DropIt Copies Files Based On Their Name And Extension

Martin Brinkmann
Jun 24, 2010
Updated • Jan 20, 2013
Software
|
7

There are basically two types of computer users when it comes to organizing files on a computer system. Type a sorts files neatly in folders based on type or other criteria while type b likes to put all files into one folder that is growing immensely over time. The ever growing single folder can slow down operations including the time it takes to display the folder contents or to locate a file in the folder.

Manually sorting the files into different folders on the other hand can take quite some time. The free tool DropIt aids the user by automating much of the process.

dropit
dropit

The software can be configured to move files to designated directories based on their names and extensions. Folders and their linked file extensions are configured in the DropIt interface. Wildcards are supported as well as multiple file matches that need to be separated with a ";".

It is for instance possible to configure all document formats to be copied into a documents folder or all media formats into a media folder. Wildcards can be used to specify file names or extensions, *.doc* would for instance move all .doc and .docx files into the folder while a*.mp3 would move all mp3 files beginning with a into that folder.

Two options are available to copy the files into the selected folders. DropIt can be configured to add a shell extension to Windows Explorer. That's probably the easiest option, any right-click on a folder or files and the selection of Sort with DropIt will start the process.

The second option is to drag and drop folders or files on the program icon that is automatically created during installation.

The tested program version has a small bug. It is not possible to close the configuration window. Both the close button and the window X button are not working properly. Killing the application in the Windows Task Manager is the only option to close it. The changes on the other hand are saved automatically. DropIt works only if the configuration window is closed.

Users who want to give DropIt a chance can download the latest version from Sourceforge. The Open Source software is compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit editions of the Windows operating system and available as a portable version and setup.

Advertisement

Tutorials & Tips


Previous Post: «
Next Post: «

Comments

  1. Lupo73 said on October 12, 2010 at 4:17 pm
    Reply

    I’m the author of DropIt.. I’m working on a new widely improved and redesigned version of the software, that will include new features like Compression mode and a more user-friendly interface.

    I’m working also to fix the issue of right-click use and allow to process multiple individual files too.

    Contact me in my website for more info or feature requests.

    1. Greg said on September 29, 2013 at 7:45 pm
      Reply

      Hi I am trying to get Dropit to run with task manager Win7 64byte
      it says ” An error has occurred for task. error message: User account restriction error.
      The possible reasons are that blank passwords are not allowed or that a policy restriction has been enforced

      Can you elaborate for me please?

      Thanks GT

  2. dalila-rodriguez@spainmail.com said on June 25, 2010 at 12:16 am
    Reply

    Ciao Martin,
    This is the registry entry of DropIt:

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Sort with DropIt]
    @=”Sort with DropIt”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Sort with DropIt\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files\\DropIt\\DropIt.exe\” \”%1\””

    as you can see, each object will be passed individually to DropIt.exe.
    In addition, in the source code, there is no trace of DDE or COM.

    Via drag and drop, the software is ok (because it parse a value that contains the list of all dropped items)…and you will have one istance of it.

    But via right menu (as I wrote above) you wil have 1 istance for selected object. If you want try:
    1 – Open TaskManager.
    2 – Select 100 files at the same time (Not a folder containing 100 files).
    3 – look at the taskmanager.

    Ciao

    1. Martin said on June 25, 2010 at 8:41 am
      Reply

      Dalila, wow you are right. That’s bad. I always tried it with a folder full of files and not multiple individual files.

  3. Dalila said on June 24, 2010 at 10:42 pm
    Reply

    Do Not use this Software via Right Menu!!!
    This Software doesn’t work like a real (look at the code) shell extension!!!
    If you will pass (via Right Menu) a lot of Files or Folders at the same time, DropIt will open One Istance of itself for each selected object. Eg.:
    If you wil select 10 folders and 80 files (via Right Menu), yuo will have 90 istances of DropIt.exe!!!
    with the following consequences:
    CPU 100%
    Full use of your Ram (in my case 2 GB. Test with 150 files of 3 types).
    BSOD (in my case)

    Tested on XP Pro SP3 2 GB RAM.
    Ciao All

    1. Martin said on June 24, 2010 at 11:44 pm
      Reply

      Hm, I did not experience that, only one program was open all the time during the operation and only if the file type was unknown or the name was already existing in the target folder.

Leave a Reply

Check the box to consent to your data being stored in line with the guidelines set out in our privacy policy

We love comments and welcome thoughtful and civilized discussion. Rudeness and personal attacks will not be tolerated. Please stay on-topic.
Please note that your comment may not appear immediately after you post it.