Windows command to delete all files except the specified list of files which may contain spaces in their...
2
I have a folder contains a list of files. I am using following command to delete all the files except the required files. If there is a file with spaces in the name then following command is failing. Say "File Name with space.txt" or "File 1.txt"
for /f %F in ('dir /b /a-d ^| findstr /vile "file1 file2 file3"') do del "%F"
I tried putting the file names in "" but no success.
windows batch-file cmd
edited Nov 15 '18 at 22:12
Mark Setchell
91.4k781184
asked Nov 15 '18 at 17:38
MIMMIM
1441619
|
show 2 more comments
2
I have a folder contains a list of files. I am using following command to delete all the files except the required files. If there is a file with spaces in the name then following command is failing. Say "File Name with space.txt" or "File 1.txt"
for /f %F in ('dir /b /a-d ^| findstr /vile "file1 file2 file3"') do del "%F"
I tried putting the file names in "" but no success.
windows batch-file cmd
edited Nov 15 '18 at 22:12
Mark Setchell
91.4k781184
asked Nov 15 '18 at 17:38
MIMMIM
1441619
Is DOS a requirement? Powershell or even WSL will make your life much easier.
– kabanus
Nov 15 '18 at 17:59
Are you really still using "DOS" or are you referring to the command line in Windows (which has nothing to do with MS-DOS)
– a_horse_with_no_name
Nov 15 '18 at 18:03
@kabanus I am referring to command line in windows. Even I can use Powershell if required.
– MIM
Nov 15 '18 at 18:09
@a_horse_with_no_name well, it does share many of the basic commands. Not sure the fact it is just a look alike matters to the specific question.
– kabanus
Nov 15 '18 at 18:15
@kabanus: From thedostag info: "DO NOT USE THIS TAG FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WINDOWS COMMAND PROMPT!" (theforloop shown in the question wouldn't even run in "DOS")
– a_horse_with_no_name
Nov 15 '18 at 18:17
|
show 2 more comments
2
2
2
I have a folder contains a list of files. I am using following command to delete all the files except the required files. If there is a file with spaces in the name then following command is failing. Say "File Name with space.txt" or "File 1.txt"
for /f %F in ('dir /b /a-d ^| findstr /vile "file1 file2 file3"') do del "%F"
I tried putting the file names in "" but no success.
windows batch-file cmd
edited Nov 15 '18 at 22:12
Mark Setchell
91.4k781184
asked Nov 15 '18 at 17:38
MIMMIM
1441619
I have a folder contains a list of files. I am using following command to delete all the files except the required files. If there is a file with spaces in the name then following command is failing. Say "File Name with space.txt" or "File 1.txt"
for /f %F in ('dir /b /a-d ^| findstr /vile "file1 file2 file3"') do del "%F"
I tried putting the file names in "" but no success.
windows batch-file cmd
windows batch-file cmd
edited Nov 15 '18 at 22:12
Mark Setchell
91.4k781184
asked Nov 15 '18 at 17:38
MIMMIM
1441619
edited Nov 15 '18 at 22:12
Mark Setchell
91.4k781184
asked Nov 15 '18 at 17:38
MIMMIM
1441619
edited Nov 15 '18 at 22:12
Mark Setchell
91.4k781184
edited Nov 15 '18 at 22:12
Mark Setchell
91.4k781184
edited Nov 15 '18 at 22:12
Mark Setchell
91.4k781184
91.4k781184
asked Nov 15 '18 at 17:38
MIMMIM
1441619
asked Nov 15 '18 at 17:38
MIMMIM
1441619
asked Nov 15 '18 at 17:38
MIMMIM
1441619
1441619
Is DOS a requirement? Powershell or even WSL will make your life much easier.
– kabanus
Nov 15 '18 at 17:59
Are you really still using "DOS" or are you referring to the command line in Windows (which has nothing to do with MS-DOS)
– a_horse_with_no_name
Nov 15 '18 at 18:03
@kabanus I am referring to command line in windows. Even I can use Powershell if required.
