How do you get Explorer file lists to print?

[ahhaa]

Dang, I used to know this stuff...
I want to make a text file list (for printable discs) of what's in certain folders without going through a lot of conniptions, and just can't remember how!

[SmokieStover]

Use WordPerfect

[Toastie]

One thing you can do is put the text I have down below into a .txt file with Notepad.

Using Windows Explorer, put the file into the directory that you want a text listing of and then rename the "suffix" part of the filename from .txt to .bat

Double click on it in Windows Explorer, and it will create a file called dir_list.txt which contains the directory listing contents in a .txt file. Then you can cut and paste the contents into another program or whatever. You will need to edit it a bit, but its much better than starting from scratch and typing everythign out by hand.

Here is what should be in that .bat file, but of course you need to change the path in quotes to the path for the particular directory of interest which the .bat file is also sitting in:


cd "C:\Documents and Settings\my account name\My Documents\the folder I need the contents of is this one"

dir > dir_list.txt



Hope that helps!

[ahhaa]

sorry, not following that... are you talking DOS?

if I open a folder, I can change VIEW to a list, but I can't copy out the list itself, as SELECT and COPY will work on the files themselves not the file names...

[aedipuss]

he's telling you to use a batch file. they open a dos window by themselves to run. it tells windows to change directory to the one in quotes and then pipes the dir listing to a file it creates called dir_list.txt

it will give you what you want, but also a lot of other disc data.

i use a program called directory printer, there are probably lots of other little ones if you search around.

[Fred J]

I use "Tree Print" its easy and FREE.
Get any or all of the following and try them out:

DIR List
Directory List
Directory Print Pro
Directory Printer
Tree Print

Make sure you have "Generic / Text Only" printer installed, comes with your operating system.
You may have to specify output file disk, directory. file name and extension.

Lots of luck

[SLK001]

The problem with a batch file is the names it outputs are all the same. I would proceed by first opening a DOS window using START>RUN>CMD.EXE.

In the DOS window that pops up, change to the directory that you want the listing of and type: DIR > APPS1.TXT (or whatever you want to name the thing).

Also, type DIR /? to get a lot of listing options.

Repeat as needed.

[Toastie]

What I described will do exactly what you are asking for.

You don't need to use DOS at all. Just cut and paste those two lines of text into a .txt file you create with Notepad. Save it into the corrrect directory. Then rename the file extension from .txt to .bat. Just do a rightclick-rename on it in Windows Explorer to do that. After its been renamed, double click on that .bat file in Windows Explorer to run it.

That's all there is to it - you will get a .txt file with the listing of all the files in the directory.

Its a good idea to have your directory views set to "Details" instead of "Icons" so you can actually see what you got. Another thing is to turn off that silly option that hides the full name of the file. In Windows Explorer, click on Tools, Folder Options, View, and then UNcheck the box that says "Hide file extensions for known file types". You need to be able to see the file extension to be able to change it from .txt to .bat

[TBoneit]

People are so afraid of using the DOS commands. Still the easiest way to do some things. That is why I have pinned the command prompt to my start menu.

When I'm working on a customers computer and I don't want them trying out the Regedit program I run it from a cammand prompt and that way it doesn't show in the run windows history for example.

[hech54]

I use a freebie called JR Directory Printer.
It's a tiny bit buggy but completes the job easily.

[ahhaa]

Ok thanks a lot guys!
Wonder why Windblows can't just do this for itself tho...
I just backed up about a jillion old downloaded programs to just one DVD-
its kinda scary!

[Toastie]

Ok thanks a lot guys!
Wonder why Windblows can't just do this for itself tho...
I just backed up about a jillion old downloaded programs to just one DVD-
its kinda scary!

I agree. And why the heck doesn't the PrintScreen button on the keyboard work anymore?? It used to before Windows when DOS was the operating system - it might have in early versions of Windows.

[ahhaa]

Toastie- mebbe I can return the favor!

PrintScreen still works on my XP sp2 computer; I just hold Shift & Press the Printscreen key- this puts an image on the clipboard that can be Pasted in a Paint program as a 'new image', which can then be saved or printed out.

I am still using a generic PS2 type keyboard, dunno if USB might make a diff...?

[TBoneit]

Exactly printscreen still works it just doesn't send to the printer these days. I use it all the time. Type of keyboard doesn't make a difference BTW. There is also just using the Printscreen, Alt + Printscreen as well as Shift Printscreen

From Microsoft.
List of the keyboard shortcuts that are available in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/301583

Your keyboard is faster than having to reach for the mouse and click click click.