This article will show you how to copy files or create a backup automatically into a new folder each time based on your current date/time.

Why a new folder each time?

Whether it is your critical work documents or collection of your personal photos, it is always a good idea to take multiple backups, so that the data is never lost. Data loss can happen in many ways; the most common causes are physical failure of your PC, accidental error, theft, or disasters like fire, flood. Computer viruses often delete or corrupt your data. Also, multiple versions of file backups are important because users can continually update files and might need to restore a file from different points in time.

Let us find out how to do this with Windows Xcopy tool, and an alternative software, Copywhiz.

What is Copywhiz?

Copywhiz enhances your file-copy experience by letting you to have more flexibility & control over the file copying and backup process.

Here is how Copywhiz makes file copying a breeze:

• Copy only new or modified files
• Easily pick files by name, extension, folder etc from bunch of folders
• Automatically organize files based on file attributes and metadata
• Copy files to multiple folders/computers
• Copy files from multiple folders and paste them at once
• Sync files between source and destination
• Pick files from multiple folders and compress in single .zip file
• Schedule file backups
• Verify copied files for data integrity
• Retain security attributes of files & folders (ownership/user access)
• Several more hidden nuggets designed to make your file-copy task easier.

Steps to copy files in a new folder each time

Using Xcopy

The Xcopy command Xcopy Source [Destination] /I copies all specified files into the new directory. This command-line option allows you to keep multiple versions of file backups.

For Ex: To copy all the files from “documents” to the folder “New folder” we need to run the below command:

Xcopy D:\data\documents E:\Newfolder\documents /I

This command creates the folder E:\Newfolder\documents if it already does not exist.

However, using Xcopy commands is not very straightforward. System administrators may be able to use it. But Xcopy is confusing for ordinary users.

Let us look at an easier and straightforward way to do this.

Using Copywhiz

Watch a short video on this feature:

Video Transcription

1. Select the files from the Source folder and right-click on it and choose Copywhiz–>Copy as shown below:

2. Right-click inside the destination folder where you wish to copy the files and select Copywhiz–>Paste Advanced:

3. Copywhiz window will open with the destination folder already selected. You can suffix the destination folder with %date% or %datetime% to add the current date to the folder name.

4. Once the variables are added, click on ‘Paste Now’, and it will automatically create a new folder based on the current date.

5. You can save the selected files as a Copywhiz project and schedule a backup of the same set of files by clicking on the ‘Paste later (Schedule)’ button. Once clicked, the following Window will appear that will let you set your preferred backup frequency. After setting your preferred frequency, click on ‘Schedule Now’ so that Copywhiz automatically runs the projects at a specified time for taking backups.

Copywhiz is an alternative that lets you create a new destination folder (date-wise) for every file backup. This way, you can ensure that multiple versions of your backups are maintained.

It uses Windows Task Scheduler to schedule your backups. Configure Copywhiz to copy files at a particular time.

Using Copywhiz’s scheduling capability, you can back up your files every week, every day, or even every hour. It can be used as a complete file backup solution.

For more tutorial videos, check out our page.

Follow our YouTube channel for more such interesting videos.

Learn more about Copywhiz. Download the free trial from here.

Have a good day.

Thanks for staying till the end :)

This post will show how to preview your files before copying them in windows.

Why preview files?

• When copying lots of files, it is essential to ensure that no critical file is left behind & no unnecessary file is being copied. Be accurate right from the start by knowing which files will be copied before actually copying them by reviewing the list of files that will be copied.
• Also, when filtering files by type, date, or size, it is essential to verify whether all the files you need will be copied successfully. Previewing files before actually copying them gives you the confidence & keeps your mind relaxed.

Let us see how this is possible with Windows Xcopy tool and an alternative software Copywhiz.

What is Copywhiz?

Copywhiz enhances your file-copy experience by letting you to have more flexibility & control over the file copying and backup process.

Here is how Copywhiz makes file copying a breeze:

• Copy only new or modified files
• Easily pick files by name, extension, folder etc from bunch of folders
• Automatically organize files based on file attributes and metadata
• Copy files to multiple folders/computers
• Copy files from multiple folders and paste them at once
• Sync files between source and destination
• Pick files from multiple folders and compress in single .zip file
• Schedule file backups
• Verify copied files for data integrity
• Retain security attributes of files & folders (ownership/user access)
• Several more hidden nuggets designed to make your file-copy task easier.

Generate file Preview

Using Xcopy

Xcopy Source [Destination] /L command displays a list of files that are to be copied.

For Ex: To display a list of files that are to be copied, the following command line will be used:

xcopy / C:\Your Folder C:\New Folder /L

However, using Xcopy commands is not straightforward. System administrators may be able to use it. But Xcopy is difficult for everyday users.

