What is FORFILES Windows command?

The Windows forfiles command is a versatile tool that allows users to perform batch operations on files, such as deletion, archiving, or moving based on specified criteria. It offers a range of options for filtering files and executing actions, making it a valuable asset for automated file management tasks.

FORFILES Syntax:

forfiles /P <Path> /S /C "<Command>"

FORFILES Options:

Option	Description
/P	Specifies the path to start searching.
/S	Search in all subdirectories.
/C	Executes the specified command on each file.

Caution

Exercise caution when using the forfiles command as it can potentially impact a large number of files if not used properly.

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
Path	Specifies the starting directory for the search.
Command	Defines the command to be executed for each file.

FORFILES Command Usage Examples:

Delete Files Older Than 7 Days

forfiles /p "C:\path\to\folder" /s /m *.* /d -7 /c "cmd /c del @file"

This command will delete all files older than 7 days in the specified folder and its subfolders.

List Files Smaller Than 1MB

forfiles /p "C:\path\to\folder" /s /m *.* /c "cmd /c if @fsize lss 1048576 echo @path"

It will list all files smaller than 1MB in the specified folder without accessing subfolders.

Run a Command on Files Created Today

forfiles /p "C:\path\to\folder" /m *.* /d +0 /c "cmd /c echo @path"

This command executes the specified command on files created today in the specified folder.

Copy Files Modified This Month

forfiles /p "C:\path\to\folder" /m *.* /d +01 /c "cmd /c copy @path C:\destination\folder"

Copies files modified within the current month from the specified folder to the destination folder.

Execute a Command on Text Files

forfiles /p "C:\path\to\folder" /s /m *.txt /c "cmd /c echo @file is a text file"

This command runs a command on all text files in the specified folder and its subfolders.

Tip

When using the forfiles command in Windows CMD, make sure to carefully specify the options and values to avoid unintended consequences. Always double-check your command before executing it to prevent any unexpected deletions or modifications to files.

How do I use forfiles in Windows?

To use the forfiles command in CMD, execute the following command:

forfiles /p "C:\Path\to\directory" /s /m *.txt /c "cmd /c echo @path"

What is the purpose of the /p option in forfiles?

The /p option in forfiles is used to specify the path that the command will operate on. It allows you to define the directory where forfiles will start its search.

forfiles /p "C:\Path\to\directory" /c "cmd /c echo @file"

How do I use forfiles to delete files older than a specific date?

To delete files older than a specific date using forfiles, you can use the /d parameter with the desired date and the /c parameter to specify the command to be executed.

forfiles /p "C:\Path\to\directory" /s /d -30 /c "cmd /c del @file"

How can I make forfiles search subdirectories as well?

To make forfiles search subdirectories, use the /s option in the command. This will enable forfiles to search within all subdirectories of the specified path.

forfiles /p "C:\Path\to\directory" /s /c "cmd /c echo @path"

How do I list files modified within the last 7 days using the forfiles command?

To list files modified within the last 7 days with forfiles, use the /m option with the appropriate wildcard and the /d parameter to specify the number of days.

forfiles /p "C:\Path\to\directory" /m *.txt /c "cmd /c echo @file"

How can I use forfiles to move files from one directory to another?

To move files from one directory to another using forfiles, you can utilize the move command in the /c parameter to specify the move operation.

forfiles /p "C:\Source\directory" /m *.txt /c "cmd /c move @file C:\Destination\directory"

How do I use forfiles to execute a command on each file in a directory?

To execute a command on each file in a directory with forfiles, use the /c option to define the command to be executed for each file.

forfiles /p "C:\Path\to\directory" /c "cmd /c echo @path"

Applications of the FORFILES Command

1. Delete files older than a certain number of days
2. List files in a directory
3. Execute a command on files that meet specific criteria
4. Move files to another location based on specified conditions
5. Rename files in bulk using specific criteria
6. Copy files to a different location based on certain attributes
7. Run commands on files that match a particular pattern or extension
8. Archive files that meet specific conditions
9. Delete files with a particular extension
10. Zip files that match certain criteria