How can I create a list of named folders in Windows automatically?

How can I can create all these sub-folders at once, using my naming scheme?

If I were to create the sub-folders in a specific directory, such as C:\Dropbox\Development, would I need to cd to that directory first? Assuming I'm using the cmd shell?

To create the sub-folders (sub-directories) in a specific directory (that is not the current directory), you can do one of the following:

• cd C:\Dropbox\Development first or
• Change the md Lec-%%i command to md C:\Dropbox\Development\Lec-%%i.

Note:

• mkdir is a synonym for md and can be used in its place.

Below I show both alternatives, first from a cmd shell (command line), and second using a batch file.

As a bonus (although not asked for in the original question) there is a bash shell alternative as well.

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From a cmd shell:

cd C:\Dropbox\Development
for /l %i in (9,1,120) do md Lec-%i

or

for /l %i in (9,1,120) do md C:\Dropbox\Development\Lec-%i

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From a batch file:

@echo off
cd C:\Dropbox\Development
for /l %%i in (9,1,120) do md Lec-%%i

Or

@echo off
for /l %%i in (9,1,120) do md C:\Dropbox\Development\Lec-%%i

Notes:

• 9 is the start number. Change if necessary.
• 1 is the step. Do not change this.
• 120 the end number. Change if necessary to the number of the last directory you require.

• To create files in another directory, you can either

  • cd C:\Dropbox\Development\Lec-%%i first or
  • change the md command to md C:\Dropbox\Development\Lec-%%i.

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Is there a way to do a similar thing for Mac OSX from the Mac terminal?

From a bash shell:

for i in {9..120}; do mkdir Lec-$i; done; 

Or (for a more portable version)

for i in `seq 9 120`; do mkdir Lec-$i; done;

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Further Reading

• An A-Z Index of the Windows CMD command line - An excellent reference for all things Windows cmd line related.
• for - Conditionally perform a command several times.
• md - Make Directory - Creates a new folder.

There is another easy way, for limited number of folders. May be Useful here Or for someone else.

In Windows we can make numbered folder names by creating a folder "lec(1)" and copy pasting it how many time we want, if we paste 10 time there will be 11 folders with names "lect(1)" to "lec(10) - Copy"

Only trick here is that the first folder must include parentheses (n), where n is the number from where numbering starts.

Windows includes "- copy" at the and of pasted folder name "lec(1) - Copy" :(

If you don't like it, just select all and rename first lec(1) -> lec-(1) or anything.

All folder's names will be adjusted and "- copy" will be removed ;)

• Ctrl+C - Copy
• Ctrl+V - Paste
• F2 - rename
• Enter - to finish renaming.
• ESC- to cancel renaming.
• Ctrl+A or Ctrl+UP to select folders.

This won't be better than a script for your particular scenario, but it's kind of nice to know this when your folder names are unrelated: you can make multiple directories from the command line by separating them by a space:

C:\temp\animals>dir
 Volume in drive C is Windows
 Volume Serial Number is 82CB-BB0F

 Directory of C:\temp\animals

11/16/2015  03:55 PM    <DIR>          .
11/16/2015  03:55 PM    <DIR>          ..
               0 File(s)              0 bytes
               2 Dir(s)  1,636,846,243,840 bytes free

C:\temp\animals>mkdir cats dogs penguins

C:\temp\animals>dir
 Volume in drive C is Windows
 Volume Serial Number is 82CB-BB0F

 Directory of C:\temp\animals

11/16/2015  03:55 PM    <DIR>          .
11/16/2015  03:55 PM    <DIR>          ..
11/16/2015  03:55 PM    <DIR>          cats
11/16/2015  03:55 PM    <DIR>          dogs
11/16/2015  03:55 PM    <DIR>          penguins
               0 File(s)              0 bytes
               5 Dir(s)  1,636,846,178,304 bytes free