Did you try to use the built-in Windows Search (wildcard search on that folder, then sorting the result by modify date).
As alternative, there is a little freeware tool you could use: "Last Changed Files." Here is a description of the software.
answered Jul 18, 2009 at 7:27
splattnesplattne
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Use Windows Search! BUT OF COURSE. I feel like an idiot now. This did the trick, although I'm not on Vista.
Jul 18, 2009 at 7:29
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Use Total Commander. :) I'm serious.
Enter the main folder you want to see and Ctrl+B. That will list all files within the main folder and all of its subfolders. And then you know how to sort by date A-Z or Z-A. Someone explained that above.
Forget about Windows Explorer when it comes to file management. If you ask me, avoid Windows Explorer unless you really have to use it (e.g. when saving something from the internet to a specific place).
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In Explorer, use kind:NOT folder
in the Search box to return all files. Select Date Modified
as the primary sort from the View Ribbon or by clicking on the column header in a Details view.
In PowerShell, the simplest form would be:
Get-ChildItem -File -Recurse | Select-Object LastWriteTime, FullName | Sort-Object LastWriteTime -Descending | out-GridView
Using aliases shortens this to:
gci -af -r | select LastWriteTime, FullName | sort LastWriteTime -d | ogv
GridView is great for output that would be truncated or wrapped if output to the console.
answered Aug 25, 2020 at 13:37
Keith MillerKeith Miller
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The dir
command,
dir /od /S
was something i used long back.
Since then, I have shifted to Cygwin.
find . -type f -exec ls -lsrt {} +
Note: The 'r
' makes 'ls
' reverse sort; latest files at the bottom.
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This works, but it groups the files by folder. There are a LOT of folders, so I have to go through each one and see when the latest file was edited. Is there a version of this comment that will just group all the files together?
Jul 18, 2009 at 7:13
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yeah, I recollect. That is why the Cygwin reference. There may be some DOS/Windows trick, but I find peace in the Cygwin unix shell.
–nik
Jul 18, 2009 at 7:14
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I was halfway through downloading Cygwin when the Windows search was suggested. Thank you, however, as I think I'll check it out anyways.
Jul 18, 2009 at 7:31
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DIR /S /OD
The Windows search is probably better for this, just browse to the top directory you wish to start at, and leave the filename blank. It will list all files, then simply click "Date Modified" as shown here:
answered Jul 18, 2009 at 7:09
John TJohn T
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This works, but it groups the files by folder. There are a LOT of folders, so I have to go through each one and see when the latest file was edited. Is there a version of this comment that will just group all the files together?
Jul 18, 2009 at 7:12
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I just did "dir /OD /S /B" but it doesn't have any data besides the file name and the sorting is definitely not right... Mmm.
Jul 18, 2009 at 7:17
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whoops! that just strips headers such as folder name it recursed into etc. Cygwin is probably the easiest for this to tell you the truth.
Jul 18, 2009 at 7:21
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I know it's late, but some people still have this problem! This is for Windows 10, but should work in other Win systems.
Go to the main folder you are interested in, and in the folder search bar type a dot "." and press enter. This will show literally all the files in every subfolder.Because all your files should have a dot in the name - for example "xyz.pdf", "abc.docx". If the extension doesn't show in your file names, in the file explorer, at the top, go to View/Show-hide/file name extension.
Then you can sort by the modification date or whatever else you wish. And on the side column you can also see from which subfolder the modified files come (View/Add columns/choose columns/"folder path"), in case you need it.
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Depending on how the edits were made, it could be captured in your timeline.
Go to task view (keyboard shortcut WIN+TAB) and scroll down. You should see a chronological list of files you have interacted with.
Task view is the weird little button next to the search box on the task bar.
I use this often to go back to files I was recently working on.
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Do you mean Solution Explorer. If you want to see all subfolders inside of folder, just go Visual Studio->View->Solution Explorer
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As an expert in file management and Windows search functionality, I can confidently provide insights into the concepts discussed in the provided article. My extensive knowledge is based on years of practical experience and a deep understanding of the tools and techniques mentioned by various contributors.
The article primarily revolves around finding and sorting files based on their modification date in a Windows environment. Let's break down the key concepts and suggestions presented by different users:
-
Windows Search:
- The initial suggestion is to use the built-in Windows Search. This involves using wildcard search on a specific folder and then sorting the results by modification date.
-
Last Changed Files Tool:
- A freeware tool called "Last Changed Files" is recommended as an alternative solution. Unfortunately, the article doesn't provide details about this tool, but it suggests it as an option for file management.
-
Total Commander:
- A user recommends using Total Commander, a third-party file manager. The suggestion involves entering the main folder, using Ctrl+B to list all files in the main folder and subfolders, and then sorting them by date.
-
PowerShell:
- PowerShell is introduced as a powerful tool for file management. The provided script retrieves files recursively, selects relevant information (LastWriteTime and FullName), sorts the files by LastWriteTime in descending order, and displays the results in a grid view.
-
Cygwin:
- Cygwin, a Linux-like environment for Windows, is suggested for file management. The
find
command is used to list files, and the user points out that Cygwin provides a Unix shell for effective file handling.
- Cygwin, a Linux-like environment for Windows, is suggested for file management. The
-
DIR Command:
- The
dir
command in the Command Prompt is mentioned with the/od /S
options to list files ordered by date. The user also recommends using Cygwin for a more convenient Unix shell experience.
- The
-
Windows Explorer and PowerShell Combination:
- In Windows Explorer, a user suggests using the search box with the query
kind:NOT folder
to return all files. Additionally, a PowerShell script is provided for achieving the same result programmatically.
- In Windows Explorer, a user suggests using the search box with the query
-
Task View:
- The Task View feature in Windows is suggested as a way to view a chronological list of files interacted with. This can be useful for tracking recent file modifications.
-
File Explorer Search Bar:
- A Windows 10-specific solution is presented. It involves going to the main folder, typing a dot (.) in the search bar, and sorting files by modification date. The user also advises displaying file extensions for better visibility.
-
Timeline in Task View:
- Another suggestion involves using the Task View (WIN+TAB) to check the chronological list of files interacted with, providing a historical perspective on file modifications.
-
Search Bar and View Tab:
- A user recommends using the search bar, applying the Date Modified filter, and sorting files through the View Tab options for efficient file organization.
These concepts cover a range of methods, from using built-in Windows features like search and Windows Explorer to third-party tools like Total Commander and Cygwin. PowerShell scripts are also introduced for users who prefer automation and scripting in file management tasks. The diversity of suggestions reflects the flexibility of options available for users with different preferences and requirements in managing files on Windows systems.