Windows batch file to move files to subfolders based on first word in file name?

Question

I am bit of a batch file noob, so I'd really appreciate your help. I have a ton of files stored in a single directory which I wish to sort into subfolders based on the first word in their filenames. So, I have files like these:

C:\Folder\Wedding2018 img20929.jpg 
C:\Folder\Wedding2018 entrance.mov
C:\Folder\Wedding2018 registry of guests.pdf

C:\Folder\HorseRiding2017 spirit1.jpg
C:\Folder\HorseRiding2017 guests.txt 
C:\Folder\HorseRiding2017 certificate.pdf
C:\Folder\HorseRiding2017 jumping.mov

And I wish to move all files to subfolders based on the first word, ending up like this:

C:\Folder\Wedding2018\img20929.jpg
C:\Folder\Wedding2018\entrance.mov
C:\Folder\Wedding2018\registry of guests.pdf

C:\Folder\HorseRiding2017\spirit1.jpg
C:\Folder\HorseRiding2017\guests.txt
C:\Folder\HorseRiding2017\certificate.pdf
C:\Folder\HorseRiding2017\jumping.mov

I've found a couple of scripts that almost do what I need, but I don't have the chops to bring it home:

"Need a script to create folders based on file names, and auto move files"

"How to extract second word of the string via windows batch"

I just can't work out how to integrate the script to grab the first word and make a directory to which the files will be moved.

Can you help me get this across the line?

Answer 1

• Use one for to iterate folder content %%A with a pattern containing at least one space.
• Another for /fis needed to split the name %%A into two parts, one before the first space tokens=1 = %%B and the rest tokens * = %%C.
• If a folder with the name of %%B doesn't exist create it
• Move the original file %%A to the subfolder %%B with the name %%C

---

:: Q:\2018\06\11\SU_1330475.cmd
@Echo off
PushD C:\folder
for %%A in ("* *.*") do for /f "tokens=1*" %%B in ("%%A") do (
     If not exist "%%B" MD "%%B"
     Move "%%A" "%%B\%%C"
)
PopD

---

> tree /f
C:.
│   SU_1330475.cmd
│
└───folder
    ├───HorseRiding2017
    │       certificate.pdf
    │       guests.txt
    │       jumping.mov
    │       spirit1.jpg
    │
    └───Wedding2018
            entrance.mov
            img20929.jpg
            registry of guests.pdf

Answer 2

Does it have to be a batch file?

I would open the main folder where all files and subfolders are located, next you go to the search field in that window and type wedding* for example. You select all files by preesing CTRL + A, then you press CTRL + X to cut.

You create a new folder called Wedding2018 and press CTRL + V (paste). So you do for each folder you want.