Vista - Change a file directory list to a new document

I am trying to change a file directory list to a txt document using dos
commands like I did with other windows operating systems. The commands are as
follows for Windows ME
cd ..
cd mydocuments~1 (Got me to the directory of files that I needed)
dir (got me the list of files)
cd AE107~1 (got me to the file that contained the folder that I wanted to
change)
dir (Got me to the list of folders containing the documents that I needed to
change)
dir 15apr~3/b >Ae1 (this is the command line that I used to change the 15apr
folder directory to a txt document) I saved the documents in a way that would
change them to a table once I changed the folder directory to a text document.

In other words, the folder 15apr was a folder that contained multiple
documents and I could change that folder to a txt document using the above
dos commands. Then I could go back into MS Work, find the new txt document
containing the list of documents, and take the list and convert it to a
table. My goal is to change the directory list of documents to a table.
Please help !!!!!!!! Right now I am entering these documents manually into a
table (there are hundreds) and it is taking me hours. Thank you.

You should be able to use these same commands in vista using the
command prompt. What error are you getting?

- JB

On Mon, 14 May 2007 17:47:01 -0700, rmstow
<rmstow@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>I am trying to change a file directory list to a txt document using dos
>commands like I did with other windows operating systems. The commands are as
>follows for Windows ME
>cd ..
>cd mydocuments~1 (Got me to the directory of files that I needed)
>dir (got me the list of files)
>cd AE107~1 (got me to the file that contained the folder that I wanted to
>change)
>dir (Got me to the list of folders containing the documents that I needed to
>change)
>dir 15apr~3/b >Ae1 (this is the command line that I used to change the 15apr
>folder directory to a txt document) I saved the documents in a way that would
>change them to a table once I changed the folder directory to a text document.
>
>In other words, the folder 15apr was a folder that contained multiple
>documents and I could change that folder to a txt document using the above
>dos commands. Then I could go back into MS Work, find the new txt document
>containing the list of documents, and take the list and convert it to a
>table. My goal is to change the directory list of documents to a table.
>Please help !!!!!!!! Right now I am entering these documents manually into a
>table (there are hundreds) and it is taking me hours. Thank you.

All of the commands work up until the end when I get "file not found" and the
new file that is created by the end command is empty and does not contain the
directory list. I have tried using .txt at the end of the command when naming
the new file, but that doesn't work either (this was suggested by MS IT
Help).

"Jimmy Brush" wrote:

> You should be able to use these same commands in vista using the
> command prompt. What error are you getting?
>
> - JB
>
> On Mon, 14 May 2007 17:47:01 -0700, rmstow
> <rmstow@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >I am trying to change a file directory list to a txt document using dos
> >commands like I did with other windows operating systems. The commands are as
> >follows for Windows ME
> >cd ..
> >cd mydocuments~1 (Got me to the directory of files that I needed)
> >dir (got me the list of files)
> >cd AE107~1 (got me to the file that contained the folder that I wanted to
> >change)
> >dir (Got me to the list of folders containing the documents that I needed to
> >change)
> >dir 15apr~3/b >Ae1 (this is the command line that I used to change the 15apr
> >folder directory to a txt document) I saved the documents in a way that would
> >change them to a table once I changed the folder directory to a text document.
> >
> >In other words, the folder 15apr was a folder that contained multiple
> >documents and I could change that folder to a txt document using the above
> >dos commands. Then I could go back into MS Work, find the new txt document
> >containing the list of documents, and take the list and convert it to a
> >table. My goal is to change the directory list of documents to a table.
> >Please help !!!!!!!! Right now I am entering these documents manually into a
> >table (there are hundreds) and it is taking me hours. Thank you.
>

Ah ok...

This line does look suspicious:

dir 15apr~3/b >Ae1

when you get to that line, do this command instead:

dir

And then find the directory you are trying to get a list for. If it is
a directory that has a name longer than 8 letters, you can type the
command like this:

dir "long directory name" > Ae1

This way you avoid the ~3 notation, which may be confusing.

