How to use the command 'tree' (with examples)

The ’tree’ command is a Windows command that allows users to display a graphical tree of the directory structure for a specific path. It can be useful for visualizing the organization of files and folders within a directory.

Use case 1: Display the tree for the current directory

Code:

tree

Motivation: This use case is helpful when you want to see the directory structure of the current directory you are working in. It provides a clear visualization of the organization of files and folders.

Explanation: The command ’tree’ without any arguments will display the tree for the current directory. It traverses the subdirectories and displays the directory structure in a neat and hierarchical manner.

Example output:

Folder PATH listing
Volume serial number is XXXX-XXXX
C:.
+---DirectoryA
|   +---FileA1.txt
|   +---FileA2.txt
+---DirectoryB
|   +---FileB1.txt
|   +---FileB2.txt

Use case 2: Display the tree for a specific directory

Code:

tree path\to\directory

Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to see the directory structure of a specific directory. It allows you to analyze the organization of files and folders within that directory.

Explanation: By providing the file path of a specific directory as an argument, the ’tree’ command will display the tree for that directory. It will recursively traverse the subdirectories and show the hierarchical structure.

Example output:

Folder PATH listing
Volume serial number is XXXX-XXXX
C:\path\to\directory
+---DirectoryA
|   +---FileA1.txt
|   +---FileA2.txt
+---DirectoryB
|   +---FileB1.txt
|   +---FileB2.txt

Use case 3: Display the tree for a directory including files

Code:

tree path\to\directory /f

Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to see the directory structure of a specific directory along with the files contained within it. It provides a comprehensive view of all the files and folders.

Explanation: By adding the ‘/f’ argument, the ’tree’ command will display the tree for a directory including all the files. It will list both the subdirectories and the files contained within them in the hierarchical structure.

Example output:

Folder PATH listing
Volume serial number is XXXX-XXXX
C:\path\to\directory
+---DirectoryA
|   +---FileA1.txt
|   +---FileA2.txt
+---DirectoryB
|   +---FileB1.txt
|   +---FileB2.txt

Use case 4: Display the tree using ASCII characters instead of extended characters

Code:

tree path\to\directory /a

Motivation: This use case is helpful when you prefer to view the tree structure using ASCII characters instead of extended characters. It can make the output more readable in certain scenarios.

Explanation: By adding the ‘/a’ argument, the ’tree’ command will display the tree using ASCII characters. This can be useful when extended characters are not supported or do not display correctly.

Example output:

Folder PATH listing
Volume serial number is XXXX-XXXX
C:.
+---DirectoryA
|   +---FileA1.txt
|   +---FileA2.txt
+---DirectoryB
|   +---FileB1.txt
|   +---FileB2.txt

Conclusion:

The ’tree’ command is a valuable tool for visualizing the directory structure of a specific path in Windows. It allows users to easily navigate and analyze the organization of files and folders within a directory. By using different arguments, such as ‘/f’ to include files or ‘/a’ to use ASCII characters, users have the flexibility to customize the output according to their preferences. This command is especially useful for managing and organizing large directories.