Remove empty directories

Question

I found this command on this site for recursively removing empty directories, but was unable to comment to ask this question since I just registered and have zero rep.......

for /f "delims=" %d in ('dir /s /b /ad ^| sort /r') do rd "%d"

I'm hesitant to run it on a server (worked great in a test directory on my Win7 laptop).....I ran it inside the directory I wanted it to start in. Should I just run it inside the directory it should recursively check or is there a way to set the start point?

Answer 1

To start the command in a different directory

for /f "delims=" %d in ('dir c:\pathtostart /s /b /ad ^| sort /r') do rd "%d"

and change c:\pathtostart as appropriate.

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To use a batch file

Alternatively create a batch file RemoveEmptyDirs.cmd:

@echo off 
for /f "delims=" %%d in ('dir %1 /s /b /ad ^| sort /r') do rd "%%d"

and call as follows:

RemoveEmptyDirs c:\pathtostart

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To test before removing

If you are hesitent then to test what will happen replace rd with echo. This will echo the list of directories that would be removed.

When you a happy with the list replace the echo with rd and run the deletion.

Answer 2

Use dir "%~1". This will handle quoted paths as well, in case you want to start in a directory which contains spaces (RemoveEmptyDirs "C:\program files").