– MIM
Nov 15 '18 at 18:09
@a_horse_with_no_name well, it does share many of the basic commands. Not sure the fact it is just a look alike matters to the specific question.
– kabanus
Nov 15 '18 at 18:15
@kabanus: From thedostag info: "DO NOT USE THIS TAG FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WINDOWS COMMAND PROMPT!" (theforloop shown in the question wouldn't even run in "DOS")
– a_horse_with_no_name
Nov 15 '18 at 18:17
|
show 2 more comments
Is DOS a requirement? Powershell or even WSL will make your life much easier.
– kabanus
Nov 15 '18 at 17:59
Are you really still using "DOS" or are you referring to the command line in Windows (which has nothing to do with MS-DOS)
– a_horse_with_no_name
Nov 15 '18 at 18:03
@kabanus I am referring to command line in windows. Even I can use Powershell if required.
– MIM
Nov 15 '18 at 18:09
@a_horse_with_no_name well, it does share many of the basic commands. Not sure the fact it is just a look alike matters to the specific question.
– kabanus
Nov 15 '18 at 18:15
@kabanus: From thedostag info: "DO NOT USE THIS TAG FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WINDOWS COMMAND PROMPT!" (theforloop shown in the question wouldn't even run in "DOS")
– a_horse_with_no_name
Nov 15 '18 at 18:17
Is DOS a requirement? Powershell or even WSL will make your life much easier.
– kabanus
Nov 15 '18 at 17:59
Is DOS a requirement? Powershell or even WSL will make your life much easier.
– kabanus
Nov 15 '18 at 17:59
Are you really still using "DOS" or are you referring to the command line in Windows (which has nothing to do with MS-DOS)
– a_horse_with_no_name
Nov 15 '18 at 18:03
Are you really still using "DOS" or are you referring to the command line in Windows (which has nothing to do with MS-DOS)
– a_horse_with_no_name
Nov 15 '18 at 18:03
@kabanus I am referring to command line in windows. Even I can use Powershell if required.
– MIM
Nov 15 '18 at 18:09
@kabanus I am referring to command line in windows. Even I can use Powershell if required.
– MIM
Nov 15 '18 at 18:09
@a_horse_with_no_name well, it does share many of the basic commands. Not sure the fact it is just a look alike matters to the specific question.
– kabanus
Nov 15 '18 at 18:15
@a_horse_with_no_name well, it does share many of the basic commands. Not sure the fact it is just a look alike matters to the specific question.
– kabanus
Nov 15 '18 at 18:15
@kabanus: From the
dos tag info: "DO NOT USE THIS TAG FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WINDOWS COMMAND PROMPT!" (the for loop shown in the question wouldn't even run in "DOS")– a_horse_with_no_name
Nov 15 '18 at 18:17
@kabanus: From the
dos tag info: "DO NOT USE THIS TAG FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WINDOWS COMMAND PROMPT!" (the for loop shown in the question wouldn't even run in "DOS")– a_horse_with_no_name
Nov 15 '18 at 18:17
|
show 2 more comments
1 Answer
1
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You have two options with the FINDSTR command to accomplish this.
The first is to list each file individually with the /C option.
for /f "delims=" %F in ('dir /b /a-d ^| findstr /V /I /L /E /C:"file1" /C:"file2" /C:"file3"') do del "%F"
The other option is put all your search strings in a file, one on each line and use the /G option.
for /f "delims=" %F in ('dir /b /a-d ^| findstr /V /I /L /E /G:"search.txt"') do del "%F"
answered Nov 15 '18 at 19:08
SquashmanSquashman
8,99831933
The 1st option worked for me. I have not tried 2nd option as this requires separate file creation.
– MIM
Nov 16 '18 at 6:00
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
2
You have two options with the FINDSTR command to accomplish this.
