To list files and folders in a directory in Linux or Windows, you need to use the tree
command.
Of course, here’s a tutorial that explains several options and variants of the tree
command on Windows systems.
The tree
command allows you to visualize the directory and file structure in a directory and its subdirectories in a tree-like form. Below, we’ll see how to use tree
with some of its most useful options and variants.
Basic Syntax:
tree [drive:][path] [/F] [/A]
[drive:][path]
: Specifies the drive and path of the directory from which the tree will be generated. By default, the current directory is used./F
: Displays files in the tree./A
: Displays files using extended characters (requires extended font support).
Usage Examples:
1. View the directory structure in the current directory:
tree
2. View the directory structure in a specific path:
tree C:\Path\To\Directory
3. Display files in the tree:
tree /F
4. Display files using extended characters:
tree /A
Additional Options:
1. Limit the tree depth:
You can limit the tree depth using the /L
option. For example, to view only the first 3 levels of directories and files:
tree /F /L 3
2. Redirect the output to a text file:
You can save the output of tree
to a text file instead of displaying it on the screen. To do this, use the >
operator to redirect the output:
tree /F > output.txt
This will save the directory and file structure to the “output.txt” file.
3. Exclude specific folders or files:
You can exclude specific folders or files using the /I
option. For example, to exclude the “Temporary Files” folder from the tree:</phtml Copy code
tree /F /I "Temporary Files"
4. Display file and folder sizes:
If you want to see the sizes of files and folders in the tree, you can use the /H
option:
tree /F /H
This will show the size of each file and folder in bytes.
Conclusion
The tree
command is a useful tool for visualizing the directory and file structure on your system. With the options mentioned above, you can customize the command’s output to suit your specific needs. Experiment with these options and get familiar with using tree
to better manage your directories and files.