Make a list of filenames

Question

I'm looking for an easy way to build a list in a txt file of the filenames inside a given directory. Filenames only preferred, though I could trim other fields if necessary.

Solution 1

In terminal, change directory to the required folder, then use the command:

ls > files.txt

This will redirect a list of the contents of the folder to the text file files.txt. You didn't indicate what form the contents of the folder takes. If there are sub-folders present, in addition to a group of files, the folder names will also be included. But, once you have the text version you can sort/edit it any way you desire.

Solution 2

This command should be helpful:

find -maxdepth 1 -type f ! -name flist.txt -printf  "%P\n" > flist.txt

Command information:

• -maxdepth: Don't search for files below folders of one level down.
• type f: Search for only files
• -printf "%P\n": Print the names only and on separate lines
• > flist.txt: Store those names (using output redirection) in a file to be created on the fly called `flist.txt
• ! -name flist.txt: Skips the name of the output file from the generated list

Comments

[George Udosen]

Please get rid of the version else your question might be closed!

[αғsнιη]

similar to the question askubuntu.com/q/1028197/283843

[K7AAY]

The post named in comment above wanted subfolders, path, size, and creation (or last modified) date . The original question for this post wanted none of that, just names.

[David Foerster]

Possible duplicate of File list command line (hidden and subfolders) combined with How do I save terminal output to a file?

[K7AAY]

It will also list "files.txt" which is probably undesirable behavior.

[A.B.]

Doesn't works for filenames with spaces.

[K7AAY]

Corrected to solve special case above

[PerlDuck]

... or use ls -b which will quote any special characters (including \n) in the filenames.

[A.B.]

Now you have one line in the output file?

[A.B.]

Forget the ls approach

[PerlDuck]

@A.B. LOL, you mean because of this: mywiki.wooledge.org/ParsingLs ?

[Gary Bollenbach]

Cases I see will be unlikely to have spaces in filenames. Also this is the only response that worked out of the box. Thanks much for help. GB

[David Foerster]

ls omits “hidden” dot files (unless instructed otherwise) and mangles file names with some unusual characters. Don't use it to list file names for anything but display to a human reader. -1

[CentaurusA]

Many people don't like this solution and downvote the answer - which is their prerogative. However, I would point out that the OP asked for an "easy way" to list files. Some of us have simple folder structures. We don't have concerns with hidden files. And, I did realize that the simple command would include files.txt, but I did say that the result could be edited. Anyway, for what it's worth, that's the simple-minded way I do things.