Quick Create and Upload Multiple Folders through Drag and Drop

Problem:

Need the ability to quickly create and upload multiple folder through drag and drop, even if some of the folders won’t have any files in them.

Solution:

Using a batch script and Central Desktop’s prohibition on multiple files with the same name, I created a system to very efficiently create an entire hierarchy of folders in Central Desktop.

Description:

To overcome this obstacle, I started inserting a small text file in each empty folder, which would act as a place holder, allowing the folder to be created in Central Desktop.  I also found that if I tried to upload a file which already existed, that file would not be uploaded, and Central Desktop would politely inform me that the file wasn’t uploaded. I decided to use this to my advantage.

I’ve created a quick and dirty batch script, which creates folders from a list, and saves a text file inside each folder. I name the file x.txt for all folders, ensuring that only the first “x.txt” file is uploaded, leaving the others blank.

Use Case:

In this example, I’ll need to create a folder hierarchy for an upcoming contract. I’ll need to create the contract folder, a folder for Incoming Updates, Processed Updates and Correspondence, then four folders for each of the partners, for each of the second level folders. We’ll assume I have no current documents for any of the folders.

• Acme, Inc
  • Incoming Updates
    • Smith
    • Jones
    • Williams
    • Bush
  • Processed Updates
    • Smith
    • Jones
    • Williams
    • Bush
  • Correspondence
    • Smith
    • Jones
    • Williams
    • Bush

That’s 16 folders, and would take a considerable amount of time to create them using Central Desktop’s online folder creation process. And I can’t upload an empty folder, either. So this is where the script comes in.

Process:

Create the following folder(s) c:\bulkfolder\FOLDERS\ (you can, of course, name them and place them anywhere you want, you’ll just have to modify the batch script I’m about to show you for your own setup.)
Copy and paste this bit of text into a text editor and save as bulkfolders.bat (or whatever you want, again, I’m not picky.)

rd /s "c:\bulkfolder\FOLDERS\"
md c:\bulkfolder\FOLDERS\
for /F "tokens=*" %%* in (c:\bulkfolder\TMPNAMES.txt) do (
 @md "c:\bulkfolder\FOLDERS\%%*"
 echo Delete me later >c:\bulkfolder\FOLDERS\%%*\x.txt
)

Create a list of all the folders you want to create, one per line, and save as TMPNAMES.txt (make sure it’s in c:\bulkfolder).

Add the folder names to TMPNAMES.TXT

Double click bulkfolders.bat (you’ll be asked to confirm that you want to overwrite the contents of c:\bulkfolder\FOLDERS. Type “Y” then hit enter.

Now you have all the folders and files you’ll need. Select all folders except Acme, and drag them into the Acme folder.

Then copy the four “name” folders into each of the three second level folders.

Finally, drag and drop the “Acme” folder onto a Central Desktop drag and drop zone. All of your folders will now be created, but only one of the “x.txt” files will have been created.

And that’s that.

What are your CD tricks of the trade? Leave a note in the comments section.