Batch file to find and delete files or empty directories?

[Interleave]

So, the first one is files:

dir %1 %2 /S /B > findfile.txt

It worked but it listed everything in the directory, not just the %2 which I specified as *.nfo
The %1 is the drive and directory where I wanted to do the search - worked great.

So, I want to list ONLY the types of files I specify like *nfo
I'd also like to delete only those files if I find them.

Finally, I'd like to find empty directories and output that to a .txt file so I can go in and delete them or delete them automatically. With almost 5 TB of info on my computer, it would be really helpful to do this stuff. Come to think of it, getting rid of 0 byte files would help too.

[gpl]

To fix your first problem, add the separator in :

Code: [Select]

dir %1\%2 /S /B > findfile.txt

as for deleting the files, something like this should do it

Code: [Select]

for /f "delims=" %%A in (findfile.txt) do del "%%A"

[Interleave]

thanks.

What is it that the separator does that makes this work the way I wanted that not having it doesn't do?

Also, if you could inform me as to the "for" line and how it is working, I would really appreciate it. I think it's time I started re-learning this stuff.

[gpl]

Adding in the separator maker your line read

dir c:\fred\myproject\*.nfo /s/b

which does what you need, looks inside c:\fred\myproject for all *.nfo files - and then searches all subdirectories below it

The For line very simply reads each line from the given file and stored it as %%A, which is passed to the del command.

I confess I did a search for the syntax as I can never remember how to do it.. the important thing is that I knew it can be done.

[Interleave]

Well, I really appreciate your help. I saved the for line in a separate batch program because I'm certain I won't always want to delete what I find. :-)

 I actually found a nice little utility to find and delete empty folders which really helps, too

[Interleave]

P.S. - I finally had an opportunity to put this to the test on something that if everything got wiped out I wasn't going to care. Worked like a charm. And now that I see it in action, I understand why the \ had to be in there. Makes complete sense.

Thanks again

[Geek-9pm]

For what it us worth...
An empty directory takes up very little disk space.
When you use XCOPY to copy directories and files, empty directories are skipped.
http://www.computerhope.com/xcopyhlp.htm
So if you integrate this behavior into you work habits, there is little need to delete empty directories.
Just saying...

[patio]

For what it's worth...why humor someone who revived a 5 year old thread ? ?

[Salmon Trout]

why humor someone who revived a 5 year old thread ? ?

And who revived it in order to post a spam link in their signature?