bulk delete certain types of files in rar/zip archive

[kenny1999]

WOW... that's a lot of zipped up stuff ha ha.

Ok... starting where we left off, you are now within G:\zip_rar_copy\
This is where the fun / potentially dangerous bit begins... hence the "copy" of data.
Make sure you have WinRar installed - WinRAR archiver, a powerful tool to process RAR and ZIP files
(Download link at the bottom of the page 'English 64-bit')


Type or copy/paste the following into the command prompt:

This is currently set to remove .txt files, change the .txt bit at the end of the line to the filetype you want to remove.

for %I in (*.rar) do "C:\Program Files\WinRAR\WinRAR.exe" d -ibck "%I" *.txt

Once it finishes lets do the same but for .zip files...
Notice the difference at the beginning, i have changed (*.rar) to (*.zip)

This is currently set to remove .txt files, change the .txt bit at the end of the line to the filetype you want to remove.

for %I in (*.zip) do "C:\Program Files\WinRAR\WinRAR.exe" d -ibck "%I" *.txt

Now, when you look in the rar/zip files you shouldn't see anything of the file types you have just removed

Let me know how it goes.

Regards,
Jamie

oh my god.

winrar is now crazily generating many many error box, stating that 'the files are in use by other applications.' No No application is actually using those files. then it gives a lot of wired
unknown files... winrar now also 'freezes' and is likely to get crashed very soon.

 

[kenny1999]

it can't stop.........i am poorly waiting until all their error boxes show up. It may take another few min

 

[JDobbsy1987]

My testing was on a few files and that worked ok but just done a test against 200+ .rar files and see what you mean.

It still worked though but i did need to run it twice as i think it stopped half way through the first time.

You get a lot of dialog boxes, just right click the winrar icon on the taskbar and close all windows

 

[kenny1999]

My testing was on a few files and that worked ok but just done a test against 200+ .rar files and see what you mean.

It still worked though but i did need to run it twice as i think it stopped half way through the first time.

You get a lot of dialog boxes, just right click the winrar icon on the taskbar and close all windows

now all closed.

luckily i made copies. but, did it affect any other files in other directory??

 

[JDobbsy1987]

I have just ran it against 2500 .rar files and it worked fine
If you go through some of the rar files you should find that the file type you specified no longer exists?

It would have only affected files within G:\zip_rar_copy\

 

[kenny1999]

very terrible!!!!! orignially it had 421 files in the folders, after the crashes and errors, now only 416 files remain.

My question is still - would it affect files on other directory ????????? It's a copy directory only but I don't know if any unexpected things happen on other sides I don't know.

 

[JDobbsy1987]

It wouldn't have effected any other files, only files in g:\zp_rar_copy\
It doesn't sound terrible? -- Having less files would be expected if the .rar had only .txt files in them

For example:
Test.rar has only got 5 .txt files in it....

After running the command, it removes the 5 .txt files so there are no files lift in the .rar therefore removes it.

Have you looked inside any of the .rar files to see if it has removed the file extensions you told it to (i.e. .txt files)?

 

[kenny1999]

It wouldn't have effected any other files, only files in g:\zp_rar_copy\
It doesn't sound terrible? -- Having less files would be expected if the .rar had only .txt files in them

For example:
Test.rar has only got 5 .txt files in it....

After running the command, it removes the 5 .txt files so there are no files lift in the .rar therefore removes it.

Have you looked inside any of the .rar files to see if it has removed the file extensions you told it to (i.e. .txt files)?

honestly, most of the files still have txt files inside after the operation. I don't think your method work. Is there any other alternatives?

 

[JDobbsy1987]

Sorry it didn't for you but the script does work?
See the video i just put together showing .txt before and then no .txt after...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YcBfhZHenA

Hope you manage to achieve your goal.

Regards,
Jamie

 

[kenny1999]

Sorry it didn't for you but the script does work?
See the video i just put together showing .txt before and then no .txt after...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YcBfhZHenA

Hope you manage to achieve your goal.

Regards,
Jamie

OK,. i'll then delete them by myself. but I just want to make sure one more thing. That is, are you sure that the script you provided only change the files under that directory (zip_rar_copy)

the odd things happened make me concerned.

 

[JDobbsy1987]

Based on instruction in post 13 - http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...ypes-files-rar-zip-archive-2.html#post2824218

You confirming that you had done that in post 19 - http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...ypes-files-rar-zip-archive-2.html#post2824240

and then me highlighting that you should now be in g:\zip_rar_copy in post 20 - http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...ypes-files-rar-zip-archive-2.html#post2824241

Then yes... only files in that directory will have been affected but as i said earlier, having less files would be normal in the case of the .rar only having the file type you removed as you wouldn't have a .rar with nothing in it.