The first is to list each file individually with the /C option.
for /f "delims=" %F in ('dir /b /a-d ^| findstr /V /I /L /E /C:"file1" /C:"file2" /C:"file3"') do del "%F"
The other option is put all your search strings in a file, one on each line and use the /G option.
for /f "delims=" %F in ('dir /b /a-d ^| findstr /V /I /L /E /G:"search.txt"') do del "%F"
answered Nov 15 '18 at 19:08
SquashmanSquashman
8,99831933
The 1st option worked for me. I have not tried 2nd option as this requires separate file creation.
– MIM
Nov 16 '18 at 6:00
add a comment |
2
You have two options with the FINDSTR command to accomplish this.
The first is to list each file individually with the /C option.
for /f "delims=" %F in ('dir /b /a-d ^| findstr /V /I /L /E /C:"file1" /C:"file2" /C:"file3"') do del "%F"
The other option is put all your search strings in a file, one on each line and use the /G option.
for /f "delims=" %F in ('dir /b /a-d ^| findstr /V /I /L /E /G:"search.txt"') do del "%F"
answered Nov 15 '18 at 19:08
SquashmanSquashman
8,99831933
The 1st option worked for me. I have not tried 2nd option as this requires separate file creation.
– MIM
Nov 16 '18 at 6:00
add a comment |
2
2
2
You have two options with the FINDSTR command to accomplish this.
The first is to list each file individually with the /C option.
for /f "delims=" %F in ('dir /b /a-d ^| findstr /V /I /L /E /C:"file1" /C:"file2" /C:"file3"') do del "%F"
The other option is put all your search strings in a file, one on each line and use the /G option.
for /f "delims=" %F in ('dir /b /a-d ^| findstr /V /I /L /E /G:"search.txt"') do del "%F"
answered Nov 15 '18 at 19:08
SquashmanSquashman
8,99831933
You have two options with the FINDSTR command to accomplish this.
The first is to list each file individually with the /C option.
for /f "delims=" %F in ('dir /b /a-d ^| findstr /V /I /L /E /C:"file1" /C:"file2" /C:"file3"') do del "%F"
The other option is put all your search strings in a file, one on each line and use the /G option.
for /f "delims=" %F in ('dir /b /a-d ^| findstr /V /I /L /E /G:"search.txt"') do del "%F"
answered Nov 15 '18 at 19:08
SquashmanSquashman
8,99831933
answered Nov 15 '18 at 19:08
SquashmanSquashman
8,99831933
answered Nov 15 '18 at 19:08
SquashmanSquashman
8,99831933
answered Nov 15 '18 at 19:08
SquashmanSquashman
8,99831933
8,99831933
The 1st option worked for me. I have not tried 2nd option as this requires separate file creation.
– MIM
Nov 16 '18 at 6:00
add a comment |
The 1st option worked for me. I have not tried 2nd option as this requires separate file creation.
– MIM
Nov 16 '18 at 6:00
The 1st option worked for me. I have not tried 2nd option as this requires separate file creation.
– MIM
Nov 16 '18 at 6:00
The 1st option worked for me. I have not tried 2nd option as this requires separate file creation.
– MIM
Nov 16 '18 at 6:00
add a comment |
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Is DOS a requirement? Powershell or even WSL will make your life much easier.
– kabanus
Nov 15 '18 at 17:59
Are you really still using "DOS" or are you referring to the command line in Windows (which has nothing to do with MS-DOS)
– a_horse_with_no_name
Nov 15 '18 at 18:03
@kabanus I am referring to command line in windows. Even I can use Powershell if required.
– MIM
Nov 15 '18 at 18:09
@a_horse_with_no_name well, it does share many of the basic commands. Not sure the fact it is just a look alike matters to the specific question.
– kabanus
Nov 15 '18 at 18:15
@kabanus: From the
dostag info: "DO NOT USE THIS TAG FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WINDOWS COMMAND PROMPT!" (theforloop shown in the question wouldn't even run in "DOS")– a_horse_with_no_name
Nov 15 '18 at 18:17