As you know, I take pictures and they mostly go to archival, which for me, it is Flickr. But before those pictures get archived, I digitally process them locally, meaning, in my personal computer. I have a system of folders organized by months and weeks and days. You can imagine it’s tedious to create them manually — which I did for as long as I can remember. Today, I put in an hour of effort to automate the creation of one year’s worth of folders, so that will be for 2023, plus folders for the remainder of 2022.

Things I needed to make it happen

1. A spreadsheet that can automate the generation of text which I will use for the folder names
2. A batch file that can execute the actual creation of the folders in Windows

Spreadsheet

Google Sheets to the rescue! The formats that I needed for Sheets to generate are these:

• Months prefixed by a three-digit sequential numbers so that they can be sorted in the proper sequence in a file viewer (e.g., 001 – January, 002 – February, etc.)
• Days in the format yyyy-mm-dd
• Weeks — I’ve added weekly folders to further organize the days that could really grow into a hot mess especially when there are multiple folders in just one day

Here is the actual spreadsheet that contains all the formula that I’ve used:

Windows batch file

A batch file is like executing a command in the command line of Windows but this one is all pre-packaged in a file. You just double-click it and it will execute.

From the spreadsheet, I copied the generated text from there and pasted it in Notepad++ which has a Line Operations > Join Lines function — really helpful in fixing the format of the copied and pasted text from the spreadsheet.

Here is the actual content of the batch file that I’ve used to create the 2023 folders. Here’s how you can use it on your own:

1. Select all those texts below
2. Copy and paste to a text editor
3. Save it with .bat as an extension (for Notepad: “Save as” then choose “All files” then put “.bat” at the end of your file name)
4. Put the batch file inside a folder where you want to create these folders
5. Execute the file and voila, magic!

@ECHO OFF
md "001 - January\Week 1" "001 - January\Week 2" "001 - January\Week 3" "001 - January\Week 4" "001 - January\Week 5" "002 - February\Week 1" "002 - February\Week 2" "002 - February\Week 3" "002 - February\Week 4" "002 - February\Week 5" "003 - March\Week 1" "003 - March\Week 2" "003 - March\Week 3" "003 - March\Week 4" "003 - March\Week 5" "004 - April\Week 1" "004 - April\Week 2" "004 - April\Week 3" "004 - April\Week 4" "004 - April\Week 5" "005 - May\Week 1" "005 - May\Week 2" "005 - May\Week 3" "005 - May\Week 4" "005 - May\Week 5" "006 - June\Week 1" "006 - June\Week 2" "006 - June\Week 3" "006 - June\Week 4" "006 - June\Week 5" "007 - July\Week 1" "007 - July\Week 2" "007 - July\Week 3" "007 - July\Week 4" "007 - July\Week 5" "008 - August\Week 1" "008 - August\Week 2" "008 - August\Week 3" "008 - August\Week 4" "008 - August\Week 5" "009 - September\Week 1" "009 - September\Week 2" "009 - September\Week 3" "009 - September\Week 4" "009 - September\Week 5" "010 - October\Week 1" "010 - October\Week 2" "010 - October\Week 3" "010 - October\Week 4" "010 - October\Week 5" "011 - November\Week 1" "011 - November\Week 2" "011 - November\Week 3" "011 - November\Week 4" "011 - November\Week 5" "012 - December\Week 1" "012 - December\Week 2" "012 - December\Week 3" "012 - December\Week 4" "012 - December\Week 5"           "001 - January\Day\2023-01-01" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-02" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-03" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-04" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-05" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-06" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-07" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-08" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-09" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-10" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-11" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-12" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-13" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-14" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-15" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-16" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-17" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-18" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-19" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-20" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-21" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-22" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-23" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-24" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-25" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-26" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-27" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-28" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-29" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-30" "001 - January\Day\2023-01-31" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-01" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-02" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-03" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-04" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-05" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-06" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-07" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-08" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-09" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-10" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-11" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-12" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-13" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-14" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-15" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-16" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-17" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-18" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-19" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-20" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-21" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-22" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-23" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-24" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-25" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-26" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-27" "002 - February\Day\2023-02-28" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-01" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-02" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-03" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-04" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-05" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-06" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-07" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-08" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-09" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-10" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-11" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-12" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-13" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-14" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-15" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-16" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-17" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-18" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-19" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-20" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-21" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-22" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-23" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-24" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-25" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-26" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-27" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-28" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-29" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-30" "003 - March\Day\2023-03-31" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-01" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-02" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-03" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-04" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-05" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-06" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-07" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-08" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-09" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-10" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-11" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-12" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-13" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-14" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-15" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-16" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-17" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-18" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-19" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-20" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-21" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-22" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-23" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-24" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-25" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-26" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-27" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-28" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-29" "004 - April\Day\2023-04-30" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-01" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-02" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-03" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-04" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-05" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-06" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-07" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-08" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-09" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-10" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-11" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-12" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-13" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-14" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-15" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-16" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-17" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-18" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-19" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-20" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-21" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-22" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-23" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-24" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-25" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-26" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-27" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-28" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-29" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-30" "005 - May\Day\2023-05-31" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-01" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-02" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-03" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-04" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-05" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-06" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-07" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-08" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-09" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-10" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-11" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-12" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-13" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-14" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-15" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-16" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-17" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-18" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-19" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-20" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-21" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-22" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-23" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-24" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-25" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-26" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-27" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-28" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-29" "006 - June\Day\2023-06-30" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-01" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-02" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-03" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-04" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-05" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-06" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-07" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-08" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-09" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-10" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-11" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-12" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-13" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-14" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-15" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-16" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-17" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-18" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-19" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-20" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-21" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-22" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-23" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-24" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-25" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-26" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-27" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-28" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-29" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-30" "007 - July\Day\2023-07-31" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-01" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-02" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-03" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-04" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-05" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-06" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-07" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-08" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-09" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-10" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-11" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-12" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-13" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-14" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-15" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-16" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-17" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-18" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-19" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-20" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-21" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-22" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-23" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-24" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-25" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-26" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-27" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-28" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-29" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-30" "008 - August\Day\2023-08-31" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-01" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-02" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-03" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-04" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-05" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-06" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-07" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-08" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-09" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-10" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-11" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-12" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-13" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-14" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-15" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-16" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-17" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-18" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-19" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-20" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-21" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-22" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-23" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-24" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-25" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-26" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-27" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-28" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-29" "009 - September\Day\2023-09-30" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-01" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-02" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-03" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-04" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-05" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-06" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-07" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-08" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-09" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-10" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-11" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-12" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-13" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-14" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-15" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-16" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-17" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-18" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-19" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-20" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-21" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-22" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-23" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-24" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-25" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-26" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-27" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-28" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-29" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-30" "010 - October\Day\2023-10-31" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-01" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-02" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-03" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-04" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-05" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-06" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-07" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-08" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-09" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-10" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-11" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-12" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-13" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-14" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-15" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-16" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-17" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-18" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-19" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-20" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-21" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-22" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-23" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-24" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-25" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-26" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-27" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-28" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-29" "011 - November\Day\2023-11-30" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-01" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-02" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-03" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-04" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-05" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-06" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-07" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-08" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-09" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-10" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-11" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-12" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-13" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-14" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-15" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-16" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-17" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-18" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-19" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-20" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-21" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-22" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-23" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-24" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-25" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-26" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-27" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-28" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-29" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-30" "012 - December\Day\2023-12-31"

That’s it!

Of course, this isn’t just for photography — it could actually be for anything that you want to organize by date. 🗓️ 🫰