Setting a file to run in Vista to search and move specific files?

Colbaker · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:13

Hi all,

My wife has this really anoying habit of storing our Didgital camera pictures in loads of differant folders which makes it a complete nightmare when i am trying to back them up.

Is there some sort of file i could set up to search for all JPG, Quicktime and AVI files, Then either move these files to a local folder or move them to my NAS drive?

Thanks

twist3d0n3 · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:17

just setup a folder on the desktop and tell her to put them in there?

ringo747 · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:19

Write a robocopy script to copy over *.jpg, *.avi and *.whatever files.

Colbaker · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:26

ringo747 said:
Write a robocopy script to copy over *.jpg, *.avi and *.whatever files.

Interesting, Never even heard of this.

So if i wanted to search the whole of Drive C: for .JPG .MOV and .AVI What exactly would i enter into a Text file and then what would i save the Text file as for it to auto run?

Thanks

ringo747 · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:33

I will try and find something for you. Can't write it without a bit of googling!

You need to put the commands into a txt file and rename as .bat.

I'll get something to do it.

SiriusB · 31 Jan 2011 at 17:54

The problem with such a far-reaching script is the possibility you will move pictures and other files that you probably shouldn't move or don't want to move.

My advice is to use Picasa from Google. It is free and will search your HDD for all images and let you see them. You can then move the ones you wish to wherever you prefer. You could also teach the mrs to use Picasa to import new photos etc. Or just beat her with her digicam until she learns to use her My Pictures folder!

ringo747 · 31 Jan 2011 at 18:08

^ has a good point. Probably not worth doing it that way as you could have system icons and everything backed up.

What I do on the family PC is have a folder on C:\Images with a desktop shortcut.

A few advantages:
1) Easily found so that they can copy stuff in
2) If they accidentally delete it then at least only a shortcut is deleted (in bin anyways)
3) If scripting backups then C:\Something is nice short filepath

Raumarik · 31 Jan 2011 at 18:21

Digital cameras almost always name files in a sequence, so you could find out the letters it uses then search for items with that, such a DSC*.jpg or PHO*.jpg and move/copy them to the appropriate location.