Batch file: sorting folders and files alphabetically

buttonsrtoys picture buttonsrtoys · Feb 20, 2013 · Viewed 9.3k times · Source

The batch file below recursively echos files and folders while adding some simple formatting, such as indenting to show the recursion depth, adding "/ " before folder names, "*" before certain files, and skipping folders named "Archive". It works great except that files and folders are sorted randomly, rather than alphabetically. How could this be changed to sort both files and folders alphabetically?

@echo off
setlocal disableDelayedExpansion
pushd %1
set "tab=   "
set "indent="
call :run
exit /b

:run

REM echo the root folder name
for %%F in (.) do echo %%~fF
echo ------------------------------------------------------------------

set "folderBullet=\"
set "fileBullet=*"

:listFolder
setlocal

REM echo the files in the folder
for %%F in (*.txt *.pdf *.doc* *.xls*) do echo %indent%%fileBullet% %%F  -  %%~tF

REM loop through the folders
for /d %%F in (*) do (

  REM skip "Archive" folder
  if /i not "%%F"=="Archive" (

  REM if in "Issued" folder change the file bullet
  if /i "%%F"=="Issued" set "fileBullet= "

  echo %indent%%folderBullet% %%F
  pushd "%%F"
  set "indent=%indent%%tab%"
  call :listFolder

  REM if leaving "Issued folder change fileBullet
  if /i "%%F"=="Issued" set "fileBullet=*"

  popd
))
exit /b

Answer

dbenham picture dbenham · Feb 20, 2013

Very little change required. Convert FOR loops to FOR /F running sorted DIR commands. The /A-D option lists files only, and /AD lists directories only.

This version sorts files by name

@echo off
setlocal disableDelayedExpansion
pushd %1
set "tab=   "
set "indent="
call :run
exit /b

:run

REM echo the root folder name
for %%F in (.) do echo %%~fF
echo ------------------------------------------------------------------

set "folderBullet=\"
set "fileBullet=*"

:listFolder
setlocal

REM echo the files in the folder
for /f "eol=: delims=" %%F in (
  'dir /b /a-d /one *.txt *.pdf *.doc* *.xls* 2^>nul'
) do echo %indent%%fileBullet% %%F  -  %%~tF

REM loop through the folders
for /f "eol=: delims=" %%F in ('dir /b /ad /one 2^>nul') do (

  REM skip "Archive" folder
  if /i not "%%F"=="Archive" (

  REM if in "Issued" folder change the file bullet
  if /i "%%F"=="Issued" set "fileBullet= "

  echo %indent%%folderBullet% %%F
  pushd "%%F"
  set "indent=%indent%%tab%"
  call :listFolder

  REM if leaving "Issued folder change fileBullet
  if /i "%%F"=="Issued" set "fileBullet=*"

  popd
))
exit /b

To sort by extension first, then by name, simply change /ONE to /OEN.