In a batch file, how do I delete all files NOT of a certain type

Question

I'm writing a batch file that needs to delete all the files in a certain dir and all of it's subdirectories except those of a specific type.

How can I do this?

Answer 1

I wrote this batch file after a coworker asked for help with deleting all the files EXCEPT for those of certain types from a folder and all subfolders, while maintaining the directory structure. I would recommend backing up your folder before attempting this. Just open up notepad and paste the following, save it as a .bat instead of a .txt Good luck! ~Carolyn

REM Use at your own risk, it does a mass DELETE of everything!

SET /p ExcludeFiles=What file type should be kept (NOT deleted)? Type the file name(s) inside parantheses. example: (pdf) or (shp dbf shx)     
SET /p MapDrive=What drive letter is the folder in? example: c or n     
SET /p Directory=Drag the folder you would like to modify into this command prompt then press ENTER.     

%MapDrive%:
cd %Directory%

attrib +a *.* /s
echo %date%
for %%i in %ExcludeFiles% do attrib -a *.%%i /s
echo %date%
del %Directory%\*.* /s /a:a /q

echo %date%
attrib +a %Directory%\*.* /s
echo %date%

Answer 2

I'm using the solution found here: How can I delete all files/subdirs except for some files in DOS?

give it a go :)

Answer 3

You might try something along the lines of

for /f "usebackq delims=" %i in (`dir /s /b *`) do if not %~xi==.txt del %i

For your question in the comment you can try the following:

robocopy source_folder target_folder *.java /s

or

xcopy *.java target_folder /s

which keeps the directory structure but only copies .java files.

Answer 4

safest way is to copy all the files you do want and delete the rest.
XCOPY *.java c:\\new_directory /s

The /s copies subdirectories

Answer 5

FORFILES /s /p c:\dir /c "if not @ext==.txt del /f @file"

Answer 6

Try researching here .

Although it doesn't give you exactly what you are asking, I would say it's a good starting point.

Answer 7

You can try this:

ECHO DIR %address% /S /B | FIND /C %theType%>temptemp.txt
FOR /f %%a IN (temptemp.txt) DO DEL %%a
DEL temptemp.txt

The variable, address, is the directory and the variable, theType, is the type you do not want to delete.