I just knocked together a small Windows utility in VB at someone's request. It allows you to make multiple uniquely named copies of a file. You select a file, enter the number of copies, enter a starting value for the prefix/suffix and it makes the file copies.

Anybody else have a use for this somewhat esoteric thing? If so, let me know. I'll give you a download link.

http://www.hammerdata.com/Google/hdsFileDup.exe

Here's a utility I've been looking for for a while: something that will overwrite a bunch of files as zero-bit files without changing the filenames.

I collect Old Time Radio programs, MP3 files.  Once I get a CD's worth on my hard drive, I burn them to disk.  I'd then like to delete the data from the hard drive, reclaiming the disk space.  But in order to avoid duplication of time and effort in tracking down the missing episodes of a series, I'd like to keep the filenames present, so a "this file already exists" message will pop up if I try to collect a show again.

Does anyone know if such a thing exists?  I've searched with Google, Tucows, various other shareware and freeware utility sites, to no avail.

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You can do this with Sesame! 

No, really. The File I/O routines can do this. You can get your list of files, delete each file on the list, then write a new file of the same name with no content (or the content of your choice, like the date deleted or how you liked the program).

Mark's solution is much more elegant than mine, suggest you use his instead.....

I suspect that the argument for his command needs the full path and filename or you will probably default to current working directory.    Hmmm, I wonder if it will accept wildcards for filenames?  And how about /s switch to recurse through subfolders also.....

And maybe add ........ and ....... and this..... too! 

Thanks Mark!

This looks great, Mark, thanks!

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What if I used it in a batch file?

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Pages 125-133 of the Sesame 1.1 Programming Guide.

-Ray

Hello Scott,

Not that advanced at all. Below is a basic one. It will clear files that you give it until you pass it the word 'done' or nothing.

Var vName as String
Var vHandle as Int
Var vQuit as Int

vQuit = 0

While (vQuit = 0)
{
	vName = @QuestionUser("Insert complete file path to file to be cleared", "")
	If ((vName = "Done") or (vName = "")) Then
	{
		vQuit = 1
	}
	Else
	{
		If FileExists(vName) Then
		{
			FileDelete(vName)
			vHandle = FileOpen(vName)
			FileClose(vHandle)
			@Msg("Cleared File: " + vName)
		}
		Else
		{
			@MsgBox(vName, "File does not exist!", "Please try again")
		}
	}
} 

-Ray