- JB

On Wed, 16 May 2007 20:46:02 -0700, rmstow
<rmstow@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>All of the commands work up until the end when I get "file not found" and the
>new file that is created by the end command is empty and does not contain the
>directory list. I have tried using .txt at the end of the command when naming
>the new file, but that doesn't work either (this was suggested by MS IT
>Help).
>
>"Jimmy Brush" wrote:
>
>> You should be able to use these same commands in vista using the
>> command prompt. What error are you getting?
>>
>> - JB
>>
>> On Mon, 14 May 2007 17:47:01 -0700, rmstow
>> <rmstow@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>>
>> >I am trying to change a file directory list to a txt document using dos
>> >commands like I did with other windows operating systems. The commands are as
>> >follows for Windows ME
>> >cd ..
>> >cd mydocuments~1 (Got me to the directory of files that I needed)
>> >dir (got me the list of files)
>> >cd AE107~1 (got me to the file that contained the folder that I wanted to
>> >change)
>> >dir (Got me to the list of folders containing the documents that I needed to
>> >change)
>> >dir 15apr~3/b >Ae1 (this is the command line that I used to change the 15apr
>> >folder directory to a txt document) I saved the documents in a way that would
>> >change them to a table once I changed the folder directory to a text document.
>> >
>> >In other words, the folder 15apr was a folder that contained multiple
>> >documents and I could change that folder to a txt document using the above
>> >dos commands. Then I could go back into MS Work, find the new txt document
>> >containing the list of documents, and take the list and convert it to a
>> >table. My goal is to change the directory list of documents to a table.
>> >Please help !!!!!!!! Right now I am entering these documents manually into a
>> >table (there are hundreds) and it is taking me hours. Thank you.
>>

Dear Jim:

Thanks for the suggestion but the commands still do not work. I still get an
empty file at the end. I even changed the file name to make it shorter and
not ending in a number to see if that would make a difference, but it didn't.
The final command looks liked this:

dir AE 15May/b >aeonem

The "AE 15May" is the name of the file that contains the directory of
documents that I want changed to a text list.

"aeonem" is the name of the new file that is supposed to have the text list.

Am I doing anything else wrong, or should I just give up and get used to the
fact that this will all need to be done manually?

Thanks.

"rmstow" wrote:

> All of the commands work up until the end when I get "file not found" and the
> new file that is created by the end command is empty and does not contain the
> directory list. I have tried using .txt at the end of the command when naming
> the new file, but that doesn't work either (this was suggested by MS IT
> Help).
>
> "Jimmy Brush" wrote:
>
> > You should be able to use these same commands in vista using the
> > command prompt. What error are you getting?
> >
> > - JB
> >
> > On Mon, 14 May 2007 17:47:01 -0700, rmstow
> > <rmstow@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >
> > >I am trying to change a file directory list to a txt document using dos
> > >commands like I did with other windows operating systems. The commands are as
> > >follows for Windows ME
> > >cd ..
> > >cd mydocuments~1 (Got me to the directory of files that I needed)
> > >dir (got me the list of files)
> > >cd AE107~1 (got me to the file that contained the folder that I wanted to
> > >change)
> > >dir (Got me to the list of folders containing the documents that I needed to
> > >change)
> > >dir 15apr~3/b >Ae1 (this is the command line that I used to change the 15apr
> > >folder directory to a txt document) I saved the documents in a way that would
> > >change them to a table once I changed the folder directory to a text document.
> > >
> > >In other words, the folder 15apr was a folder that contained multiple
> > >documents and I could change that folder to a txt document using the above
> > >dos commands. Then I could go back into MS Work, find the new txt document
> > >containing the list of documents, and take the list and convert it to a
> > >table. My goal is to change the directory list of documents to a table.
> > >Please help !!!!!!!! Right now I am entering these documents manually into a
> > >table (there are hundreds) and it is taking me hours. Thank you.
> >

Hello,

If the folder name that you want a list for has spaces in it, you need
to put it inside double-quotes.

So, your command should be:

dir "AE 15May" > aeonem

Neat trick:

Your computer can help you type the command. As you are typing the
command, you can stop when you reach this point:

dir "AE

and then press TAB. Your computer will find a matching folder at your
current location and automatically complete it for you. You can keep
pressing TAB until it finds the one you are looking for.

Once it is at the one you want, you can finish typing out the command
(the > aeonem part)

--
-JB
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell
Windows Vista Support FAQ - http://www.jimmah.com/vista/

