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451

Finished Programs / SOLVED: List Newest Files In Some Folder

« Last post by nkormanik on June 24, 2012, 06:07 PM »

On request 4wd provided an excellent program to dynamically monitor the number and total size of files in a particular folder -- FolMon:

https://www.donation...ex.php?topic=31347.0

It's great for keeping track of a file-generating process that should be steadily adding files to the folder, to glance over and see numbers changing, getting larger.  The computer resources overhead seems negligable running FolMon.  I'll have it on two computers, one on either side of my main computer, running for months to come.

I have an additional related request now:

Double-click a desktop icon to bring up a small window showing the most recent files (created or modified, either one would do) within that folder.  Number of files = 5... would be great.

No need to go deeper than a single level -- just the folder itself.

No need to keep dynamically updating.  Periodically as desired user can double-click and see the result.  This way he/she will have a better idea where progress has gotten to in the overall job being monitored.

4wd might think to add it to his existing FolMon -- an additional little window within FolMon that shows file names of new files as they are added -- but doing so probably would add too much to overhead resource hogging.  Plus it's just a once-in-a-while request that user would likely be wanting, no continuous need.

I've noted out there lots of programmers requesting code to accomplish the task above -- in Python, C++, etc. -- but no simple little Windows program to do it.

Double-click ---> List 5 most recent files in folder XYZ.

I'd sure appreciate having this.

One can, as an alternative, use Windows Explorer in details mode, columns sorted on Modified (etc.) in descending order, then hit refresh periodically.  But..., if the folder has a really large number of files, the refresh takes a long time.  Maybe, though, most of you would suggest this route.  If so, that's what I'll do.

Nicholas Kormanik
[email protected]

452

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: Batch adjust shortcut targets

« Last post by nkormanik on June 24, 2012, 03:45 PM »

4wd, boy am I glad you were bored.  Appears you've created the world's ONLY Windows GUI program to alter shortcuts.  Definitely beats that other 'command line' version I found.  I haven't tested BSM (Batch Shortcut Modifier) yet, but it looks fantastic.  Thanks a million.

453

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: Batch adjust shortcut targets

« Last post by nkormanik on June 24, 2012, 03:32 PM »

Are you saying that you have 32,220 rules/entries in File Punter?  If so, why?

-skwire (June 23, 2012, 08:16 AM)

Well, at least we know that File Punter works successfully with such a large task.  Plus I still don't understand how to do those RegEx expressions.  As a side note on File Punter, by the way, seems I can leave it running and doing its thing in the background with no problem, while I search the web and work on other stuff.  File Punter doesn't hog the computer resources, and doesn't trip over itself just because I bring up some website in Chrome.  That's an enormous plus.

The RegEx you and jgpaiva provided (using ReNamer), though, did work great "getting rid of that extra junk" in file names.  That saved me a lot of work and frustration.

454

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: Batch adjust shortcut targets

« Last post by nkormanik on June 23, 2012, 03:15 AM »

I'll try it out, 4wd.  I appreciate your efforts.  Still have FolMon running on two computers, one to each side of me, chugging out images, so I'm monitoring the progress easily, thanks to you.

And Skwire, still creating shortcuts with File Punter on my main computer here.  One full set of 32,220 lines of commands has been running in File Punter for nearly two days.  But getting the job done.  At least I think so.

=====

Possible solution to the task at hand found:

http://networkadmink...ortcuts-utility.aspx

Place copy of all the perfect 50501 shortcuts into "shortcuts to be changed" folder.

Run from command line (or batchfile?):

>ChangeLNKs    /d=c:\shortcuts to be changed    /n=names.txt    /p=paths.txt

names.txt
50501;50502

paths.txt
50501;50502


This will create a set of shortcuts pointing to 50502 set of images.

Repeat process for rest of sets....  50503, 50504, etc.  12 sets.

I'll experiment with it more tomorrow.

455

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: Batch adjust shortcut targets

« Last post by nkormanik on June 23, 2012, 01:27 AM »

BSC looks like a nice little copying program good to keep on hand.  Thanks.

The structure of the shortcuts within subdirectories is different from the "Image Pool."

The motivation behind focusing on shortcuts was to avoid having to copy the image files themselves, over and over and over again, to all sorts of locations.  Better to have a zillion shortcuts, paired up in various ways, all pointing to the repository of images.  Easier to mix and match shortcuts.