Let us look at an easier and faster way to do this.

Using Copywhiz

Copywhiz is an alternative that allows you to preview files before copying them. You can alter different filter options (file type, date, or size) and ensure that the right files are copied. This avoids mistakes, incorrect files to be copied & important files to be left out. This feature ensures accuracy. You can also use this feature to view the list of new & modified files in a folder.

Here is how Copywhiz Preview Window appears:

The preview feature is depicted briefly in this video:

For the tutorial videos, check out this page. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for some interesting videos.

Learn more about Copywhiz. Download the free trial from here.

Have a good day.

Thanks for reading till the end :)

Many times we want to replicate the directory structure of a particular folder to another location. It is, therefore okay to skip copying files in those folders. But this is a very tedious and error-prone task if done manually. Therefore it is advised to use any software that will do it for you.

This post will show you how to create the whole folder structure without files in Windows. It is useful when you want to create lots of folders for different types of files in an easier and faster way.

Let us look at how to do this with Windows Xcopy tool, and an alternative software, Copywhiz.

What is Copywhiz?

Copywhiz enhances your file-copy experience by letting you to have more flexibility & control over the file copying and backup process.

Here is how Copywhiz makes file copying a breeze:

• Copy only new or modified files
• Easily pick files by name, extension, folder etc from bunch of folders
• Automatically organize files based on file attributes and metadata
• Copy files to multiple folders/computers
• Copy files from multiple folders and paste them at once
• Sync files between source and destination
• Pick files from multiple folders and compress in single .zip file
• Schedule file backups
• Verify copied files for data integrity
• Retain security attributes of files & folders (ownership/user access)
• Several more hidden nuggets designed to make your file-copy task easier.

Create Directory structure only

Using Xcopy

Xcopy Source [Destination] /t command lets us to replicate the whole directory structure without copying the files inside them. To copy empty directories, you must include the /e command-line option.

For Ex: To copy the directory structure without files, the following command line will be used:

xcopy C:\Your Folder C:\New Folder /t /e

However, Xcopy commands are not straightforward. System administrators may be able to use it. But everyday users would generally find it confusing.

Let us look at a simpler and easier way to do this.

Using Copywhiz:

Watch a short video depicting this feature:

Video Transcription

1. Select files using Windows Explorer, right-click on them and choose Copywhiz->Copy from the menu as shown below :

2. Go to the destination folder, right-click inside the folder and select Copywhiz–>Paste Advanced as shown below:

3. Copywhiz Window will open. Click on the ‘Advanced Settings’ button and select ‘Create folder structure only, do not paste files’ as shown below, and click on ‘Ok’.

Conclusion

Copywhiz is an alternative that allows you to create the complete directory (folder) structure without copying files in them.

This feature can be useful in a multi-user scenario where the system administrator wishes to create the same standard template folder structure without files for different users from an existing structure.

The biggest advantage of using Copywhiz is that you can take automatic backups of your files and folders! Read more about it here:

Automatically copy files & folders in background at specific time in Windows

For more tutorial videos, click here .

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for regular updates and interesting videos!

Learn more about Copywhiz.

Download the free trial from here.

Check out our other cool products.

Have a good day.

Thanks for your time :)

We don’t copy every file during our file copy each time. If there is a long list of files and you wish to copy files only of a specific type or extension, it becomes tedious to filter them manually.

This article will, therefore, help you have a choice in the file copy by letting you exclude certain files from being copied.

Here we will look at this feature using Xcopy and an alternative software, Copywhiz.

What is Copywhiz?

Copywhiz enhances your file-copy experience by letting you to have more flexibility & control over the file copying and backup process.

Here is how Copywhiz makes file copying a breeze:

• Copy only new or modified files
• Easily pick files by name, extension, folder etc from bunch of folders
• Automatically organize files based on file attributes and metadata
• Copy files to multiple folders/computers
• Copy files from multiple folders and paste them at once
• Sync files between source and destination
• Pick files from multiple folders and compress in single .zip file
• Schedule file backups
• Verify copied files for data integrity
• Retain security attributes of files & folders (ownership/user access)
• Several more hidden nuggets designed to make your file-copy task easier.

An image showing one of the features of Copywhiz

Steps to exclude specific files when copying in Windows

Using Xcopy

xcopy Source Destination /EXCLUDE:file1[+file2][+file3]… command lets us to specify a list of files containing strings to be excluded. These strings are not entered directly in the command switch. They are one or more text files that list the strings to be excluded.

Here is the command that is actually being used:

xcopy source destination /EXCLUDE:file1[+file2][+file3]… exclude: {path}list_of_exclusions.txt.

