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.

Answer 1

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

Answer 2

The ls (list) command executed in a terminal window is the key, and its man page lists options.

Let's say you are in your home directory, and you want a list of all the files in directory /x/y . The command would be

ls -b1A /x/y > listoffiles

for the -b option lists all files even with spaces, -1 (number one, not letter l) option of ls will list with one line per file name, and -A will make sure hidden files are shown, but not directories.

Answer 3

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.