How to copy pictures with 3+ stars to tablet preserving folder structure using free tools on Windows? [closed]

Question

Many users use starring photos to only view the best pictures later. Folders often have event name and date in them and are very important.

Using only free tools on Win system (win8), how can a user copy to a tablet or picture frame or travel laptop a set of 3000+ JPGs in 50+ folders that have 3+ stars (and not copying pictures that have no stars or less then 3 stars).

(paid tools are NOT an option!, light programming using batch files is OK).

Answer 1

In the case of preserving folder structure i would probably copy your top hierarchical folder to another area... run a search of only that newly copied top folder (and subfolders) of: "*. jpg Rating:<3 stars" and delete all the results.... just make sure you know what you are deleting because if you accidentally do a global search you'll delete your originals.... maybe even do a backup onto a thumbdrive and unplug it to be sure...

Answer 2

Make the star rating part of the filename when you export your photos from your raw converter or photo organizer program. Best use a prefix such as 3star or 2star or 1star. If your software does not support to include the rating as part of the filename, the workaround is to have seperate export settings for each star rating. E.g. filter to display only 3star pictures and then export them to using the preset which adds the "3star" prefix.

When you then transfer the pictures to your tablet, use the prefix as a filter in the copy operation. E.g. robocopy supports that.

In case your tablet is an iPad, the approach requires another intermediate structure where iTunes draws its pictures from, because it is not possible to filter in iTunes.