Create Folders and Relocate Files Based on Partial Filename - windows

Question

I have a series of photos in a folder with name format similar to this:
BA-ML-6256_Gocchup1.jpg
BA-ML-6256_Gocchup2.jpg
BA-ML-17302_Gocchup1.jpg
BA-ML-17302_Gocchup2.jpg
I want to create new folders like below that contain the files:
BA-ML-6256
BA-ML-17302
I tried using this script:
#echo off
for %%i in (*) do (
if not "%%~ni" == "organize" (
md "%%~ni" && move "%%~i" "%%~ni"
)
)
but it created these 4 folders instead:
BA-ML-6256_Gocchup1
BA-ML-6256_Gocchup2
BA-ML-17302_Gocchup1
BA-ML-17302_Gocchup2
Please help me create a batch script that would make this work.

Answer 1

#ECHO OFF
SETLOCAL
rem The following setting for the directory is a name
rem that I use for testing and deliberately includes spaces to make sure
rem that the process works using such names. These will need to be changed to suit your situation.
SET "sourcedir=u:\your files"
FOR /f "tokens=1*delims=_" %%b IN ('dir /b /a-d "%sourcedir%\*_*.jpg"') DO (
ECHO MD "%sourcedir%\%%b"
ECHO MOVE "%sourcedir%\%%b_%%c" "%sourcedir%\%%b"
)
GOTO :eof
Always verify against a test directory before applying to real data.
The required MD commands are merely ECHOed for testing purposes. After you've verified that the commands are correct, change ECHO MD to MD to actually create the directories. Append 2>nul to suppress error messages (eg. when the directory already exists)
The required MOVE commands are merely ECHOed for testing purposes. After you've verified that the commands are correct, change ECHO MOVE to MOVE to actually move the files. Append >nul to suppress report messages (eg. 1 file moved)
Naturally, you could remove the %sourcedir%\ throughout if you want to process the current directory.
The dir command lists the filenames only in the directory, and then only those that match *_*.jpg, that is anything1_anything2.jpg
The for /f assigns anything1 to %%b and anything2.jpg to %%c, using the _ as a delimiter (see for /? from the prompt, or thousands of items on SO for examples/documentation)
Then make the directory and move the file.
Simples!

Answer 2

You need to parse the file names to derive the target folder name.
Sample Batch File
The following batch file should do as you desire:
#echo off
for %%i in (*.jpg) do (
for /f "delims=_" %%j in (%%i) do (
md %%j
move "%%~i" "%%j"
)
)
)
This splits the file name at the "_" character to derive the target folder
Example Output
I started with this folder layout:
F:\projects\sx\batch>tree /f
Folder PATH listing
Volume serial number is 9C33-6BBD
F:.
create-test-data.cmd
md-and-move.cmd
BA-ML-6256_Gocchup1.jpg
BA-ML-6256_Gocchup2.jpg
BA-ML-17302_Gocchup1.jpg
BA-ML-17302_Gocchup2.jpg
No subfolders exist
Running the batch file gives this output:
F:\projects\sx\batch>md-and-move.cmd
1 file(s) moved.
A subdirectory or file BA-ML-6256 already exists.
1 file(s) moved.
1 file(s) moved.
A subdirectory or file BA-ML-17302 already exists.
1 file(s) moved.
and results in this folder layout:
F:\projects\sx\batch>tree /f
Folder PATH listing
Volume serial number is 9C33-6BBD
F:.
│ create-test-data.cmd
│ md-and-move.cmd
│
├───BA-ML-6256
│ BA-ML-6256_Gocchup1.jpg
│ BA-ML-6256_Gocchup2.jpg
│
└───BA-ML-17302
BA-ML-17302_Gocchup1.jpg
BA-ML-17302_Gocchup2.jpg