Excluding certain folders when copying files has several advantages. You can save disk space, get rid of unwanted and temporary files, and save time in copying & backing up of files. Also, handling a smaller file set is much more comfortable.
Let us see how to do this using Robocopy, and an alternative software , Copywhiz which does the same thing in a much user friendly manner.
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 depicting one of the features of Copywhiz
Steps to exclude specific folders when copying files
Using Robocopy
Robocopy Source Destination/XD dirs [dirs]… command lets us to specify a list of directories (folders) 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.
For Ex: To copy files from “projects” folder to the folder “backup”, by excluding certain type of folders, say, the ones having your personal information, the following command line will be used:
Robocopy c:\projects c:\backup xd list-of-excluded-folders
But these Robocopy commands are not straightforward. System administrators may be able to use it. Robocopy is quite difficult for ordinary users. Instead, let me show you a more comfortable and faster way to do this.
Using Copywhiz
Watch a short video describing this feature:
Video Transcription
1. Go to Windows File Explorer, select the files from the source folder, right-click and choose Copywhiz–>Copy as shown below:
2. Go to the destination folder, right-click, and choose Copywhiz–> Paste Advanced. The Advanced Settings dialogue box will open.
3. You can include or exclude files/folders to be copied by typing their names, file extensions, or folder names. You can then select the “Exclude folders” option. 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.
4. Click on “OK” and then “Paste Now” to complete file copying.
Conclusion
Copywhiz lets you choose which type of files to copy and which to ignore – i.e, it lets you to do ‘Selective File Copy’. Pick only those files and folders that are important and avoid the ones not required with Copywhiz. Easily filter files by name, extension, folder, etc. from a bunch of folders.
Complete big file copy tasks with just a few clicks and save manual effort with Copywhiz.
The biggest advantage of using Copywhiz is that you can take automatic backups of your files and folders! Read more about it here:
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