Exclude folders in batch-copy-script

batch-file file-copying
user1759708 picture user1759708 · Oct 19, 2012 · Viewed 16.5k times · Source

I am using a batch file on a USB stick to backup my pictures. I use the following command:

for /r C:\ %%x in (*.jpg *.png *.gif) do @copy /y %%x .

I want to exclude files in the mailfolder WINDOWS and PROGRAM FILES.

Does anyone have an idea how I can do this with a batch file?

Answer

Alex K. picture Alex K. · Oct 19, 2012

Drop COPY and use ROBOCOPY which exists in Windows Vista+ & is downloadable for prior versions.

It supports /XD to exclude specific directories & /XF to exclude file masks at the command line.

E.g.

robocopy.exe c:\ c:\destination\ *.jpg *.png *.gif /xd "Program files" "windows" /S

(Note this will recreate the directory structure in c:\destination\, which thinking about it may not be what you want)

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