How to traverse folder tree/subtrees in a windows batch file?

Question

In a windows batch file, is there a way to traverse a folder/subfolders hierarchy doing some action on each file?

Answer 1

You can use the FOR command with the /r switch, which will walk the directory tree executing whatever you specify in the DO statement on each directory. There you can nest another FOR statement, using a dir /b *.* in the SET block.

Answer 2

Yes, you can do this using the for command with the /r switch, e.g.:

for /r %%f in (*) do echo %%f

See also this question for an example.

Answer 3

Fortunately I have quite similar purpose regarding this thread. I believe INSTRUCTION

dir /b /s /ad *.* [enter]

will produce DIRECTORY TREE as result

complete_path\dir_01_lev_01
complete_path\dir_02_lev_01
complete_path\dir_03_lev_01
complete_path\dir_01_lev_01\dir_11_lev_02
complete_path\dir_01_lev_01\dir_12_lev_02
complete_path\dir_02_lev_01\dir_13_lev_02
complete_path\dir_02_lev_01\dir_14_lev_02
complete_path\dir_02_lev_01\dir_15_lev_02
complete_path\dir_03_lev_01\dir_16_lev_02

But I want result as below

complete_path\dir_01_lev_01
complete_path\dir_01_lev_01\dir_11_lev_02
complete_path\dir_01_lev_01\dir_12_lev_02
complete_path\dir_02_lev_01
complete_path\dir_02_lev_01\dir_13_lev_02
complete_path\dir_02_lev_01\dir_14_lev_02
complete_path\dir_02_lev_01\dir_15_lev_02
complete_path\dir_03_lev_01
complete_path\dir_03_lev_01\dir_16_lev_02

So, this SCRIPT is BORN :)

@echo off
rem
rem ::: My name is Tree-Folder-8-Level.cmd
rem
setlocal
rem ::: Put started PATH here
set i01=complete_path
for /f "delims=" %%a in ('dir "%i01%" /ad /on /b') do call :p001 "%%a"
endlocal
goto :eof

:p001
rem ::: Display 1st LEVEL of started PATH
echo %~1
for /f "delims=" %%b in ('dir "%i01%\%~1" /ad /on /b') do call :p002 "%~1\%%b"
goto :eof

:p002
rem ::: Display 2nd LEVEL of started PATH
echo %~1
for /f "delims=" %%c in ('dir "%i01%\%~1" /ad /on /b') do call :p003 "%~1\%%c"
goto :eof

:p003
rem ::: Display 3rd LEVEL of started PATH
echo %~1
for /f "delims=" %%d in ('dir "%i01%\%~1" /ad /on /b') do call :p004 "%~1\%%d"
goto :eof

:p004
rem ::: Display 4th LEVEL of started PATH
echo %~1
for /f "delims=" %%e in ('dir "%i01%\%~1" /ad /on /b') do call :p005 "%~1\%%e"
goto :eof

:p005
rem ::: Display 5th LEVEL of started PATH
echo %~1
for /f "delims=" %%f in ('dir "%i01%\%~1" /ad /on /b') do call :p006 "%~1\%%f"
goto :eof

:p006
rem ::: Display 6th LEVEL of started PATH
echo %~1
for /f "delims=" %%g in ('dir "%i01%\%~1" /ad /on /b') do call :p007 "%~1\%%g"
goto :eof

:p007
rem ::: Display 7th LEVEL of started PATH
rem :::     and 8th LEVEL of started PATH
echo %~1
for /f "delims=" %%h in ('dir "%i01%\%~1" /ad /on /b') do echo %~1\%%h
goto :eof

Brighter ideas are welcome. :)

Answer 4

dir /b /s /ad *.* | sort

That should give the same results regardless of the path depth