Hi Everyone,

I'm new at using the Windows XP command prompt. Recently, I just learned how to create a text file containing a list of a directory's contents. I used this command "I:\>tree I:\ > list.txt" to create a text list of my music files in my I: partition.

When I opened the list, I found that all the entries were listed such as : ÀÄÄÄAudio and Video

ÀÄÄÄMy Music 10 , with each mp3 with the AAAA before each file. So my question is does anyone know what the "AAAA" means ?

Thanks !

Just tried this on mine and found the same thing. The bizarre characters don't show up if you run "type list.txt" - so I'm guessing it's some ASCII characters that notepad doesn't understand how to render properly in the transition between UTF-8 and Unicode.

If you just run the TREE command, you get pretty lines showing the directory structure. If you view the output using the TYPE command, they can appear as dots or lines (depending on which font you use), and if you view the output using notepad.exe, they appear as the funny Aa type things.

According to charmap, the character is a "Latin capital letter A with Diaeresis".

If you want it without all the extra characters try this:

dir I:\ /s /on /b > list.txt

If you want it without all the extra characters try this:

dir I:\ /s /on /b > list.txt

That will list every file in every directory, unlike TREE, which just shows directory structure.

You could modify that DIR statement with a /A:D switch, so that only directories are returned.

I used this command "I:\>tree I:\ > list.txt" to create a text list of my music files in my I: partition.

I've no idea what that command is supposed to do, why would you not be using:

TREE/F I:\>list.txt

If you still require 'plain' ASCII then:

TREE/F /A I:\>list.txt

If you just wanted the directories and not their files listing then:

TREE I:\>list.txt

Or the ASCII version:

TREE/A I:\>list.txt

Maybe dir I:*. /b /s >list.txt also look like what you want ?

Thanks for your replies !

When you configure Notepad to use the 'Terminal' font, it should show OK.

I was bored so I made this vbs script that uses the Tree cmd.

All you have to do is Drag and Drop a folder on the script.

1:\ Create a text file call FOLDER_DRAP_DROP_NAME_Listdir.txt and adds the Tree info to it.

The Text File is made in the same folder where this script is located.

2:\ Runs the Tree in cmd promt

3:\ Since this uses VBS Drag and Drop you can place up to 24 folders on this script at one time.

It then produces a Text File for each folder

Save As Tree.vbs

 Dim Act, F1, F2, Fso, Text
  Set Fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
  Set Act = CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")

 If WScript.Arguments.Count = 0 Then '/-> If Nothing Is Drop On To The File
  Act.Popup "  This script needs at least One folder, to be" & vbCrLf &_
  " Drag and Drop on to this script to start.",30,"Error No Source", 4128
 Else '/-> Start The Collection Of Folders
  For Each F1 in Wscript.Arguments
  Set F2 = Fso.GetFolder(F1)
  Text = Fso.GetParentFolderName(WScript.ScriptFullName) & "\" & F2.Name & "_ListFolder.txt"
   Act.Run("%Comspec% /C @Echo Off && CLS && Color F3 && Title " & F2.Name & " && " &_
	"Tree/A " & F1 & " > " & Text & " && Tree " & F1 & " && pause"),1,True 
  Next
 End If

Edited October 14, 200718 yr by gunsmokingman