For Ex: To copy files from ‘C:\project’ to the folder ‘c:\backup,’ by excluding certain type of files, the following command line will be used:

xcopy c:\project c:\backup /Exclude: list of excluded files

However, Xcopy commands are not easy to use. System administrators may be able to use it. But Xcopy is not for ordinary users.

Using Copywhiz:

Watch a short video depicting this feature:

Video Transcription

1. Select files using Windows Explorer, right-click on them and choose Copywhiz->Copy from the menu as shown below :

2. Go to the destination folder, right-click inside the folder and select Copywhiz–>Paste special–>Paste files by name or type as shown below:

3. The Advanced Settings dialog box will open. You can include or exclude files/folders to be copied by typing their names, file extensions, or folder names. You can also preview the list of files that will be copied and files that will be skipped by clicking on the Preview button. After confirming, press the Ok button in the Advanced Settings dialog box. All the required files will be copied successfully.

Conclusion

Copywhiz lets you to choose which type of files to copy & which to ignore i.e, it lets you to do ‘Selective File Copy’.

Pick only those files that are important & avoid files that are not required (Eg. Files that occupy too much space) with Copywhiz. Easily filter files by name, extension, folder, etc. from a bunch of folders.

Complete big file copy tasks with few clicks & save manual effort with Copywhiz.

The most significant advantage of using Copywhiz is that you can take automatic backups of your files and folders! Read more about it here:

Automatically copy files & folders in background at specific time in Windows

For more tutorial videos, click here .

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for regular updates and interesting videos!

Learn more about Copywhiz.

Download the free trial from here.

Check out our other cool products.

Have a good day.

Thanks for reading till the end :)

Copying files and taking file backups is a crucial part of our work schedule. We often take backups or copy files only that are required and leave out the rest. At that, we mostly need only the modified files. Maybe to refer to what we had worked on and modified last time or what more changes are to be made to that file according to work progress.

Even while taking backups, it does not make sense to take a backup of files that already exist in the destination. It would be wise to take backups of only the recently modified files, and if a file with the same name already exists, we can replace it with the latest version.

This might sound too technical, but it is very easy.

Now, you have many ways to do this. You can do it manually, which requires a lot of time and effort. So that option is immediately ruled out. The other option is to use the Xcopy command. The final option is to use software that will do it quickly for you.

So let us first see how you can do it using Xcopy. And then look at how you can do it even better using an alternative software, Copywhiz.

What is Copywhiz?

Copywhiz enhances your file-copy experience by letting you to have more flexibility & control over the file copying and backup process.

Here is how Copywhiz makes file copying a breeze:

• Copy only new or modified files
• Easily pick files by name, extension, folder etc from bunch of folders
• Automatically organize files based on file attributes and metadata
• Copy files to multiple folders/computers
• Copy files from multiple folders and paste them at once
• Sync files between source and destination
• Pick files from multiple folders and compress in single .zip file
• Schedule file backups
• Verify copied files for data integrity
• Retain security attributes of files & folders (ownership/user access)
• Several more hidden nuggets designed to make your file-copy task easier.

An image showing one of Copywhiz’s feature

Using Xcopy

Xcopy Source [Destination] /d copies all Source files that are newer than existing Destination files. This command-line option allows you to update files that have changed.

For Ex: To copy all the files in the directory ‘data’ that are modified on or after 1 st December 2017 to the folder ‘backup‘, the following command line will be used:

Xcopy E:\data E:\backup /D:12-01-17

However, these Xcopy commands are not straightforward. System administrators may be able to use it. But Xcopy is quite difficult for common users.

Which is why Copywhiz is an easier and faster alternative

Using Copywhiz

Here is a short video that depicts how to do it quickly and conveniently:

Video Transcription

1. Right-click on the folder from which only new or modified files need to be copied and choose Copywhiz–>Copy from the menu as shown below:

2. Go to the destination folder, right-click on it and select Copywhiz–>Paste Special- ->Paste only new & modified files

3. If the same folder already exists in the destination, then only new or modified files will be replaced, others will be skipped, saving a lot of time.

Conclusion

Copywhiz automatically detects new & changed files making the whole process very quick. Alternatively, you can copy files based on specific dates (date modified, date created, date accessed).

What could take several hours if done manually, Copywhiz completes it in few seconds. Just specify the file date type and date range so that the files are copied based on the date criteria.

This feature is very useful while sharing/uploading only recently modified files or taking backup of just new & modified files, especially when there are several files to copy or backup. Or even to pick the latest music/pictures from multiple folders.

The biggest advantage of using Copywhiz is that you can take automatic backups of your files and folders! Read more about it here:

Automatically copy files & folders in background at specific time in Windows

For more tutorial videos, click here .

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for regular updates and interesting videos!

Learn more about Copywhiz.

Download the free trial from here.

Check out our other cool products.

Have a good day.

Thanks for reading till the end :)