On Sat, 19 May 2007 21:26:01 -0700, rmstow
<rmstow@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Dear Jim:
>
>Thanks for the suggestion but the commands still do not work. I still get an
>empty file at the end. I even changed the file name to make it shorter and
>not ending in a number to see if that would make a difference, but it didn't.
>The final command looks liked this:
>
>dir AE 15May/b >aeonem
>
>The "AE 15May" is the name of the file that contains the directory of
>documents that I want changed to a text list.
>
>"aeonem" is the name of the new file that is supposed to have the text list.
>
>Am I doing anything else wrong, or should I just give up and get used to the
>fact that this will all need to be done manually?
>
>Thanks.
>
>"rmstow" wrote:
>
>> All of the commands work up until the end when I get "file not found" and the
>> new file that is created by the end command is empty and does not contain the
>> directory list. I have tried using .txt at the end of the command when naming
>> the new file, but that doesn't work either (this was suggested by MS IT
>> Help).
>>
>> "Jimmy Brush" wrote:
>>
>> > You should be able to use these same commands in vista using the
>> > command prompt. What error are you getting?
>> >
>> > - JB
>> >
>> > On Mon, 14 May 2007 17:47:01 -0700, rmstow
>> > <rmstow@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > >I am trying to change a file directory list to a txt document using dos
>> > >commands like I did with other windows operating systems. The commands are as
>> > >follows for Windows ME
>> > >cd ..
>> > >cd mydocuments~1 (Got me to the directory of files that I needed)
>> > >dir (got me the list of files)
>> > >cd AE107~1 (got me to the file that contained the folder that I wanted to
>> > >change)
>> > >dir (Got me to the list of folders containing the documents that I needed to
>> > >change)
>> > >dir 15apr~3/b >Ae1 (this is the command line that I used to change the 15apr
>> > >folder directory to a txt document) I saved the documents in a way that would
>> > >change them to a table once I changed the folder directory to a text document.
>> > >
>> > >In other words, the folder 15apr was a folder that contained multiple
>> > >documents and I could change that folder to a txt document using the above
>> > >dos commands. Then I could go back into MS Work, find the new txt document
>> > >containing the list of documents, and take the list and convert it to a
>> > >table. My goal is to change the directory list of documents to a table.
>> > >Please help !!!!!!!! Right now I am entering these documents manually into a
>> > >table (there are hundreds) and it is taking me hours. Thank you.
>> >

Dear Jimmy Brush:

OH MY GOD!!!! It worked !!!!!! I can now save up to 6 hours per week, thanks
to you. You have been a great help!!!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

"Jimmy Brush" wrote:

> Hello,
>
> If the folder name that you want a list for has spaces in it, you need
> to put it inside double-quotes.
>
> So, your command should be:
>
> dir "AE 15May" > aeonem
>
> Neat trick:
>
> Your computer can help you type the command. As you are typing the
> command, you can stop when you reach this point:
>
> dir "AE
>
> and then press TAB. Your computer will find a matching folder at your
> current location and automatically complete it for you. You can keep
> pressing TAB until it finds the one you are looking for.
>
> Once it is at the one you want, you can finish typing out the command
> (the > aeonem part)
>
> --
> -JB
> Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell
> Windows Vista Support FAQ - http://www.jimmah.com/vista/
>
> On Sat, 19 May 2007 21:26:01 -0700, rmstow
> <rmstow@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >Dear Jim:
> >
> >Thanks for the suggestion but the commands still do not work. I still get an
> >empty file at the end. I even changed the file name to make it shorter and
> >not ending in a number to see if that would make a difference, but it didn't.
> >The final command looks liked this:
> >
> >dir AE 15May/b >aeonem
> >
> >The "AE 15May" is the name of the file that contains the directory of
> >documents that I want changed to a text list.
> >
> >"aeonem" is the name of the new file that is supposed to have the text list.
> >
> >Am I doing anything else wrong, or should I just give up and get used to the
> >fact that this will all need to be done manually?
> >
> >Thanks.
> >
> >"rmstow" wrote:
> >
> >> All of the commands work up until the end when I get "file not found" and the
> >> new file that is created by the end command is empty and does not contain the
> >> directory list. I have tried using .txt at the end of the command when naming
> >> the new file, but that doesn't work either (this was suggested by MS IT
> >> Help).
> >>
> >> "Jimmy Brush" wrote:
> >>
> >> > You should be able to use these same commands in vista using the
> >> > command prompt. What error are you getting?
> >> >
> >> > - JB
> >> >
> >> > On Mon, 14 May 2007 17:47:01 -0700, rmstow
> >> > <rmstow@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >> >
> >> > >I am trying to change a file directory list to a txt document using dos
> >> > >commands like I did with other windows operating systems. The commands are as
> >> > >follows for Windows ME
> >> > >cd ..
> >> > >cd mydocuments~1 (Got me to the directory of files that I needed)
> >> > >dir (got me the list of files)
> >> > >cd AE107~1 (got me to the file that contained the folder that I wanted to
> >> > >change)
> >> > >dir (Got me to the list of folders containing the documents that I needed to
> >> > >change)
> >> > >dir 15apr~3/b >Ae1 (this is the command line that I used to change the 15apr
> >> > >folder directory to a txt document) I saved the documents in a way that would
> >> > >change them to a table once I changed the folder directory to a text document.
> >> > >
> >> > >In other words, the folder 15apr was a folder that contained multiple
> >> > >documents and I could change that folder to a txt document using the above
> >> > >dos commands. Then I could go back into MS Work, find the new txt document
> >> > >containing the list of documents, and take the list and convert it to a
> >> > >table. My goal is to change the directory list of documents to a table.
> >> > >Please help !!!!!!!! Right now I am entering these documents manually into a
> >> > >table (there are hundreds) and it is taking me hours. Thank you.
> >> >
>