. And I am only prepared to do this after taking advice from a third party....:)

[graygray1]

Thanks for coming back and posting Gray. The method you've discovered sounds very good.

 

However, I feel that I have not explained myself clearly enough in the above posts. You can make and name all of the folders you require for the full five year period by a combination of copy and paste, and the technique I outlined in my first post.

 

I'd estimate that this could be done in under half an hour...I may even do it my self later on...just to satisfy my own curiousity.

 

Thanks PseFrank for the welcome and your feedback, I've read it back and because its Sunday and I have a slight hangover I might be missing something!? :)

 

But won't you have to rename each folder this way...eg 01/01/2010 01/01/2010.....

 

Sorry if I've got my dunce hat on!

 

Just read your update! -I'll try my way and time it - just for fun....I will let you know!

Edited November 21, 2010 by graygray1

[graygray1]

Ok...I have now satisfied my own curiousity. I made the all the folders and gave them their appropriate names using the methods I have already outlined above.

 

Holding folder

 

A folder for each year named 2011, 2012, etc, etc.

 

Each yearly folder holds 12 folders with each month named....January, February, etc, etc.

 

Each monthly folder holds a folder for each day named this way...Jan (1), Feb (5), and so on.

 

All in all there are 1,926 folders

 

Time taken= 43 minutes

 

I am tempted to write a tutorial on how to do this, as I think it would be of benefit to other forum users. But at the moment I don't have the time.

 

If you wish it may be possible to send you the folder library I have constructed. But I should state that we do not normally do this. And I am only prepared to do this after taking advice from a third party....:)

 

 

Ok, Mine took roughly the same amount of time some so I'm going to say - both good ways to do it! :)

 

However because I do the dates in excel, that works out the days in each month and leap years etc so mine might be a little slower but you don't need to reference a calendar.

 

Anyway thanks for your help as I've learnt what I needed!!!