Let's assume I'll create just one single "Image Pool" folder.  All images bunched together.  Over 100,000 images.

There will be 12 major groups of images within that "Image Pool" folder: 50501, 50502, 50503, etc.

Using "File Punter" I was able to create 1 of 12 sets of shortcuts to certain of those images (50501s).  So I still have 11 more sets of shortcuts to create.

If only one "Image Pool"...  Then the only part of the shortcuts which will change would be the first part of the target file name.  The path would be identical:

...path\50501_20104_21901.png.lnk  (belongs to the first set of shortcuts)
...path\50502_20104_21901.png.lnk  (belongs to the second set of shortcuts)
...path\50503_20104_21901.png.lnk  (belongs to the third set of shortcuts)
...path\etc.

I wish I could simply use the perfect set of shortcuts already created (for the 50501 set), make the ONE CHARACTER TWEAK in each filenme, and use these for the second shortcut set.  And on and on.  Through all 12 sets.

Appears not so easy to "Batch adjust shortcut targets", unfortunately.

=====

By the way, another approach different from shortcuts might be to put the filenames into a database, and have the database do the pairing, mixing, matching of files.  But, alas, I have even less experience in that area.  At least pairing up shortcuts makes sense to me.

456

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: Batch adjust shortcut targets

« Last post by nkormanik on June 22, 2012, 06:50 PM »

What about the world lacking and needing "Batch adjust shortcut targets"???

457

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: Batch adjust shortcut targets

« Last post by nkormanik on June 22, 2012, 06:25 PM »

By the way, in addition to the path changing, the filename target changes as well.

What changes in the filename is the "50501" part, becoming "50502", for the second set of images.  And on and on.

458

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: Batch adjust shortcut targets

« Last post by nkormanik on June 22, 2012, 06:02 PM »

Yep, does make sense.

I actually need to replicate (but with tiny path-tweak) all the shortcuts 12 times.  12 huge folders of images in total.

The conundrum is..., File Punter has already created one great workable set of shortcuts.  All are perfect.  16110 of 'em.  Buried and organized nicely within the relevant shortcuts folder for the first set of images.

So I was hoping to simply copy the entire set of shortcuts 11 more times, and merely adjust the shortcuts (recursively) to point to the next image folder.

It's not really that I'm "moving" the first set of images.  I just used that as an understandable illustration.  What I'm actually doing is creating 11 more image sets, in addition to the first.  So will need sets of shortcuts for each set of images.  Since I have a perfect set of shortcuts for the first set of images, it does seem reasonable to use it again and again, if the path-tweak can be made for each of the additional 11 sets.

Set #1 Shortcuts --> Set #1 Images
Set #2 Shortcuts --> Set #2 Images
.
.
.
Set #12 Shortcuts --> Set #12 Images

But, too, does seem like a useful program to have available for the world.  No one seems to have come up with it yet.

459

Finished Programs / DONE: Batch adjust shortcut targets

« Last post by nkormanik on June 22, 2012, 05:26 PM »

Let's suppose we have thousands of shortcuts pointing to images (contour plots), with the images all grouped together in the particular folder:

C:\4\images\50501\

Partial list of the image files:

50501_20104_21901.png
50501_20104_21902.png
50501_20104_21903.png
50501_20104_22001.png
50501_20104_22002.png
50501_20104_22003.png
etc.

All the shortcuts -- one per image above -- are burried in carefully named and organized subfolders within the particular root folder:

C:\4\shortcuts\50501\...

Now suppose we decide for whatever reason that we want to move all the images to another folder:

C:\work\images\50501\

Notice that the "4" has changed to "work".

Now all the shortcut files pointing to the first folder need to be changed accordingly.

The shortcut-altering program should be 'recursive', as the shortcuts are buried in subdirectories within the main shortcut folder.  But the task is identical for each shortcut.... 

change

"C:\4\shortcuts\50501\(image file)"

to

"C:\work\shortcuts\50501\(image file)"


Anyone here interested in writing a program that can accomplish the task?  Seems this would be a useful program.  If one already exists, I haven't found it.

The solution we presently have is to recreate all the shortcuts from scratch.  Skwire's "File Punter" can do that nicely.  Perhaps, however, it might be appropriate to have a "Batch adjust shortcut targets" program.

