How can I split a folder with thousands of images into multiple sub-folders?

Question

I have a directory with about 5000 images and I'd like to split/move it in to 50 folders (which will need to be created) with 100 images each.

Is there a way to do this using terminal?

I'm running OS X.

Lri · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-17 08:56:08Z

45

i=0; for f in *; do d=dir_$(printf %03d $((i/100+1))); mkdir -p $d; mv "$f" $d; let i++; done

answered Jul 16, 2013 at 13:01

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Comments

anubhava · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-16 21:33:16Z

awk one-liner can do that. Consider this awk command:

find . -name "*.JPG" | awk '!(++cnt%100) {"mkdir sub_" ++d|getline}'

Run it inside the folder with 5000 images. This will create 50 folders with the names sub_1, sub_2...sub_50.

Also to move files into these newly created directories:

find . -type f | awk '{ a[++cnt] = $0 } cnt==100 { subd = "sub_" ++d; system("mkdir " subd); for (f in a) system("mv " a[f] " " subd); cnt=0 }'

Thanks but I'm getting the errors find: -name: requires additional arguments
Thanks for continuing to help but it seems to not be selecting the correct name. I am seeing this *** error mv: rename ./2012-09-10 to sub_2/2012-09-10: No such file or directory *** the filenames are IMG_2789.JPG for example