Command Line loop to run command on all files in a directory (plus sub directories, if possible

Command line loops are a powerful tool in the IT admin's toolbox. They allow the admin to automate tasks and execute commands on multiple files or directories at once. This can be especially useful when dealing with large data sets or when trying to process multiple files in a specific order.

A command line loop can be used to run a command on all files in a directory, plus subdirectories. This can be done using the for command in the Windows command line. The for command is a versatile command that allows the user to loop through a list of items, such as files or directories. The basic syntax for the for command is as follows:

for %i in (list) do command

where %i is the variable for the list item, list is the list of items to loop through, and command is the command to be executed on each item in the list.

For example, to list all the files in a directory and its subdirectories, you could use the command:

for %i in (*) do echo %i

This command will loop through all the files and directories in the current directory (indicated by the asterisk) and list each one.

To run a command on all the files in a directory and its subdirectories, you can use the command:

for %i in (*) do command %i

where command is the command to be executed on each item in the list. For example, to delete all the files in a directory and its subdirectories, you could use the command:

for %i in (*) do del %i

This command will loop through all the files in the current directory and its subdirectories, and delete each one. You can also use the for command to loop through multiple directories in a single command. For example, to list all the files in two directories and their subdirectories, you could use the command:

for %i in (dir1\\* dir2\\*) do echo %i

This command will loop through the files and directories in both dir1 and dir2 (the asterisk indicates all files and directories in the specified directory), and list each one.

Using the for command is an effective way of running a command on all files in a directory and its subdirectories. It's also a useful tool for automating tasks and streamlining processes. The for command can be used not only to list files and directories, but also to copy, move, rename, delete, and even execute commands on multiple files at once. With some creativity, the for command can be used to accomplish a wide range of tasks.