I also tested this mayself to confirm and it was the case, i have a .rar with a single .txt file inside, i removed the .txt file and the .rar disappeared.

Regards,
Jamie

 

[kenny1999]

Based on instruction in post 13 - http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...ypes-files-rar-zip-archive-2.html#post2824218

You confirming that you had done that in post 19 - http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...ypes-files-rar-zip-archive-2.html#post2824240

and then me highlighting that you should now be in g:\zip_rar_copy in post 20 - http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...ypes-files-rar-zip-archive-2.html#post2824241

Then yes... only files in that directory will have been affected but as i said earlier, having less files would be normal in the case of the .rar only having the file type you removed as you wouldn't have a .rar with nothing in it.

I also tested this mayself to confirm and it was the case, i have a .rar with a single .txt file inside, i removed the .txt file and the .rar disappeared.

Regards,
Jamie

I am not sure if there are any zip/rar files that contain only *.txt files. but I doubt it because they are all pictures archive

 

[kenny1999]

i finally figure out a better way

1st . let them extract all files automatically into each individual folders.
2nd - search for *.txt under the folder by windows search
3rd - delete all txt immediately
4th - zip them again

it's very automatic

 

[JDobbsy1987]

You can put copies of all the .rar/.zip files in one folder, Select all>extract here. Use the folder sorting option and sort in to Types. Now you can find all the .txt or html files easily.
Problem with this is you'd have to re-compress all the remains back into separate files.

This is exactly what Gary said at post 16? - http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...ypes-files-rar-zip-archive-2.html#post2824230

My aim was to remove the "zip them all up again" as that came across like a big job as you said you have loads of zip/rar files.

Forgive me if i'm wrong but your last post sounds a little sarcastic, i was only trying to help and as my video showed, it was working for me.

Glad you found a solution.

Regards,
Jamie

 

[kenny1999]

You can put copies of all the .rar/.zip files in one folder, Select all>extract here. Use the folder sorting option and sort in to Types. Now you can find all the .txt or html files easily.
Problem with this is you'd have to re-compress all the remains back into separate files.

This is exactly what Gary said at post 16? - http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...ypes-files-rar-zip-archive-2.html#post2824230

My aim was to remove the "zip them all up again" as that came across like a big job as you said you have loads of zip/rar files.

Forgive me if i'm wrong but your last post sounds a little sarcastic, i was only trying to help and as my video showed, it was working for me.

Glad you found a solution.

Regards,
Jamie

Sorry I ddin't never intend in any way to sarcastic you anything. I am actually not speaking Eng as my first language. Maybe you misunderstand me. I am only showing my concern about other precious files because you know, *.rar could mean ANY rar. It was just my concern. Thank you for your help from heart.

 

[JDobbsy1987]

Sorry I ddin't never intend in any way to sarcastic you anything. I am actually not speaking Eng as my first language. Maybe you misunderstand me. I am only showing my concern about other precious files because you know, *.rar could mean ANY rar. Thank you for your help from heart.

No worries, glad you managed to get want you aimed for with the files.

Regards,
Jamie

 

[kenny1999]

now i've extracted all the zip/rar for hours and deleted all the txt files I don't want.

Another problem. How to archive each folder back to zip/rar files quickly? How to automatic the process?


OK PROBLEMS SOLVED. I KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT NOW. NO REPLY.

 

[JDobbsy1987]

now i've extracted all the zip/rar for hours and deleted all the txt files I don't want.

Another problem. How to archive each folder back to zip/rar files quickly? How to automatic the process?

To put each folder back into rar

1. Highlight all folders
2. Right click >> Add to archive

3. Click the Files tab
4. Tick the line "Put each file into separate archive"

5. Click OK

This will zip each folder up into a .rar file and call it the same name as the folder (i.e. Folder called "Testing" would make a .rar file called "Testing.rar")

Is that what you require?

Regards,
Jamie



EDIT:
Didn't see your message until finished posting this.

 

[kenny1999]

now i've extracted all the zip/rar for hours and deleted all the txt files I don't want.

Another problem. How to archive each folder back to zip/rar files quickly? How to automatic the process?

To put each folder back into rar

1. Highlight all folders
2. Right click >> Add to archive
View attachment 324796
3. Click the Files tab
4. Tick the line "Put each file into separate archive"
View attachment 324797
5. Click OK

This will zip each folder up into a .rar file and call it the same name as the folder (i.e. Folder called "Testing" would make a .rar file called "Testing.rar")

Is that what you require?

Regards,
Jamie



EDIT:
Didn't see your message until finished posting this.

Sorry and thanks

A lot of programs are still very not user-friendly to general users, after many years of development.

I also learnt from this method that if there exists zip/rar files with the same file name as the folder, it will automatically add to the existing archives without asking whether to overwrite or not.

 

[Britton30]

Whew! Good to hear you have like you want Kenny.