Backup DVDs everywhere; how to inventory as spreadsheet?

;ivlunsdystf · Post by **;ivlunsdystf** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 1:16 pm

I have an ever-growing pile of backup dvds, each burned as a data disc with many folders within. Is there a way to inventory everything into a single spreadsheet so I can easily find something from amongst the discs later by looking it up in the spreadsheet?

TheForgotten · Post by **TheForgotten** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:06 pm

Are looking to catalog the structure if each disc or just a list of each project and
what disc it's on?

;ivlunsdystf · Post by **;ivlunsdystf** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:09 pm

TheForgotten wrote:Are looking to catalog the structure if each disc or just a list of each project and
what disc it's on?

I just want to make a list of each project and what disc it's on. It could be a simple two-column spreadsheet with columns for 'folder name' and 'disc #'. This should be quite simple, right?

JGriffin · Post by **JGriffin** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:10 pm

Tatertot wrote:
TheForgotten wrote:Are looking to catalog the structure if each disc or just a list of each project and
what disc it's on?
I just want to make a list of each project and what disc it's on. It could be a simple two-column spreadsheet with columns for 'folder name' and 'disc #'. This should be quite simple, right?

Yeah, you can do that pretty easily in Excel.

TheForgotten · Post by **TheForgotten** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:25 pm

What is the extension of the project file? (i.e. .doc, .txt)
I might be able to whip up something to help you along quicker.

;ivlunsdystf · Post by **;ivlunsdystf** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:47 pm

dwlb wrote:
Yeah, you can do that pretty easily in Excel.

I'll spare you the agony of explaining how - if I know it can be done I bet I'll be able to figure it out - thanks

;ivlunsdystf · Post by **;ivlunsdystf** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:48 pm

TheForgotten wrote:What is the extension of the project file? (i.e. .doc, .txt)
I might be able to whip up something to help you along quicker.

They're just folders in windows, so no extensions (or is there a folder extension that I don't know about?) Anyway, I'll take dwlb's post as encouragement and try it using excel (or, actually, the openoffice equivalent) thanks

TheForgotten · Post by **TheForgotten** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:57 pm

Tatertot wrote:
TheForgotten wrote:What is the extension of the project file? (i.e. .doc, .txt)
I might be able to whip up something to help you along quicker.
They're just folders in windows, so no extensions (or is there a folder extension that I don't know about?) Anyway, I'll take dwlb's post as encouragement and try it using excel (or, actually, the openoffice equivalent) thanks

So you just want a list of the folders?
I was going to give you a batch file that would just scan your DVD drive and spit the results into a spreadsheet.

;ivlunsdystf · Post by **;ivlunsdystf** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:06 pm

TheForgotten wrote:
Tatertot wrote:
TheForgotten wrote:What is the extension of the project file? (i.e. .doc, .txt)
I might be able to whip up something to help you along quicker.
They're just folders in windows, so no extensions (or is there a folder extension that I don't know about?) Anyway, I'll take dwlb's post as encouragement and try it using excel (or, actually, the openoffice equivalent) thanks
So you just want a list of the folders?
I was going to give you a batch file that would just scan you're DVD drive and spit the results into a spreadsheet.

That's exactly right. Such a batch file would be truly ideal, if it would just list all the folders in a spreadsheet. Thanks

TheForgotten · Post by **TheForgotten** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:13 pm

Tatertot wrote:
TheForgotten wrote:
Tatertot wrote:
TheForgotten wrote:What is the extension of the project file? (i.e. .doc, .txt)
I might be able to whip up something to help you along quicker.
They're just folders in windows, so no extensions (or is there a folder extension that I don't know about?) Anyway, I'll take dwlb's post as encouragement and try it using excel (or, actually, the openoffice equivalent) thanks
So you just want a list of the folders?
I was going to give you a batch file that would just scan you're DVD drive and spit the results into a spreadsheet.
That's exactly right. Such a batch file would be truly ideal, if it would just list all the folders in a spreadsheet. Thanks

Okay, so create a new text file and paste the following code into it:

Code: Select all

dir /n /b /a&#58;d D&#58;\ > C&#58;\TatersResults.xls

c&#58;\TatersResults.xls

Then rename the text file to 'Whatever.BAT'.

double click it and it will read whater cd is in your drive and give you the top-level folder names in a spreadsheet.

So just create a spreadsheet for the compiled results and you can just:
Insert CD>Dbl Click batch file>Paste results from spreadsheet that opens up (TatersResults) into compiled spreadsheet>Close TatersResults spreadsheet>REPEAT

Hope it helps!

Cheers![/code]

;ivlunsdystf · Post by **;ivlunsdystf** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:16 pm

cOOL - thanks much. I'll give that a try when I get back to tha ranch later tonight. Cheers

JGriffin · Post by **JGriffin** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:31 pm

Tatertot wrote:
dwlb wrote:
Yeah, you can do that pretty easily in Excel.
I'll spare you the agony of explaining how - if I know it can be done I bet I'll be able to figure it out - thanks

yeah, i don't know Excel well enough to explain it, honestly.

;ivlunsdystf · Post by **;ivlunsdystf** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:26 pm

Alright, the forgotten: you rule. That little deal you wrote just enabled me to get about fifty data dvd's all inventoried in a single hour. Thousand thanks.

Platinum Samples · Post by **Platinum Samples** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:36 am

You may want to consider Retrospect which keeps your backups cataloged.

Rail

TheForgotten · Post by **TheForgotten** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:38 am

Tatertot wrote:Alright, the forgotten: you rule. That little deal you wrote just enabled me to get about fifty data dvd's all inventoried in a single hour. Thousand thanks.

Hey, no problem!
You're welcome!
Glad I could help.

I think tinkering with code for 10 minutes to avoid hours of work is always worth it.

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Backup DVDs everywhere; how to inventory as spreadsheet?

Backup DVDs everywhere; how to inventory as spreadsheet?

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