Here are a couple of time-saving tips for managing the files in a deeply nested directory “tree” (i.e. a folder with lots of subfolders, and sub-subfolders). Say, for example, there is a folder that contains all of the files associated with a program that was previously installed. You’d like to uninstall the program, but before you do, you want to be sure to save off any data files and/or configuration files that might have been intermixed with the program files. (We are assuming that the program did not come with an uninstall utility, or else you don’t trust it to preserve the data and config files.)

One way to do it, is to manually navigate the directory tree, clicking in and out of each subfolder, and sub-subfolder, one by one. But, there are faster ways.

The DOS Command Approach: This article was inspired by my friend, Steve, who after reading my post on dropping down into DOS to accomplish Renaming Multiple Files At Once (Windows), wanted me to point out another reason to drop down into DOS. The DOS DEL command has a /P switch that comes in handy. The “P” stands for prompt, and what it means is that DOS will prompt you with the name of each file it is about to delete and ask you, Yes or No?

C:tmp> del /p classics
C:tmpclassicsGreat_Gatsby.txt, Delete (Y/N)? y
C:tmpclassicsHuckleberry_Finn.asc, Delete (Y/N)? n

C:tmp>

The Windows Explorer Find-Files Approach: There is a more generic approach to this problem that doesn’t resort to dropping down into DOS. Our uninstall problem, and more, can be accomplished in the Windows Explorer. First, navigate to the main folder, and then invoke find files (F3). The trick is to tell it to search for all files in the folder (*.*), and sub-folders. This brings up a complete listing of all the files, no matter how deeply they are nested. You can now do things like sorting the list by last-modified date, sorting by size, sorting by file type (filename extension), and so forth.

You can use Shift+Click and/or Ctrl+Click to multi-select the files, and then delete them, copy them, move them, or otherwise manipulate them, right from the search results list.

Note: Sometimes the search results display goes funky after a delete/copy/move operation. Some or all of the files in question may still be listed in the results; however, the files will actually have been deleted/moved. If you are concerned, just run the search again, and the results list should become accurate again.

Going back to our example, any data or configuration files that may have been intermixed with the program files are likely to have a more recent last-modified date then the program files themselves. So, click on the heading for the last-modified date to sort by that column. The data/config files should be at the end. (Click on the heading again to reverse this sort, putting the data/config files at the top.)

Sorting by size can also be revealing, as configuration files are usually tiny. And, of course, sorting by file type would allow you to specifically seek out *.INI and *.XML files, etc.

Open Containing Folder: One last thing to point out is that, whenever search results are displayed, an extra option is added to the context menu. This option is “Open Containing Folder.” Say that you spy a configuration file in the results list which is contained in a subfolder called “settings.” You may be curious to see what other files are in that subfolder. So, right-click on the one configuration file that was found, and select “Open Containing Folder.”

Related articles:

• Capturing Lists of Files (Windows)
• Renaming Multiple Files At Once (Windows)
• Five Right-Click Tricks
• Customize Your Shortcuts to Folders (Windows)

Read more: Windows, Productivity