How to exclude folders from automated zip in linux command line

This guide will show you how to exclude certain folders and its sub-folders from zip in linux.

If you want to zip a folder with few sub-folders under it and you would like to exclude some folders from it then how can you do it. Below is a scenario and steps.

For Exa: There is a folder

/home/John/Maindata

Now folder "Maindata" has another 5 sub-folders like:-

/home/John/Maindata
/home/John/Maindata/New1
/home/John/Maindata/New2
/home/John/Maindata/New3
/home/John/Maindata/New4
/home/John/Maindata/New5

Now if we would like to exclude sub-folder "New1" and "New3" from zip, then below are the steps.

Open text editor (Gedit / Leafpad)

Copy-Paste the below given commands in it and save with "Filename.sh"


__________________________________________________________

 #!/bin/bash
echo "processing......Please wait !!"       ##this is just to show a msg

zip -r Maindata.zip /home/John/Maindata -x *New1* *New3*

echo "Completed"

___________________________________________________________

Open terminal and write the below command

> chmod +x "filename.sh"   (press enter / return key)
>

This will make the file executable which can help for one-click / automated tasks.

Now run that file and it will create a zip file name - "Maindata.zip" which will have folders like this:-

Maindata.zip
         |
       New2
         |
       New4
         |
       New5

So this will exclude sub-folders - "New1" and "New3" from zip process.