

Each parameter can be activated by clicking on it. Provides an overview of all available parameters and makes it easy to select the needed parameters. Two easy-to-use GUI (graphical user interface) apps dedicated specifically to creating directory structures without files are TreeCopy and Miroirs: txt extension before using either batch file.įreeware GUI Tools for copying Directory Structures Robocopybatch.bat (653 bytes, 2,560 hits) If the target directory doesn’t exist, it will be created.ĭownload example xcopy and robocopy batch files: Note: Robocopy displays progress and completed operations information when executed as shown in the below screenshot. Wildcards “*” and “?” are acceptedĪdditional Robocopy commands can be found here. xf = Excludes files matching the specified names or paths. For n=2, only the top level sub-folders will be copied LEV: n = Copy only the n LEVels of the source. e = Copies subdirectories, including empty ones. Same as first example and appends to log (appends to existing log): robocopy "C:\Your Folder" "C:\New Folder" /e /xf * /log+:yourlogfile.logĬopy only the top level sub-folders (sub-folders in the source directory) robocopy "C:\Your Folder" "C:\New Folder" /e /LEV:2 /xf * Same as first example and creates a log (overwrites existing log): robocopy "C:\Your Folder" "C:\New Folder" /e /xf * /log:yourlogfile.log Same as above but without displaying the status: robocopy "C:\Your Folder" "C:\New Folder" /e /xf * >nul Robocopy "C:\Your Folder" "C:\New Folder" /e /xf * To use Robocopy to clone a directory without files, use the following syntax:
ROBOCOPY COPY ONLY NEW FILES WINDOWS
It’s can also be installed in WinXP as part of the Windows Resource Kit. Robocopy stands for “Robust file copy.” It’s a standard feature for Windows starting with Vista. If the target directory doesn’t exist, it will be created.Īdditional Xcopy commands can be found here. Note: Xcopy doesn’t display any progress or completed operations information when executed. When using Xcopy with the above switches, you may be asked to specify whether the target is a directory or a file before the Xcopy command executes, but if the command is executed from a batch file, no user interaction is required.

e = Copies subdirectories, including any empty ones t = Copies the subdirectory structure, but not the files To use Xcopy to clone a directory without files, use the following syntax: xcopy /t /e "C:\Your Folder" "C:\New Folder" Note that although Xcopy is included with most versions of Windows, it has been deprecated in favor of RoboCopy.

It’s a more powerful version of copy with additional features that can copy files, directories, and whole drives. Xcopy is included in systems up to Windows 8. Although others, such as the FOR command could also be used, Xcopy and Robocopy are by far the most popular tools used for this purpose. This guide describes three methods to easily copy directory structures (without files) in Windows: (1) with the command line, (2) with GUI tools dedicated for that purpose, and (3) by configuring a freeware file manager, FreeCommander, to enable this function.Ĭopying Directory Structures from the Command-lineįor those comfortable with the command-line, two commands that can be used for this purpose are the Xcopy and Robocopy, both of which have tons of options. Recreating directory structures can be a tedious and error-prone chore, especially if using the right-click method to create multiple structures and folders.