Comments appreciated.

Thanks.

Nicholas Kormanik
[email protected]

460

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: Organize files into folders based on flename wildcard parsing

« Last post by nkormanik on June 21, 2012, 09:07 PM »

Two enhancement requests:

1)  Skwire, I do feel it would be quite a bit more reassuring to show the total number of lines/commands selected to be seen somewhere -- status line or elsewhere.  I'd just feel more at ease seeing that number.

2)  Perhaps, also, allow configuration .ini to set default location in which to begin, from which to open text files containing command lines.  My preference is to look in same directory where the executable is.  For whatever reason when I say Open, File Punter wants to look in Desktop.  I keep all the text file commands within the File Punter executable directory buried somewhere else.

Thanks!

461

Post New Requests Here / Re: Chop off extra junk in file names

« Last post by nkormanik on June 21, 2012, 03:15 AM »

den4b's ReNamer looks really good.  I still would like to try the others, though.

462

Post New Requests Here / Re: Chop off extra junk in file names

« Last post by nkormanik on June 21, 2012, 02:35 AM »

Thanks AbteriX for pointing that out.  Yes, I want the last underscore to remain.

As for what's between the last underscore and the period, it's variable -- from one to six digits.  That's really the crux of the problem.  The 'junk' varies in length.  Need to cut out that junk.

Probably a magic RegEx code is called for.  Look forward to the RegEx gurus coming back with updated code (sorry I made the mistake about which underscore...).

463

Post New Requests Here / Re: Chop off extra junk in file names

« Last post by nkormanik on June 20, 2012, 11:56 PM »

To all, thanks for your help.  I made a mistake in my original post:

Chop junk between third underline character and period of the file extension.

Should read:

Chop junk between FOURTH underline character and period of the file extension.

_50501_22004_22305_3005.png

i.e., the 3005 part.

Hate to bother you, but would you please adjust your RegEx?

I've downloaded all three RegEx programs and will experiment when you provide the corrected code.

464

Post New Requests Here / Chop off extra junk in file names

« Last post by nkormanik on June 20, 2012, 05:10 PM »

Another little problem has come up....

I'm generating a bunch of contour plot images in a statistics program.  The resulting plot images are supposed to be named according to the script of commands as such:

_50501_22004_22404_.png
_50501_22004_22403_.png
_50501_22004_22402_.png
_50501_22004a_22401_.png
_50501_22004_22306_.png
_50501_22004_22305_.png
_50501_22004_22304_.png
_50501_22004_22303_.png
_50501_22004_22302b_.png
_50501_22004_22301_.png

I've deliberately set up this naming approach because of the problem I'm about the describe.

For some crazy reason the program creating the plot images adds numbers to the ends of the names:

_50501_22004_22404_3000.png
_50501_22004_22403_3001.png
_50501_22004_22402_3002.png
_50501_22004a_22401_3003.png
_50501_22004_22306_3004.png
_50501_22004_22305_3005.png
_50501_22004_22304_3006.png
_50501_22004_22303_3007.png
_50501_22004_22302b_3008.png
_50501_22004_22301_3009.png

I would like the original names, or, rather, the names as they were intended to be.

One solution to the problem is to create a batch file:

ren    _50501_22004_22404_3000.png    _50501_22004_22404_.png
etc.

The total number of files is in the tens of thousands.  Over repeated times.  I believe all the underlying names are unique (no repeats).

I'm wondering if any of you can come up with a better approach than creating a basic batch file to chop off that extra junk after the third underline character, but, of course, before the file name extension.

Or, chop junk BETWEEN third underline character and period of the file extension.

Some of you might come up with a magic RegEx solution?  Please then suggest, too, a RegEx program.

Or maybe one of you will create a small program to do the trick?  Hopefully generalizable so that others can use the program for their specific needs.

Not sure.  If no better solution than the creating basic batch file approach, I'll have to continue using that.

Thanks much!

Nicholas Kormanik
[email protected]
.

465

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: Folder Properties Auto-Update....

« Last post by nkormanik on June 18, 2012, 11:49 PM »

Amen to that.

466

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: Folder Properties Auto-Update....

« Last post by nkormanik on June 18, 2012, 11:27 PM »

Unreal.  Terrific job!

