Easily create date-based folder names in Windows XP

by Greg Shultz | May 03, 2006 7:00:00 AM

Tags: Operating systems, Greg Shultz, dialog box, Microsoft Windows XP, folder name, Microsoft Windows, Regional, Short Date Format, Windows XP Tips Newsletter

Takeaway: In this Windows XP tip, Greg Shultz shows us how to automate assigning date-based folder names for simpler data reference and backup.

If you create files on your hard disk on a daily basis, consider using date-based folder names to help you keep your data organized. While manually creating folders with the current date as the name really isn't much of a hassle, wouldn't it be cool if you could automate the procedure? Well you can by changing the short date format and adding a special command to Windows XP's context menu.

Here's how to change the date format:

1. Open the Control Panel and double-click Regional And Language Options. and access the Regional And Language dialog box.
2. In the Regional And Language Options dialog box, click the Customize button on the Regional Options tab.
3. In the Customize Regional Options dialog box, select the Date tab.
4. In the Short Date panel, take note of the current Short Date Format setting in case you want to change it back.
5. Select the Date Separator drop-down field and select a dash (-) because Windows doesn't allow slashes in file and folder names.
6. Click the Apply button.
7. Click OK twice to close both the Customize Regional Options and Regional And Language Options dialog boxes.

You can actually use any of the settings on the Short Date Format drop-down menu or a custom format as long as you use a dash as the separator. Keep in mind that any change you make to the Short Date Format setting will affect the way the date is displayed throughout the entire operating system.

Here's how to create the special command on the context menu:

1. Launch Windows Explorer and select Tools | Folder Options.
2. In the Folder Options dialog box, select the File Types tab.
3. In the Registered File Types list, select Folder, and click the Advanced button.
4. In the Edit File Type dialog box, click the New button.
5. In the New Action dialog box, type New Date-Based Folder in the Action text box and CMD.EXE /C MD "%1\%%DATE%%" in the Application Used To Perform Action text box.
6. Click OK twice. Click Close to close the three dialog boxes.

Now, whenever you want to create a new date-based folder name in Windows Explorer, simply right-click on the folder in which you want to create the folder and select the New Date-Based Folder command from the context menu. Keep in mind that on any given day you won't be able to create two identical date-based folder names within the same folder.

Note: This tip applies to both Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional.

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Print/View all Posts Comments on this article

Much better way... matthew_bennett1@... | 05/03/06

Another way. TonytheTiger | 05/03/06

Readability tweaks... AlanX86 | 05/04/06

problems freda@... | 05/04/06

problem solved freda@... | 05/04/06

where the changes were stored. veeradmin@... | 05/16/06

This has messed up my PC! boristhemoggy@... | 01/21/08

This works best for me... Art66 | 05/04/06

The inverse? Mond0 | 05/04/06

You Bet HowardParr@... | 05/04/06

Easy - type del /? in a CMD prompt geo.amd@... | 05/16/06

Custom default foders and incremental naming too! timmorton | 05/07/06

Do we need to be above the parent folder? torontolad | 05/09/06

reply to Do we need to be above the parent folder? jpac777@... | 05/12/06

So it does. I was wrong. torontolad | 05/12/06

Error creating executing custom folder program acaston@... | 05/15/06

EOSError support@... | 05/25/06

new problem notlemjr@... | 05/15/06

A related problem ddotterw@... | 05/31/06

I got that too Trilln451 | 05/31/06

Reset the Folder Options HowardParr@... | 05/31/06

Did That Trilln451 | 05/31/06

HELP NEEDED GWass | 12/14/07

Very Crafty! Greg Shultz | 05/03/06

Juggling with 5 balls timmorton | 05/04/06

Any way to include time? RickTheWebGuy | 05/04/06

Including Time jruby | 05/04/06

A slight improvement jruby | 05/04/06

Hey, Tim, I had the same 5th-ball idea! palomyno@... | 05/04/06

Excellent Art66 | 05/04/06

Still only 4 balls in the air timmorton | 05/04/06

Date Formatting Alternatives & Including Time hineses@... | 05/04/06

Time for more possibilities matthew_bennett1@... | 05/04/06

Shell Scripting hineses@... | 05/04/06

Date and time command didn't work for me Teedoffon1 | 05/18/06

I have a problem Pete Russell | 05/04/06

Me Too hondo_b@... | 05/04/06

Try This Shelltop | 05/04/06

Thx SHELLTOP ABS3 | 05/05/06

How can I delete this command hambus@... | 05/05/06

Registry Key hineses@... | 05/06/06

(Kinda) Big Problem ddawson59@... | 05/05/06

Which registry key did you delete? hineses@... | 05/06/06

Find Workaround hineses@... | 05/06/06

Still no good ddawson59@... | 05/10/06

System Restore noyava@... | 05/09/06

Thanks for the help! ddawson59@... | 05/10/06

no entries for creating new folder but in Norton Protected Recycle Bin gsondervorst@... | 05/15/06

Create Folder and Backup Files in One Shot hineses@... | 05/06/06

Bad behaviour on XP-Home errormsg@... | 05/15/06

No need to use system recovery to change default grah4321 | 05/15/06

It worked! ddawson59@... | 05/15/06

full year in format=sorting works richardw@... | 05/15/06

Didn't work Crake | 05/15/06

Just delete...... YetAnotherAdmin | 05/15/06

it works for W2000 gdavini@... | 05/15/06

I can't blame W2k then. YetAnotherAdmin | 05/15/06

Ok, so I've figured that one out....... YetAnotherAdmin | 05/15/06

We can almost juggle five balls........ YetAnotherAdmin | 05/15/06

Avoid dependency foreigner | 05/23/06

Really Annoying Trilln451 | 05/30/06

breaks VB format function dryflies | 07/27/06

RE: Easily create date-based folder names in Windows XP mr.abidsultan@... | 01/10/08

Removing adrianwadey@... | 01/29/08

Just shows some of this 'tips' are dangerous boristhemoggy@... | 01/29/08

RE: Easily create date-based folder names in Windows XP boristhemoggy@... | 01/21/08