Merging multiple files in multiple sub-folders into a single folder tree

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I have several sets of folder trees, each with multiple sub-folders, each sub-folder containing multiple files. I would like to merge all of this into a single folder tree, retaining the same sub-folder structure and each sub-folder with a single set of files, eliminating all of the inevitable duplicates.

Doing this manually with Windows Explorer is both tedious and time consuming. I have to select all of the files in one of the sub-folders, then drag the selection to the corresponding sub-folder in the main folder tree, choose ‘move and replace’ and tick ‘do the same for the next x conflicts’ and repeat this process for each of the many sets of sub-folders.

Although I did an online search before posting this plea for help, I have only seen utilities that will merge all files in multiple folders into a single folder, I have not seen a utility that will do what I need.

I’m hoping that someone will know of a utility that will save me doing this manually for the next many years!

Thank you in anticipation.

useful :confused:

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Perhaps I should clarify the situation and what I am trying to achieve.

I have several folder trees each containing many sub-folders, say A, B, C, D and so on. The names of the sub-folders are mostly the same between the various folder trees, although there could be an X, Y, Z in one folder tree and not in others, or only 20 sub-folders in one folder tree and 40 in another.

Each sub-folder contains many files, most of which are the same as those in other sub-folders of the same name. For example, folder A in one tree may have 50 files, 40 of which are the same as sub-folder A located in another folder tree.

What I am trying to achieve is a single ‘master’ folder tree containing all of the sub-folders in each of the existing folder trees, each sub-folder containing all of the files in all of the sub-folders of that name, without any sub-folders or files in each sub-folder duplicated.

I can achieve exactly this by manually moving files to the corresponding sub-folder in the ‘master’ folder tree, clicking ‘move and replace’ and ticking ‘do this for the next x conflicts’, but it is tedious and very time consuming.

I hope this sets out the challenge more clearly.

Thank you again, in anticipation that someone will know how to automate this otherwise laborious process.

useful

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Useful,

You could simply right-mouse drag and drop entire folder trees into the master tree, select Copy Here, and when prompted select the replace option and check the Replace or Skip options (Skip Preferably as it is more efficient and Explorer should merge the files just fine. HTH :cheers:
36584-Merge1
Select Yes above.
36585-Merge2
Select Skip above as it is more efficient, however Replace will also work.
Note: I did the examples with Win 8.1 the prompts are different in earlier versions of Windows but the effect is the same.

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
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RetiredGeek, as usual, your solution is neat and clever!

Thank you very much, you have saved me hours of work!!

Regards
useful

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Is this also same procedure in Win 8.1

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Tiina,

Welcome to the lounge as a new poster! :cheers:

See the Note in Post#3. :cheers:

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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