467

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: Folder Properties Auto-Update....

« Last post by nkormanik on June 18, 2012, 03:48 PM »

The Window title feature is great, too, because it's a much larger font, and easy to see.

Useful little program.  I presently have it running on two different computers -- one to my left, one to my right -- while I work on a third.  At a glance I can see that the underlying operations are chugging along, adding image files to the folders being monitored.

Hopefully others can think of additional ways of using FolMon, so that you can add more goodies, as you are obviously on a roll.

Thanks again!

468

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: Shortcuts Creator

« Last post by nkormanik on June 18, 2012, 03:46 AM »

Okay, Skwire, worked just as you said it would.

I also tried the regular wild card route, and that worked fine as well.

One possible enhancement, but not a big deal, would be some sort of 'status line' at bottom of program window saying how many items were checked.

For instance, using the regular wild card route, I had 180 lines.  Would be good to see "Checked Items = 180" or some such.

Not a biggie, though.

Thanks for all the work on this project.  I greatly appreciate it.

469

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: Folder Properties Auto-Update....

« Last post by nkormanik on June 18, 2012, 12:49 AM »

New look is super!!

470

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: Folder Properties Auto-Update....

« Last post by nkormanik on June 18, 2012, 12:31 AM »

Fantastic.

I'm enjoying the first iteration, and will even more this second one.

Sleep well.

471

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: Folder Properties Auto-Update....

« Last post by nkormanik on June 18, 2012, 12:00 AM »

Windows XP Pro, with latest updates.

No need to do the second if you do the first.  Light grey, light blue, any....

Again, thanks!

472

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: Folder Properties Auto-Update....

« Last post by nkormanik on June 17, 2012, 11:41 PM »

Pretty close to perfect.

Although it does the trick very, very well -- and I'm using it right this minute -- two possible enhancement requests:

-- change background color to some color darker than white.  I'll leave it running on my desktop, and am always concerned about monitor burn-in image caused by white.

-- when the program is minimized in the task bar, allow it to show the data (at least number of files) as opposed to the title.

But, as I say, as it is now works great.  Thanks a million.

Sure hope other people use this stuff.  It's quite good.

473

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: Folder Properties Auto-Update....

« Last post by nkormanik on June 17, 2012, 11:23 PM »

How about THAT.

Precisely what was asked for.  And auto-updating.

Can we assume that it won't be interfering too much with the file-creation process being monitored?

Thank you so much!!

474

Finished Programs / DONE: Folder Properties Auto-Update....

« Last post by nkormanik on June 17, 2012, 08:31 PM »

Here's another request:

I'm creating image files from a statistics program.  Total image files = 16,110.  Time needed to create each image file = 30 seconds.  Total needed time to create all image files (on computer off to the side) = 5 days.

I've minimized all the windows.

Periodically I right-click on the folder where the image files are being created, and bring up the "Folder Properties" to see how many files have so far been created.

Windows "Folder Properties" window is not 'dynamic' -- it does not automatically update as new files are created within it.

What I have in mind is a little program that shows a small window with the following:

--- Folder being monitored
--- Number of files currently in the folder

The font should ideally be reasonably large in size, maybe even user-configurable.

The 'refresh' time should be perhaps a minute or so, possibly user configurable.

User should be able to move the window around on the desktop, for optimal placement.

The idea is for user to glance over at the computer doing the work and see that the number of files in the monitored folder is steadily increasing, and will have an idea about total completion of the file-creation project.

=====

Another approach would be to create within the "Folder Properties" window a way to refresh the information (button to click on periodically), or to auto-refresh it.

=====

There may be other already existing approaches to the problem.  If anyone knows of one, please post.


Thanks much.

Nicholas Kormanik
[email protected]

475

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: Shortcuts Creator

« Last post by nkormanik on June 17, 2012, 06:12 PM »

Okay, just tried it, the way I have it above.  File Punter created the shortcuts.  But put all the shortcuts into one subdirectory:

c:\shortcuts\

All 16110 of 'em.

So, it appears that the "Destination" will have to be changed from what I have, in order to create the separate folders per filename section within c:\shortcuts\.

By the way, nice touch that File Punter remembers the previous setup, and populates the order on that.

Also..., going to put up another program request:  Folder Properties Auto-Update....