Bulk Folder Creation with PowerShell (Windows Edition)

When data builds infrastructure using CSV-driven automation.

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I often need to create multiple folders inside a OneDrive directory for storing data.

Creating a couple of them manually isn’t a problem.
Ten or more? That’s when I reach for this simple PowerShell script.

# Define the path where you want to create the folders at.
$folderPath = "\full\path\to\where\to\create\folders"

# Import the CSV file (change the path to the actual path of your CSV file). CSV should contain just a single column of the desired folder names with no header. Place the entire path in between the quotes below
$folderNames = Import-Csv "\full\path\to\csv\of\folder\names" -Header FolderName

# Loop through each row and create folders
foreach ($folder in $folderNames) {
    $newFolderPath = Join-Path $folderPath $folder.FolderName
    if (-not (Test-Path $newFolderPath)) {
        New-Item -Path $newFolderPath -ItemType Directory
        Write-Host "Created folder: $newFolderPath"
    } else {
        Write-Host "Folder already exists: $newFolderPath"
    }
}

# To execute just call in your PowerShell like this (make sure to prefix with a single period):  . "\Path\To this powershell script\"

(Note: Save this script as whatever name you like. Just be sure to save it with the .ps1 extension. Example - multiple_folder_gen.ps1)

The script requires two inputs:

• The destination folder path - where the new folders will be created ($folderPath)

• The path to a single-column CSV file containing folder names (no header row) ($folderNames argument)

Once those are set, run the script in PowerShell like this (don't forget that leading period):

."\Path\To\this\powershell script\"

A small but powerful automation.

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Your time and attention are valuable, and I’m grateful you choose to spend a little of it here….

Thank you for reading Back Office Dispatch.

Josh Otwell

P.S. If you’re facing a data problem similar to what I talk about here, you’re always welcome to reply and tell me what you’re working through.

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