In reply to a post by RobertoS:

But he doesn't want to use the command prompt. That means a lot of scrolling up and down the command window to find the exact name of the next level down that he wants.

Even when you've altered the command window settings to open with a decent sized window.

He just wants to navigate in File/Windows Explorer and get a contents listing into a text editor.

Is there an easy way to take file list in Windows Explorer straight into text or document file? For both Win10 and WinXP.

I can do it using a command (CMD) window with Dir > filelist.txt but navigating up and down, especially with long directory names, can be a pain.

It's dead easy! As I have posted twice now.

Autocomplete gets round the long directory name problem and scrolling was never mentioned.

What does "navigating up and down" in a command window mean?

So many of you seem to be talking about how to get round difficulties in the command prompt. He asked for an easy way to get a listing into a text editor direct from File Explorer.

I have done that. Nobody else has even tried except TinyMongomery, whose method I expect will work and gets close. But still then leaves the highlighting and copy and pasting to do to get the result into a text editor. With garbage to be excluded as well.

[shakes head]

Who [censored] on your cornflakes this morning?

You used to be a reasonably friendly and helpful member of this forum, recently you are coming across as a grumpy old git who will start an argument with anybody and everybody that posts here.

Anyway, navigating a folder structure is quite easy with autocomplete, try it someday.

Ian, I look at the Subject, I look at what is requested. Two people, TM and myself, have answered it. I suggest my method is better.

Autocomplete in a command window is not what was requested. It also requires remembering the precise first few letters of the required next level down for where you are. Which isn't necessarily easy. It means you already know the path to the target.

I even quoted the full OP in my previous but one post.

I am not a grumpy old man. If you are referring to the sustained attacks on me by the remnants and recruits of an old clique elsewhere, yes. I argue with them. But we don't need that discussing here. I think from the content of this thread that is perfectly evident.

Back on topic, have you tried the method I gave to the OP, about using a simple batch file that only needs creating once, taking all of three minutes if copied from here? Which for test purposes can be saved directly into any chosen folder.

Please try it, then tell me if any other solution proposed here is easier, quicker or better in any way than mine.

Edited by RobertoS (Mon 05-Jun-17 20:50:07)

I read the full post and identified the issue of navigating the folder structure which can be a real pita if you are unaware of the autocomplete functionality in command prompt and also powershell.

You don't need to know the "precise first few letters" as pressing tab repeatedly cycles through the current selection.

Try it someday.

I leave it up to the OP to determine which solution best fits his needs. I wouldn't wish to claim that mine was "best", but it might help someone.

Try my solution.

You are answering questions the OP has not asked.

Doing it through a command prompt is de facto not the best way. However easy you make it.

Don't get snidey Tiny. Keep it for elsewhere. I have said yours is the only other solution that tries to answer the OP's original question.

Since the OP pointed out the problem with my first suggestion all that has really happened other than my second solution is people trying to overcome his objections to my first one.

Which in a way is useful in showing tricks of the trade, but doesn't answer "Is there an easy way to take file list in Windows Explorer straight into text or document file? "

They go through an inevitably long-winded trip through a command prompt. Mine does a simple copy and paste or internal move or copy within Windows Explorer of a batch file set up in 2-3 minutes and saved somewhere easily remembered.

It does precisely what was asked for.
_{Edit: Typo.}

Edited by RobertoS (Mon 05-Jun-17 23:25:08)

The solution to navigate in Explorer to desired folder (just as yours requires), open a CMD Windows here & then "Dir /a > filelist.txt" is just as good, ends up with same result & requires no copying of Batch files around.

My original suggestion of CDs was to overcome OP's main concern of navigating long path names in CMD. See:

In reply to a post by MHC:

however the problem navigating to a directory several levels down where the final directory name can be a series of pseudo random characters potentially 40, 50 or 60 characters long and occasionally non-standard characters such as � could appear..

You can Add Back Command Prompt to Context Menu in Windows 10 Creators Update but haven't yet found a way to add it back to the File Menu of Explorer. This is good enough for now.

Edited by XRaySpeX (Tue 06-Jun-17 02:32:21)