Bulk Folder Creation from Excel – The Complete FolderForge Guide

by

Learn how to automatically create folders on your PC from a list organized in an Excel spreadsheet. This feature is useful when you need to create complex project structures or a large number of folders simultaneously.

What is ‘Creating Folder Structures from Excel’?

FolderForge’s Excel import feature allows you to import Microsoft Excel files (.xlsx, .xls) to automatically create folders on your Windows PC from a list of folder names. It eliminates the hassle of manually creating dozens or hundreds of folders, maximizing work efficiency.

Use Cases:

  • Batch Creation of Document Storage Folders by Project
  • Establishing Data Organization Folders by Client and Year
  • Setting Up a File Management System by Work Category
  • Automatic Folder Creation for Educational Materials and Lectures

How to Access the Feature

There are two ways to import Excel files in FolderForge.

Method 1: Using the Sidebar Menu

  1. After running the software, check the left sidebar.
  2. Click the “Import from Excel” menu.
  3. The Spreadsheet Import dialog box will open automatically.

Method 2: Direct Access from the Home Screen

  1. Click the “Home” menu in the left sidebar.
  2. Check the function located next to the “Import from Text File” button at the top of the folder structure input area.
  3. Select an Excel-related button or option.

Note: Both methods lead to the same Excel import dialog.

Preparing Your Excel File

Supported File Formats

  • .xlsx (Excel 2007 or later)
  • .xls (Excel 97-2003)

Rules for Creating Excel Files

In the Excel file, only Column A (the first column) is recognized as a folder name. Please ensure the following:

Correct Example:

Column A (Folder Name) Column B (Memo – Ignored)
Project_2024 Current Year
Client_A VIP Customer
Client_B Regular Customer
Data_Backup Monthly Backup

Important Notes:

  • Enter folder names only in Column A (Columns B, C, etc., will be ignored).
  • Empty rows are automatically skipped.
  • Be aware that header rows (e.g., “Folder Name”, “Description”) will also be created as folders.
  • Avoid special characters (< > : " / \ | ? *) that are not allowed in Windows.

Step-by-Step Usage

Step 1: Select Excel File

  1. In the “Import Folder Structure from Spreadsheet” dialog, click the “Select Excel File” button.
  2. When File Explorer opens, select the prepared Excel file.
  3. The file path and name will be displayed in the dialog.

Automatic Processing:

  • Once a file is selected, the software automatically loads the list of sheets within the Excel file.
  • The first sheet is automatically selected.

Step 2: Select Sheet

  1. If your Excel file contains multiple sheets, the “Select Sheet” dropdown menu will be activated.
  2. Select the sheet containing the folder list.
  3. You can see the message “Only data in Column A will be used as folder names” in the tooltip.

Step 3: Check Data Preview

The data from the selected sheet is automatically loaded and displayed at the bottom.

Preview Information:

  • Displays up to 20 rows in a table format.
  • All columns are displayed, but only Column A is actually used.
  • Row numbers are displayed alongside for easy verification.

Statistical Information:

  • Number of folders to be created
  • Number of empty rows to be ignored
  • Number of valid folder names

Step 4: Validation

The software automatically validates the following items:

File Format Validation:

  • Displays an error message if the format is not supported.

Folder Name Validation:

  • Checks for the inclusion of Windows forbidden characters.
  • Duplicate folder name warning (can proceed).
  • Checks for empty data.

In case of an error:

  • A clear error message will be displayed in a pop-up.
  • Correct the problematic part and try again.

Step 5: Apply to Input Field

  1. After checking the preview and confirming there are no issues, click the “Apply to Input Field” button.
  2. The Excel data will be converted into a folder structure text format.
  3. It will be automatically inserted into the folder structure input area on the main screen.

Conversion Result Example:

Excel Column A:

Project_2024
Client_A
Client_B

Converted Text:

Project_2024
Client_A
Client_B

Step 6: Execute Folder Creation

  1. Specify the location where folders will be created in the Select Path area below the input field.
  2. Finally, confirm the folder structure to be created in the Preview Area on the right.
  3. Click the “Create Folders” button at the bottom.

Creation Process:

  • A progress bar will be displayed, allowing you to check the real-time status.
  • Upon completion, a success message and a results dialog will be displayed.
  • Statistics such as the number of folders created and skipped items will be provided.

