Excel-Driven Windows Batch File Tricks and Tips for Enhanced Productivity

Are you tired of manually creating multiple folders on your Windows machine? Do you wish for a more efficient and automated way to manage your directories? Look no further! In this article, we will explore a powerful Windows batch file trick utilizing Excel to streamline your folder creation process. We will also dive into several other practical and often unknown Windows shortcuts and tips to boost your productivity.

The Power of Excel in Folder Creation

Create multiple folders with a single click using a simple yet effective Windows batch file trick. This method leverages Excel to generate a list of directory names, which is then used to create the folders. Here’s a step-by-step guide to achieving this:

Open Excel and input the names of the folders you wish to create in a column. In the adjacent column, use a formula to enclose each folder name in double quotes and prepend the command 'MD ' (which stands for 'Make Directory'). Use the Flash Fill option in Excel to automate the process, making it faster and more accurate. Save the second column as a text file. Change the text file’s extension to .bat to turn it into a batch file. Double-click the batch file to execute it and create the specified folders.

Testing this method, I successfully created 1001 folders in a single go, making this a reliable and efficient solution for bulk folder creation.

Other Windows Tips and Tricks for a Smoother Experience

While the batch file trick is a significant time-saver, Windows offers numerous other shortcuts and tips to optimize your daily usage. Here are a few essential ones:

Task Manager and System Optimization

When your computer freezes, and you can’t access the task manager directly, use Ctrl Alt Del to open the security options window. From there, select the Task Manager option to identify and end any problematic processes.

Quick Navigation with Keyboard Shortcuts

Need to quickly open Windows Explorer? Simply press the Windows Key E. If you are looking for a specific file, use the Windows Key R combination to open the Run dialog. Here, you can input commands to search for files or even run programs.

Command Prompt and Hack-like Tricks

To open the Command Prompt, use the Windows Key R and type cmd. For a green-colored prompt, type color A. To clear the screen, simply type cls.

For more security-minded users, the Command Prompt has a command that can help you retrieve WiFi passwords. By typing netsh wlan show profiles and selecting a profile, you can then type netsh wlan show profile your_profile keyclear to see the password details.

To customize the transparency of any window, right-click on the top of the Command Prompt, choose Properties, and then go to the Appearance tab. Adjust the Opacity setting to make the window translucent, adding a hacker-like touch to your experience.

Explore these tips to enhance your productivity and enjoy a more intuitive and efficient Windows environment. Whether you are managing folders in bulk or taking your Command Prompt skills to the next level, these tricks can significantly improve your daily workflow.