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Batch transfer files from and to multiple directories (terminal) (redirected from Batch transfer files from multiple directories (terminal))

Page history last edited by Monica 11 years, 1 month ago Saved with comment

How to copy/move files from multiple directories to multiple subfolders

 


 

NB: filenames should not contain blank spaces or special characters (e.g. &, %, !, (, etc)

 

Step 1 : Extract list of filenames

command | description

cd | change directory to source directory (drag folder from Finder screen to terminal screen)

pwd | provides full path of current location (source directory)

find | to find all files within the current directory,

-iname” means not case-sensitive

to search only your user directory, type "~/"

save results to text file (i.e. filenames.txt)

 

dmcguest$ find ~/ -iname "*.*" >>filenames.txt

 

 

Step 2 : Get path to destination directories

command | description

cd | change directory to destination folder (drag folder from Finder screen to terminal screen)

ls | outputs simple list of folders

pwd | provides full path of current location (destination)

 

 

Step 3 : Create commands

In excel: Create table with following columns

 

column

value

description

1st

cp

copy command (to move files instead of copy, replace cp with mv)

2nd

Source path/filenames

Data from step 1 : drag filenames.txt to MS Excel icon to open

(note 1)

3rd

Destination path/sub folder

Path to destination directory plus name of object folder. (from Step 2)

4th

|

Pipe symbol (for all rows except last)

 

Note 1: Since Find command (in Step 1) is for all files (*.*) this may result in system files/folders being included in the list.  Therefore may need to remove these sorts of files before proceeding. TIP: use =RIGHT() excel function to sort list by file type.

 

Step 4 : Clean up spacing

In MS word

Copy data from Step 3 to MS word (paste special > unformatted text)

Remove any hard returns (search and replace tabs ^t with single space)

Edit/Select All

 

Step 5 : Run commands

Open terminal (top level)

paste commands

 

NOTE: in this example, the full path is included for both source and destination locations, so do not need to navigate to any particular directory before executing commands.

 

TIP: as proof of concept recommend first testing single command and confirm file has been copied as excepted

 

Figure: Paste multi-commands directly to terminal using pipe symbol to separate

 

Step 6 : Verify

Spot check using finder

Figure: folder wrc02806 contains transferred files (*.jpg)

 

 

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