create batch file based on date in file name and move files

Question

I have a large number of excel files with filenames that all end in a timestamp that looks like this:

examplefile_2018_08_24_110222.xlsx

I would like to move all

Answer 1

You should be able to follow this previous question: How to rename file by replacing substring using batch in Windows

That question is more of a "find and replace" batch file question but might serve you well. In your case, it seems like you may want to find and replace:

2018_08 with July2018,

2018_09 with August2018

etc.

The issue here is the amount of cases and loops needed.

---

For example this would be 3 months:

@echo off
Setlocal enabledelayedexpansion

Set "Location=C:\Users\Example"

Set "Pattern=2018_08"
Set "Replace=July2018"

For %%# in ("%Location%\*.xlsx") Do (
    Set "File=%%~nx#"
    Ren "%%#" "!File:%Pattern%=%Replace%!"
)

Set "Pattern=2018_09"
Set "Replace=August2018"

For %%# in ("%Location%\*.xlsx") Do (
    Set "File=%%~nx#"
    Ren "%%#" "!File:%Pattern%=%Replace%!"
)

Set "Pattern=2018_10"
Set "Replace=September2018"

For %%# in ("%Location%\*.xlsx") Do (
    Set "File=%%~nx#"
    Ren "%%#" "!File:%Pattern%=%Replace%!"
)

Pause&Exit

Note that C:\Users\Example would be replaced with your desired folder.

Answer 2

I think this will do what you need it to do. I added some comments so please let me know if you do not understand a line of the code.

@ECHO OFF

REM get a list of the files
FOR %%F IN (*.xlsx) DO (
    REM GET 2nd, 3rd and 4th parts of file name: examplefile_2018_08_24_110222.xlsx
    FOR /F "tokens=2,3,4 delims=_" %%G IN ("%%~F") DO (
        REM GET previous month and/or year
        FOR /F "delims=" %%J IN ('powershell "(Get-Date %%H/%%I/%%G).AddMonths(-1).ToString('MMMMyyyy')"') DO (
            REM make the directory
            md "%%J" >nul 2>&1
            REM move the file
            move "%%~F" "%%J\"
        )
    )
)