Question

I have this code

pushd "C:\Folders\"
for %%j in (*) do (
md "%%~nj"
move "%%j" "%%~nj"
)
popd
pause
exit

This move files with the same name into a folder with the same name, if the folder does not exist it will create a new folder. Ok great.

This issue I have is that I want the same function as above however I only was it to look at the first 4 characters. E.g.

1234 - sample.jpg
1234 - sample-sm.jpg
1234 - sample-new.jpg
1234 - sample-right.jpg

1235 - sample.jpg

1234 files will be moved to the same folder as the first 4 characters are the same, however 1235 will be moved to a new folder because the fist for characters are different.

Thank you

---

@echo off 
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
pushd "C:\Folders\"
for %%a in (*) do (
  set fldr=%%~na
  set fldr=!fldr:~0,4!
  md "!fldr!"
  move "%%a" "!fldr!"
)
popd
pause
exit

However it creates new folders with the first 4 letters and moves the files to these created folders… It does move everything with the same first 4 letters to the correct folder.

So no I need it NO to make a directory but to move it to the already create directory.

Answer 1

Read HELP SET and then try the following code as an starting point to build your solution…

you will need to cope with duplicated names that may occur.

@echo off 
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
for %%a in (*) do (
  set fldr=%%~na
  set fldr=!fldr:~0,4!
  echo md "!fldr!"
  echo move "%%a" "!fldr!"
)

try it, test extensively and remove the ECHO commands.