Using batch commands to create folders and copy filenames - batch-file

Question

I want to copy all files on a list to another location and create sub-folders in that location based on certain attributes of the filenames. In this case, the company names. All files are currently located in desktop\main.
For example, lets say the list has filenames like
From((Sales#JonesCompany.com))main.txt
From((AR#PeterIndustries.com))main.txt
From((AP#BaseCorporation.com))main.txt
The script should copy those files, make a directory like JonesCompany.com, and finally copy all respective filenames to that location.
The end result should be like
desktop\final_location\JonesCompany\
desktop\final_location\PeterIndustries\
desktop\final_location\BaseCorporation\
So far I have
for /f "delims=" %%i in (main.txt) do echo F|xcopy "C:\Users\Desktop\Main\%%i" MD %%i "C:\Users\Desktop\final_location\%%i" /i /z /y
Thanks in advance

Answer 1

I think this does what you want:
#ECHO OFF
SETLOCAL
set "basepath=C:\Users\Desktop\Main\"
set "filter=*.txt"
set "targetpath=C:\Users\Desktop\final_location\"
echo scanning %basepath%%filter%
for %%i in ("%basepath%%filter%") do (
for /F "tokens=1,2,3 delims=#)" %%a in ("%%i") do (
echo Creating Folder %%b...
mkdir %basepath%%%b\
echo copying file %%i to %targetpath%%%b\...
copy "%%i" %targetpath%%%b\
)
)
You can easily change the basepath, targetpath and filter variables as needed.
Explanation
The trickiest part is for /F "tokens=1,2,3 delims=#)" %%a in ("%%i") do (. %%i is a filename. Let's say it's From((Sales#JonesCompany.com))main.txt. This for statement will split the string at any instance of the delimiters # or ). This leaves us with the following array of strings:
%%a: "From((Sales"
%%b: "JonesCompany.com"
%%c: NULL (I think)
%%d: "main.txt"
Obviously, we want %%b so we use it as the new folder name. We then copy %%i, the original full path, to the new folder.
update removed a loop thanks to #Stephan pointing out something I didn't realize!