WebUser – 21 August 2019

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Workshop 4

Get more practical advice atwww.facebook.com/webusermagazine^21 Aug - 3 Sept 2019^57

Perform specific actions when files change

N

ewFileGo is a usefulWindows tool thatkeeps aneye

onyourfoldersfor you. If something happenstothe

folder, such as the addition of a file or a changetoan

existing one, the software performs an action ofyour choice.

This could be as simple as backing up

your photos whenyou transfer themto

your PC or openingyour Downloads

folder when a new file appears.

NewFileGo:bit.ly/nfgo482 | 10 mins | Windows8, 10

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Whenyou first run NewFileGo, an empty window opens.

Click‘Add newWatcher’.^1 The softwarekeeps aneye

on anyfoldersyou choose and, if something changes,

runs a specific action.We’re goingtomonitor new files that

arrive in the Downloadsfolder, so click thefolder button.^2

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Afolder selection window opens.Locatethefolderyou

wanttomonitor, then click the SelectFolder button.^1

It appears in the box.^2 We’re monitoringfor all types

of new file, sowecan leavethe other options in the ‘Filesto

monitor’ section settothe defaults: New Files^3 and ‘*.*’.^4

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Using this menu,^1 you can choose whethertorun the

commandevery time the software detects a change, or

run once using all the new file names as parameters ina

command.The Examples button offers afew predefined

actions, including Run File and Open with Notepad.^2

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The bestwaytoget thecommandyou want istowrite

it.Wewant File Explorertoopen the Downloadsfolder

when a new file is detected, so enterexplorer

/n,C:\Users\username\Downloads.^1 For help, see

Winaero’s guidetoExplorercommandsatbit.ly/expcmd482.

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Whenyou first add a newcommand, it’s disabled.To

enable it, right-click it in the list and choose the Enable/

Disable option.^1 You cantell if acommand is enabled

or disabledbyits icon. Acoloured icon^2 indicates an active

command, while a greyicon^3 means it’s inactive.

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Totestthe setup, open the Downloadsfolder, right-

click in it and select New,^1 Text Document.^2 A new

File Explorer window should opentoshow the

Downloadsfolder,following our rule. Aswell as new files,you

can set the softwaretowatch for changes inexisting files.

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