How Do I Copy File Names & Folders From A Hard Drive To A Word Document?

Question

How Do I Copy File Names & Folders From A Hard Drive To A Word Document?

Hi Gang:

This may sound silly but I am having a herd time with the following - seemingly simple task.

I have data DVD-Rs with audio files organized into folders. Each folder contains audio files related to the folder name.

I would like to copy the file names and folders from a DVD-R and paste them into a MS Word file. I am just looking to get a listing of files as they appear on the DVD-Rs in their folders.

The problem is that when I copy and paste, the order changes (seemingly randomly) and the file names are no longer under the folder names. In fact, the whole thing looks to be really random.

Anybody know how to copy file/folder names from a hard drive or DVD-R to a word document and retain the file/folder structure?

Thanks!

LAHD

A New G5, Mac OS X (10.4.11), MacBook

Posted on Jan 11, 2008 1:00 PM

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Answer 1

Niel

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Level 10

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Jan 11, 2008 7:51 PM in response to LA_Hockey_Dad

Run the following from the Terminal, which is in the /Applications/Utilities/ folder:

ls -R '/Volumes/volumename/' > ~/Desktop/list.txt

with the volume's name provided where volumename is, or the text within the quote marks inclusive replaced by dragging the disk into the Terminal. The l is a lowercase L.

(28101)

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Answer 2

petrock

Level 3

980 points

Jan 13, 2008 2:48 AM in response to Niel

There is an even easier method with no Terminal magic required. In the Finder, select all the files you want the names of, press Command-C, switch to Word and press Command-V. Poof, your done.

If you view the DVD in List VIew, you can expand the folders you want the files for, then select all the files (and their folders if you want them too) and then do the Copy/Paste thing.

Message was edited by: petrock

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Answer 3

Niel

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Jan 13, 2008 8:35 AM in response to petrock

Reread the original post. The OP tried that and the resulting text was randomly ordered when pasted.

(28162)

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Answer 4

Jan 14, 2008 8:48 AM in response to Niel

I'll try that. I am a GUI guy and not too familiar with Terminal but it doesn't sound too tough.

I was playing around with some other applications and I tried dragging the DVD-R into Toast and then copying the text from the Toast window. It worked.

I am still curious why it gets jumbled with such a simple copy and paste. One of life's mysteries I suppose....

Thanks for the help guys!

LAHD

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Answer 5

petrock

Level 3

980 points

Jan 14, 2008 12:04 PM in response to LA_Hockey_Dad

LA HockeyDad wrote:
I am still curious why it gets jumbled with such a simple copy and paste. One of life's mysteries I suppose....

Define "jumbled". It should copy/paste them in the order they are selected.

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