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Files to spreadsheets

I have a large file with a lot of items in it. I am wondering if I can find some way to transfer straight from the file onto a spreadsheet? I have looked extensively, but maybe I am just missing the answer because of nomenclature or because I am looking in the wrong places.

Mac Pro

Posted on Jan 5, 2019 1:17 PM

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Question marked as Best answer

In that case, I'm not sure of the best way, but I can think of A way.


You could use the Terminal to get a text list of all the files in a particular folder, using:


cd /volumes/[your hard drive name]


followed by the path to the folder you want. (If there are any spaces in the names of folders in the path, they must be preceded by a "\").

Once there, enter the command "ls" (that's a small L, not a capital i) followed by Enter.

The list of files should appear in the terminal window, and you can copy them from there and paste into your spreadsheet.

If the list is too long to select in one screenfull, I think you can save the terminal output to a text file.

(Sorry if I'm forgetting a step - I'm on my phone instead of my computer, so I can't go in and check the specifics right now.)

Let me know if that does what you're trying to do.

Posted on Jan 5, 2019 2:56 PM

7 replies

Jan 5, 2019 2:30 PM in response to Krusha55

If you're talking about a regular text file, such as a Word document (.doc), plain text (.txt), .rtf, or hopefully even a PDF, it should work for you to simply copy and paste.


Select the list of everything you want on the spreadsheet.

Copy (Command-C, or choose Edit>Copy)

Open a new blank spreadsheet in Excel, Numbers, or whatever app you're using.

Click on the cell of the spreadsheet that you want to be first in the list.

Paste (Command-V, or Edit>Paste)


Normally each line of the list you copied from should appear in a separate cell down the length of the spreadsheet.


Question marked as Best answer

Jan 5, 2019 2:56 PM in response to Theoden_King

In that case, I'm not sure of the best way, but I can think of A way.


You could use the Terminal to get a text list of all the files in a particular folder, using:


cd /volumes/[your hard drive name]


followed by the path to the folder you want. (If there are any spaces in the names of folders in the path, they must be preceded by a "\").

Once there, enter the command "ls" (that's a small L, not a capital i) followed by Enter.

The list of files should appear in the terminal window, and you can copy them from there and paste into your spreadsheet.

If the list is too long to select in one screenfull, I think you can save the terminal output to a text file.

(Sorry if I'm forgetting a step - I'm on my phone instead of my computer, so I can't go in and check the specifics right now.)

Let me know if that does what you're trying to do.

Files to spreadsheets

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