Removing data/making empty - the list of files in a folder

[vsmeruga]

Hi Gurus

I am looking for a windows command/procedure to remove the content (or) making the files empty - for a list of (.xls files only) in a folder.

Your help is much appreciated.

Many Thanks
VJ

[foxidrive]

Run this in the folder with the xml files you want to destroy and it will make them into 0 byte files.

Code: Select all

@echo off
for %%a in (*.xml) do type nul >"%%a"

[vsmeruga]

Thanks I will try.

[vsmeruga]

I tried it locally on my machine and command worked. When I tried in shared folder, It is not working. It seems the existing .xls files has some security

[foxidrive]

You need write permission to the files in the shared folder.

Be aware that the files can't be open in Excel or another program at the same time.

[vsmeruga]

Hi Foxidrive

I am struggling to achieve it.

Before removing data from the list of files, Can you help me with a command to set write permissions to all the files(.xls) in a folder?

Thanks
VJ

[foxidrive]

Your IT people can give you write permissions.

I don't know anything about the situation you are in.

[vsmeruga]

sure thanks. I will talk to them

[vsmeruga]

Hi Foxidrive

I managed setting the path with the command pushd "path" and it worked. But when I double click to open the file I am getting the message as

"Excel cannot open the file 'Filename.xlsx' because the format or file extension is not valid. Verify that the file has not been corrupted and that the file extension matches the format of the file"

script:

Code: Select all

@setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
pushd \\filepath\AutoRec
for /f %%a in ('dir /b *.xlsx') do type nul >"%%a"

[vsmeruga]

Hi

Do you have any other command to remove full content and saving the same file instead of outputting using (>)

Thanks
VJ

[vsmeruga]

I am using MS office 2010.

[Squashman]

So you are looking to remove the contents of a bunch of excel files but still have the excel file open with excel.
That would require some other scripting language like Vbscript or Jscript or even an excel VBA macro.

[Aacini]

Just create an empty Excel document in advance and copy it with the name of the files you want to delete:

Code: Select all

@setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
pushd \\filepath\AutoRec
for %%a in (*.xlsx) do copy C:\thePath\EmptySheet.xlsx "%%a" /Y

Antonio

[Squashman]

Just create an empty Excel document in advance and copy it with the name of the files you want to delete:

Code: Select all

@setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
pushd \\filepath\AutoRec
for %%a in (*.xlsx) do copy C:\thePath\EmptySheet.xlsx "%%a" /Y

Antonio

That would certainly keep it simple!

[vsmeruga]

Thanks. I managed this issue checking the size of the file. If filesize is Zero then do not process it.