Read filenames from a text file, match to folder and copy

[electricwizard84]

Hi,

I have developed a script that lists all the files in a folder (and subfolders) and writes the filename to a text file. For example, if filename.avi is in a folder c:\test\movie\filename.avi then the script will create a text file (and located as a destination directory) and on the first line will write filename.avi

If have removed some files from my complete list and what i want is a script that will match the filename of the file located in the main folder (including subfolders) and copy the files to a new folder. For example, if my text file has a list of files written as filename.avi on the first line and filename2.avi on the second line, the script will match the filenames that are located in c:\test (root folder) and copy the files to a new folder.

I know it's a big ask, but would there be anyone who would be able to get my started on this task?

 

[Geates]

Open the text file and read each line. Read a line and check to see if the file exists in the root folder. If it does, copy it to another folder.

set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

strRootFolder = "C:\test"
strDestFolder = "C:\some\path\files"
strReadInFile = "C:\some\path\readin.txt"

'Open text file for reading
set objStream = objFSO.OpenTextFile(strReadInFile, 1, true, 0)

do while not (objStream.AtEndOfStream)
   'read current line in file
   strLine = trim(objStream.ReadLine)
   
   'does the text we read in exist as a file in the root folder?
   if (objFSO.FileExists(strRootFolder & "\" & strLine)) then
      'yep, it does.  Copy it to some other folder.
      objFSO.CopyFile strRootFolder & "\" & strLine, strDestFolder & "\" & strLine, true
   end if
loop

-Geates

"Always code as if the guy who ends up maintaining your code will be a violent psychopath who knows where you live."
- Martin Golding

"There are seldom a good technological solutions to behavioral problems."
- Ed Crowley, Exchange guru and technology curmudgeon

 

[electricwizard84]

Hi Geates,

Thanks so much for your help, and especially providing some code. I'm not sure whether i'm missing something, but even after i declare the variables, the code doesn't seem to do anything. For example, i create some test folders on my desktop, create a list.txt file and then execute the script. Nothing happens and i receive no errors. I've even added in to certain lines a msgbox("works")just to see whether the code is working up to a point, but everything seems to register.

Any idea?

 

[electricwizard84]

I've figured out the problem! When the program is checking to see if the filename.avi exists in the root folder, it does not check subfolders. Is there a way how to improve to code so as to allow this?

 

[Geates]

Yes, the function that checks through folders needs to be recursive - meaning, it calls itself. Everytime a folder is encountered, call the function for that folder.

"pseudo" code

function searchFolder(strFolder, strFile)
   set objFolders = objFSO.GetFolder(strFolder).SubFolders
   for each objFolder in objFolders
      [red]strPath = searchFolder(objFolder.Path, strFile)[/red]
   next

   set objFiles = objFSO.GetFolder(strFolder).Files
   for each objFile in objFiles
      if (objFile.Name = strFile) then strPath = objFile.Path
   next
   searchFolder = strPath
end function

However, to call the first iteration of this function for every file in your list would be a waste of efficiency. Instead, modify the code to store a directory listing to an array and simply compare off of that. Either way will work but the later is a tad more difficult to implement.

function indexFolder(strFolder, arrIndex)
   set objFolders = objFSO.GetFolder(strFolder).SubFolders
   for each objFolder in objFolders
      arrIndex = searchFolder(objFolder.Path, arrIndex)
   next

   set objFiles = objFSO.GetFolder(strFolder).Files
   for each objFile in objFiles
      redim preserve arrIndex(ubound(arrIndex) + 1)
      arrIndex(ubound(arrIndex)) = objFile.Path
   next
   searchFolder = arrIndex
end function

- Geates


"Always code as if the guy who ends up maintaining your code will be a violent psychopath who knows where you live."
- Martin Golding

"There are seldom good technological solutions to behavioral problems."
- Ed Crowley, Exchange guru and technology curmudgeon