Portable Directory List & Print: Export, Print & Save Folder ContentsPortable Directory List & Print is a lightweight, user-friendly utility designed to help you quickly generate, export, print, and save lists of files and folders. Whether you need a neat inventory of a project folder, a printable report of media files, or a CSV for spreadsheet work, this tool streamlines the process without requiring installation — ideal for USB drives, technicians, and anyone who values convenience and portability.
What it does
Portable Directory List & Print scans a chosen folder (and optionally its subfolders) and compiles a list of items with selectable details such as name, path, size, date modified, and attributes. After scanning, you can:
- View the list in a clear, sortable table.
- Filter or search the results.
- Export to formats like TXT, CSV, Excel (XLS/XLSX), or XML.
- Print formatted lists directly or save them as PDFs via a virtual printer.
- Copy the list to the clipboard for pasting into other applications.
- Customize columns and the output layout for reporting needs.
Key fact: Portable Directory List & Print works without installation and can run directly from removable media.
Typical use cases
- IT technicians creating inventories of files on client machines or external drives.
- Photographers and videographers cataloging media files before backups.
- Archivists and librarians preparing lists of digital holdings.
- Developers documenting project contents or distributing file manifests.
- Small businesses generating printed reports of product files or documents.
Main features
- Folder and recursive scanning.
- Selectable columns (name, extension, size, date modified/created/accessed, attributes).
- File filtering by extension, size range, date range, or text search.
- Export options: TXT, CSV, XLS/XLSX, XML, HTML.
- Printing templates and customizable print previews.
- Clipboard copy and drag-and-drop support.
- Lightweight, portable operation (no admin rights or installation required).
- Multi-language interface in many builds.
Key fact: Export formats like CSV and XLSX make integration with Excel and other data tools straightforward.
Advantages
| Pros | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Portability | Runs from USB drives — no install needed. |
| Speed | Fast scanning and export of large folders. |
| Flexibility | Multiple export formats and customizable columns. |
| Ease of use | Intuitive UI with filtering and sorting. |
| Low resource use | Suitable for older or low-powered machines. |
Limitations & considerations
- Some advanced features (e.g., network scanning across restricted shares) may require appropriate permissions.
- Very large folders (millions of files) can slow the UI; exporting in batches or using filters helps.
- The free/portable edition may lack advanced formatting or automation features available in paid versions.
How to use (quick guide)
- Download the portable package and extract it to a USB drive or local folder.
- Run the executable — no installation required.
- Click to select a folder. Enable “Include subfolders” if you want a recursive list.
- Choose which columns to display (Name, Size, Date Modified, etc.).
- Use filters or the search box to narrow results.
- Click Export and choose a format (CSV for spreadsheets, TXT for plain lists).
- To print, choose Print Preview to adjust layout, then print or save as PDF.
Tips for better lists
- Use file extension filters (for example, .jpg;.png) when cataloging media to reduce clutter.
- Sort by date modified before exporting to create chronological reports.
- Export to CSV and open in Excel to apply additional sorting, formulas, or pivot tables.
- Save frequently used column and print templates for consistent reporting.
- For backups, include full paths when exporting so files can be located later.
Alternatives
If you need more automation, remote scanning, or integration with enterprise tools, consider command-line options (dir /b /s on Windows, find and ls variants on Unix) or scripting in PowerShell/Python to generate tailored reports. For GUI alternatives, there are both free and commercial directory-listing tools with varying feature sets.
Conclusion
Portable Directory List & Print is a practical, no-install solution for anyone who needs to quickly generate, export, print, or save folder contents. Its portability, range of export formats, and straightforward interface make it especially useful for technicians, creatives, and small businesses needing consistent file inventories without the overhead of installation.
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