making a txt list of folder contents on DVD

hello everyone. I know how to make a txt list of the contents of a folder on a drive but is it possible to do that with a DVD? I have about 30 dvd's numbered and I wanted to make a sort-of catalog of the contents. Thanks

 

slayer544--

Have you tried using your normal method?
I use Karen's Directory Printer for a text list of a directory on my harddrive
http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptdirprn.asp
if I want details.

Otherwise, for a much simpler list, I use a .bat file created in Wordpad:
"dir %1> "C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Desktop\jim.txt "

cls"
without the quotes.
In my case, I named it jim.bat and put the jim.bat file into my Send To folder. Now when I right click on a folder, jim.bat appears on the right click (context) menu and, when clicked, creates a text document named jim.txt on my Desktop.

As mentioned, I never tried either method using a DVD. Just from my harddrive.

 

that Karens Directory Printer worked like a charm! Thanks!!!

 

FWIW, it should work for a dvd drive also. To the computer, a drive is a drive.

If your dvd drive is x, dir x: > c:\dir.txt will create a text file with a listing of all files and folders in the root of the drive.

 

slayer544--Thanks for posting back with the good news. Now we all have learned!!

 

You do need the quotes around the document path otherwise it will try to send the dir contents to "C:\Documents ". Also I don't think you need the cls. If this is a batch file the command window will close automatically at the end of the routine, so you don't need to clear the screen first. May I suggest that this is clearer:

Code:

dir %1 >  "%HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%\Desktop\Dir%date%.txt "

And also dates the output

Now that is neat. I like that. I called mine DirectoryList.bat. I have a bad memory and would forget what reggie.bat did.

 

I've had a little more of a play with this. It works fine for listing folders/directories, but won't list the contents of a drive which is what the original poster wanted. However, you can get that functionality with a reg hack. Here is how to do it:

First create a file called DirectoryList.bat and save it to your system folder (WINNT or WINDOWS depending on your setup).

Edit the file and add the following code:

Code:

dir %1 >  "%HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%\Desktop\Dir%date%.txt "

This version is problematic. See later post for better version.

Then create another file called DirectoryList.reg and save it on your desktop (actually, you can put it anywhere. It will run from anywhere. However, you will need Admin rights when you run it). In this file enter this text:

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\Dir_list]
@= "Create Dir text file "

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\Dir_list\command]
@= "DirectoryList.bat "

Save the file. Then run it by double clicking on it.

That will update your registry and enter a "Create Dir text file" option when you right click on drives. Selecting that option will generate a directory listing of the drive on your desktop.

As with any registry hacking, make sure you back it up before changing it. The reg file creates two keys one called Dir_list with a subkey called command. Deleting the Dir_list key from the registry will remove the functionality.

I've tested this on hard drives, CD drives, memory sticks and network mapped drives and it appears to work on them all. One peculiarity is that if it can find the drive (for example if there is no CD in the drive) then it returns the contents of your Windows directory.

 

ReggieB--Thanks for the additional work and suggestions. Interesting and helpful.

And you are very correct about the need for the internal quotation marks

I should have been specific about not using the quotes at the beginning and end or better yet, not used those quotes at all when providing the code.

 

You can also add it to the context menu itself. My send to menu has gotten a bit slow lately so that's the route I took. To do this, open any folder or explorer window, click tools>folder options>file types and find folder in the list (not file folder). Click it to highlight it, click advanced and then click the new button. Where it says action type whatever it is you want it to say in the context menu (mine says print contents). Then where it says application used to perform action click the browse button and browse to and select your batch file. Then, OK your way back out. Now when you right click on any folder or drive it'll appear right in the right click context menu.

When you do this you can use the "File Folder" file type to do it but using the "Folder" one has one small advantage. If you do it using File Folder, it'll only appear in the context menu for folders. If you use the Folder file type, it'll appear in the context menu for both folders and drives.

I know it's not a huge difference from using the send to menu and it takes a bit more work but when you have a slightly poky send to menu, it's the way to go. I hate waiting for that send to menu to open when I don't have to.

 

What a splendid thread. I love it when what seems such a simple request turns into an interesting problem solving exercise and deeper learning of "under the hood" Windows!

Zander, that's a much better way of getting the command on to the context menu. Far better than hacking the registry directly. It also provides a way of easily removing the item too.

I've tried your process on a Window 2000 system and it worked a treat. However that did highlight an issue with my code on 2000. %Date% on 2000 adds a day name and a space to the output. That causes the resulting path construct to cause an error. So for Windows 2000 you can't easily use a time stamp (you'll need to do something more complicated to create the date stamp):

Code:

dir %1 >  "%HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%\Desktop\Dir.txt "

I think it is worth pointing out another aspect of the path I used. %HOMEDRIVE% and %HOMEPATH% are not my constructs, but Windows constants. If you want to see how they work open a command prompt and enter these two commands:

Code:

echo %HOMEDRIVE%

echo %HOMEPATH%

Therefore the code works no matter who or which account is logged on.

 

There are switches that allow you a lot of control with the DIR command. At the command prompt, type

Code:

DIR /?

To get a full list.

So to get what you want you could change your batch file to:

Code:

dir /OG %1 >  "%HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%\Desktop\Dir.txt "

The OG switch orders the output so that folders are first.

 

It is the %data% part that is problematic. On some systems (like the one I first created this batch file on) it creates a date without spaces. But if it adds spaces or uses slashes, it will mess up the path. Don't use the %date% version is probably the best policy

 

Glad to be of assistance I'm pleased WelshJim got this rolling.

The other switch that might be interesting is /S. With that switch you also get the contents of subdirectories. To much for the screen, but might be useful as a text file.

 

Here's a useful alternative. Instead of browsing to a batch file, browse to cmd.exe (usually in system32 folder in your Windows or WINNT folder) and select that file. In the "Action:" box put "Command ". Click OK to complete the task.

Now you have a "Command" option when you right click on a folder. Select it and a cmd shell window opens at the current folder!

 

This thread is SWEET! Thanks for bumping, ReggieB.

I assume the %1 variable refers to the highlighted drive in Windows Explorer.

• dir %1 /OG > "%HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%\Desktop\Dir.txt " works too.
  (Swapping % and /OG matches the syntax as displayed by dir /? in the CMD window if my assumption is correct.)

Do you have a quick idea for a hack to add that will show a "Create Dir text file" context menu item for a FOLDER to produce a list of its contents (C:\WINDOWS\ for example)?