for Oct. 29, 2003

Hi, All;

This week:

A reader's Question:

Is there any way to print a list of files from Windows Explorer? I have been searching for an answer to this for years. I know you can do it through DOS, aackk!!! I hate DOS!! and avoid it like the plague. When we select all and try to put it in a Word document, or a WordPad document, it tries to insert all the files into the document, the computer overloads on all this and freezes up. We don't want the files, we just want the list of titles. Do you know of any way to do this? If you do, we would be eternally grateful.

Michael & Deanna

 

Michael and Deanna:

One would think that after more than ten years of Windows, Microsoft would have added one of the most basic and necessary commands in computerdom. Microsoft's official answer to print a file name list is: from the open folder, press the "ALT+PRINT SCREEN" keys; this places an image of the folder window on the clipboard. Then open a Paint document, do a "Ctrl V" and "paste" the picture into the document. Ugh! You get an image of your folder window that can be changed only by using "Paint" and erasing the parts of the image you don't want. You will not be able to work with the image other than in paint--a non-solution at best.

So, the only way to get a usable listing of your folder items is to use DOS. This is a very easy command and very versatile. Click on your "start" button, click on "Accessories," then click on "MSDOS Command" or "Command Prompt" and type the following: "dir c:/foldername/*.* >cdlist" or "dir c:/foldername/*.* >lpt1" "Dir" is the DOS command; "c:/foldername" is the c: drive and name of folder to list; "*.*" tells dir to list all files; ">cdlist" tells dir to send the list to a file to cdlist on C drive in the root folder. You can then edit this listing with Word or Wordpad. The ">LPT1" tells dir to print to the printer.

If you just type "dir /?" this will list all of the parameters available to the dir command.

I know this is not what you wanted by way of a response, but it is a way for you to get what you need in spite of Windows.

'Til next week, (ComputerFAQ#162)

Robert

 

Please send your questions to

Oct. 29, 2003 How to Print a List of Files

Oct. 22, 2003 Fall Cleanup Part 3

Oct. 15, 2003 Fall Cleanup Part 2

Oct. 8, 2003 Fall Cleaning of Your PC

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Sept. 3, 2003 Protecting from Viruses and Worms

Aug. 27, 2003 Current Viruses "Bast Worm" and "Sobig"

Aug. 20, 2003 Does Microsoft Password Make Changing Passwords Easier?

Aug. 13, 2003 Passwords and Passport Part 2

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July 23 & 30, 2003 Where Are Microsoft Passport Passwords Stored? and More About Passport and Passwords

July 16, 2003 Internet Explorer Helpful Hint Part 2

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July 2, 2003 Some More Icons Explained

June 25, 2003 Online Ordering

June 18, 2003 Followup on Refilled Ink Cartridges

 

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