How to create multiple empty files using command prompt in Windows

Question

I am working on a project where I need to create multiple empty files. In the past, I have used the touch command, but this only allows me to create one file at a time. Is there a way to create multiple empty files using the command prompt in Windows?

I appreciate any suggestions or solutions you may have. Thank you!

Does this answer your question? How to create an empty file at the command line in Windows? — dan1st
– dan1st, Commented Mar 13, 2020 at 21:25
@dan1st - The answer indicated as duplicate only addresses how to create one (1) empty file. The OP wants to create many. — lit
– lit, Commented Mar 14, 2020 at 7:28

lit · Accepted Answer · 2021-11-07 13:47:25Z

6

A FOR loop will allow you to make as many files as you want. The following command creates ten (10) files.

FOR /L %A IN (1,1,10) DO (TYPE>"%TEMP%\%~A.txt" NUL)

If this is used in a .bat file script, be sure to double the % character on the variable.

FOR /L %%A IN (1,1,10) DO (TYPE>"%TEMP%\%%~A.txt" NUL)

edited Nov 7, 2021 at 13:47

answered Mar 14, 2020 at 2:15

lit

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4 Comments

Boris Zinchenko Over a year ago

I get error when running this script on Windows 10 in BAT file: "%%A was unexpected at this time."

lit Over a year ago

@BorisZinchenko, sorry, there needs to be a SPACE character between IN and (. Also, the first line is for use at the interacting cmd.exe prompt. The second line is for use in a .bat file script.

Boris Zinchenko Over a year ago

Thank you so much! Everybody trying to copy this line from here, be aware that you must explicitly put spaces instead of other characters copied by browser. I was totally confused. It was very hard to distinguish. Now it works perfectly.

lit Over a year ago

@רועי אנגל, if you have a answer, please select what you consider to be the best answer and select the check mark for that answer. That is how SO works.

sippybear · Accepted Answer · 2020-03-13 21:37:12Z

3

You can use the FOR command like this:

FOR %N IN (a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,j,k,l,m,n,o,p,q,r,s,t,u,v,w,x,y,z) DO (echo null > C:\temp\%N.txt)

This will create 26 empty .txt files with one line.

If you want to clean up the files created, use this:

FOR %N IN (a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,j,k,l,m,n,o,p,q,r,s,t,u,v,w,x,y,z) DO (del C:\temp\%N.txt)

answered Mar 13, 2020 at 21:37

sippybear

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4 Comments

lit Over a year ago

Are you sure these files are empty? Zero length?

serge Over a year ago

does not work, the for %n

bsethi24 Over a year ago

@serge %N and %n both are working fine for me.

bsethi24 Over a year ago

@lit to get the zero length file, we need to use either echo. 2> (please consider no space between 2 and >) OR type NUL >

Dharman · Accepted Answer · 2021-07-07 12:42:39Z

2

Great solutions for a huge number of files although
they just didn't work for me. Here is what
worked for me using windows CMD or VScode Terminal/

Create multiple files:

ni file_name.php, other.css, thirdexample.html

Create multiple directories:

mkdir folder-a, folderama, library

edited Jul 7, 2021 at 12:42

Dharman♦

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answered Jul 7, 2021 at 12:36

Sagive

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