Using Probe for Batch Processing

• Sometimes one want to process a number of files, located in one or several directories, in some way. For example:
  • Renaming a collection of files using some pattern.
  • Modifying the file-attributes of the files.
  • Replacing each occurence of a certain string within a group of files.
  • Converting all files of say .BMP bitmap format to the .JPG image format.
  • ...etc.

• Probe provides two solutions for doing this:
  • A general batch processing facility.
  • Specialized functionality for modifying the file-attributes or the file-dates for a selection of files.

• The general batch processing facility allows for making a recursive selection and then applying a specific DOS/CMD command line on each of the files within the selection, where the command-line script is automatically generated by Probe.

• Say we want to save some disk-space by converting all .BMP images larger than 50 kb to the more storage efficient .JPG image format, recursively within a local drive. Provided we have a utility BMP2JPG.exe (available as freeware) this is how we do it using Probe:

• Apply a recursive selection critera using:
  • Filename wildcard: *.BMP
  • Size criterion: > 50 kb

  The selected files are visible in figure 1.

• Then invoke the Disk Custom Command Dialog, and type the command-line to be invoked on each of the selected files: BMP2JPG.exe %f (see figure 2)

• Press OK to have Probe construct the command batch file to be invoked. The batch-file is displayed in an edit-control (see figure 3). After inspection, this batch file can be executed, by pressing the Invoke Command button.

Figrue 1 : Inspecting a recursive selection.

Figure 2 :The Disk Custom Command Dialog.

Figure 3 : Verifying the batch-file generated by Probe.

• The Probe Batch Processing Facility makes it possible to combine the strenth of intuitive, recusive file selection with the availability of simple command-line tools for different means.

Writing a script to process all files, matching a certain wildcard and size criterion, within a certain drive, is not trivial under MS Windows. Neither is it effective to manually invoke a certain command-line manually on a large number of files.

• File-attributes are easy to modify using the special purpose File Attribute Modification Dialog, shown below. A similar dialog is available to modify file-dates also.

Figure 4 : The File Attribute Modications Dialog.