Create a text file of the contents of a directory in Windows Explorer

Method 1 - Using a batch file to create the text file:

Step 1:

Create a new file in a text editor (i.e. open Notepad)

Step 2:

Insert the following text into the file:

dir /a /b /-p /o:gen >C:\WINDOWS\Temp\file_list.txt

start notepad C:\WINDOWS\Temp\file_list.txt

Step 3:

Save the file as File List Generator.bat

Step 4:

To show the contents of a directory (folder) in a text file, simply copy or move the File List Generator.bat file into the folder where you want the contents printed and double-click the file.

This will save a text file with the contents of the folder and then open it in Notepad.

From here you can edit, format and print the contents.

Modifying the output of the text file:

In the above example the text file simply created a list of the files and folders within the directory. It is also possible to output other information about the directory such as date and time stamps, file sizes and drive information.

Step 1:

Create a new file in a text editor (i.e. open Notepad)

Step 2:

Insert the following text into the file:

dir /a /b /-p /o:gen >C:\WINDOWS\Temp\file_list_full.txt

start notepad C:\WINDOWS\Temp\file_list_full.txt

Step 3:

Save the file as File List Generator.bat

Method 2 - Using the command line to create the text file:

Step 1:

Click Start, then click Run...

Step 2:

Type cmd into the entry box and click OK

Step 3:

From the windows command line, navigate to the directory/folder that you want to save to the text file.

Step 3:

To output all the contents (files and folders), type:

dir /b >some-file.txt

To output only folders, type:

dir /b *. >some-file.txt

Step 4:

Type exit to close the command line.

A text file (some-file.txt) will be saved in the same directory from where the command was made.

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