Advanced Usage Tips

Creating Hierarchical Structures

Currently, the Excel feature only supports single-level folders, but you can create hierarchical structures using the text input feature.

Method:

  1. Import the basic folder list from Excel.
  2. Manually edit the text applied to the input field.
  3. Add indentation (2 spaces or a tab) to represent subfolders.

Example:

Project_2024
  Design
  Development
  Testing
Client_A
  Contract
  Deliverables

Bulk Folder Processing

When creating hundreds or more folders, the following is recommended:

  • Divide the Excel file into multiple sheets for category-specific management.
  • Import each sheet and create folders incrementally.
  • Proceed by verifying the results for each batch.

Applying Folder Naming Conventions

Naming conventions to enhance work efficiency:

  • Include Date: 2024-01_ProjectName
  • Numbering System: 001_ClientA, 002_ClientB
  • Category Prefix: DOC_Contract, IMG_Images

Troubleshooting Guide

Issue: Broken Korean Folder Names

Cause: This may be an encoding issue with the Excel file.

Solution:

  • Save the Excel file as a different name to convert it to UTF-8 encoding.
  • It is recommended to use the latest version of Microsoft Excel.

Duplicate Folder Warning Message

Cause: The same folder name appears multiple times in Column A.

Solution:

  • Use the Remove Duplicates feature in Excel (Data > Remove Duplicates).
  • Alternatively, you can ignore the warning and proceed (existing folders will be automatically skipped).

Error Including Special Characters

Cause: The folder name contains characters forbidden by Windows.

Forbidden Characters: < > : " / \ | ? *

Solution:

  • Use the Find and Replace feature in Excel to remove or replace special characters.
  • Replacement with an underscore (_) or hyphen (-) is recommended.

File Read Failure

Cause: The Excel file is corrupted or read-only.

Solution:

  • Open the Excel file to check if it functions normally.
  • Save as a different name to create a new file.
  • Remove the read-only attribute.

Performance Optimization Guide

Handling Large Excel Files

Recommendations:

  • It is recommended to create no more than 500 folders at a time.
  • If more folders are needed, divide them into multiple sheets and run the process multiple times.
  • You can experience faster speeds on a PC equipped with an SSD.

When Using Network Drives

Important Notes:

  • Creating folders on a network drive may result in slower speeds.
  • For large-scale operations, it is recommended to perform them on a local drive first and then move them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Can Columns B and C of Excel also be used?

In the current version, only Column A is recognized as a folder name. Other columns can be used for notes or descriptions.

Q2. Can header rows be skipped automatically?

Currently, all data in Column A is processed as folder names. If there are header rows, manually delete them or start entering data from row 2.

Q3. Do cells containing Excel formulas also work?

Yes, the calculated result of the formula will be used as the folder name.

Q4. Is Google Sheets also supported?

It is not directly supported. Please download Google Sheets in Excel format (.xlsx) before using it.

Q5. Can multiple sheets be imported at once?

Only one sheet can be selected at a time. If you need to use multiple sheets, import each one and create folders sequentially.

Security and Privacy

  • FolderForge operates only on your local PC and does not require an internet connection.
  • Excel files are accessed in read-only mode and are not modified.
  • User data is not transmitted externally and is processed only within your PC.
  • Personal or sensitive data can also be processed securely.

Related Features

Import from Text File

You can also import folder structures from regular text files (.txt) instead of Excel. This is useful for quickly creating simple lists or hierarchical structures.

Save Template

Frequently used folder structures can be saved as templates for reuse. Manage them in the “Templates” menu on the sidebar.

Update Roadmap

Features to be added in the future:

  • Multi-column support (utilizing Columns B, C)
  • Automatic hierarchical structure recognition (indentation-based)
  • File selection via drag and drop
  • Automatic Excel template download
  • Recently used file history

Conclusion

FolderForge’s Excel import feature is a powerful tool that allows you to complete bulk folder creation tasks in minutes. Easily implement folder lists organized in spreadsheets on your PC to maximize work productivity.

Key Summary:

  1. Enter folder names in Excel Column A.
  2. Select “Import from Excel” in the sidebar.
  3. Select file and sheet, then check the preview.
  4. Apply to input field to create folders.

About FolderForge and Download