CODEWITHSUNDEEP
windowsbatch-filecopysubdirectory
Marius_O
Marius_O

Reputation: 1

Copy a file only to the first subdirectory

I want to copy a file to the first subdirectory of a folder.

Example:

\---main_folder
    |
    \---subfolder *(copy here)*
        |
        \---sub_subfolder *(do NOT copy here)*

I know it is quite easy to copy a file to a directory and it's subdirectories, e.g:

for /r "G:\main_folder" %%i in (.) do @copy "G:\abc.txt" "%%i"

But this code copies the file to ALL subdirectories of main_folder, whereas I wish only to copy to subfolder (See my rudimentary example).

I checked the help on for, (for /?), but couldn't figure this out.

Am I missing something?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 98

Answers (2)

Compo
Compo

Reputation: 38579

Because your question asks, 'I want to copy a file to the first subdirectory of a folder.', and not, 'I want to copy a file to every top level subdirectory of a folder.', which is what the comment, you've agreed works does. You need to first decide on what constitutes first.

This example uses first as that which is determined by name sort order (alphabetically).

@For /F Delims^=^ EOL^= %%A In ('Dir /B/AD/ON "G:\main_folder"') Do @Copy /Y "G:\abc.txt" "%%A" & GoTo :EOF

Edit
Because you've now clarified that your question parameters were wrong, not misinterpreted, i.e. 'I want to copy a file to every top level subdirectory of a folder' then the comment initially provided showed a correct method:

@For /D %%A In ("G:\main_folder\*") Do @If Exist "G:\abc.txt" Copy /Y "G:\abc.txt" "%%A" >Nul 2>&1

Alternatively, should be fractionally quicker, performing the If Exist first:

@If Exist "G:\abc.txt" For /D %%A In ("G:\main_folder\*") Do @Copy /Y "G:\abc.txt" "%%A" >Nul 2>&1

Upvotes: 0

aschipfl
aschipfl

Reputation: 34899

Since you are using for /R, your file is going to be copied into every directory in your tree.

Use for /D instead to iterate throufgh a certain hierarchy level, like in the following example:

for /D %%I in ("G:\main_folder\*") do copy "G:\abc.txt" "%%~I"

This of course copies the file into every immediate sub-directory of G:\main_folder.

Upvotes: 1

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