I am using the PowerShell script from this answer to do a file copy. The problem arises when I want to include multiple file types using the filter.
Get-ChildItem $originalPath -filter "*.htm" | `
foreach{ $targetFile = $htmPath + $_.FullName.SubString($originalPath.Length); `
New-Item -ItemType File -Path $targetFile -Force; `
Copy-Item $_.FullName -destination $targetFile }
works like a dream. However, The problem arises when I want to include multiple file types using the filter.
Get-ChildItem $originalPath `
-filter "*.gif","*.jpg","*.xls*","*.doc*","*.pdf*","*.wav*",".ppt*") | `
foreach{ $targetFile = $htmPath + $_.FullName.SubString($originalPath.Length); `
New-Item -ItemType File -Path $targetFile -Force; `
Copy-Item $_.FullName -destination $targetFile }
Gives me the following error:
Get-ChildItem : Cannot convert 'System.Object[]' to the type 'System.String' required by parameter 'Filter'. Specified method is not supported.
At F:\data\foo\CGM.ps1:121 char:36
+ Get-ChildItem $originalPath -filter <<<< "*.gif","*.jpg","*.xls*","*.doc*","*.pdf*","*.wav*",".ppt*" | `
+ CategoryInfo : InvalidArgument: (:) [Get-ChildItem], ParameterBindingException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : CannotConvertArgument,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.GetChildItemCommand
I have various iterations of parentheses, no parentheses, -filter
, -include
, defining the inclusions as variable (e.g., $fileFilter
) and each time get the above error, and always pointing to whatever follows -filter
.
The interesting exception to that is when I code -filter "*.gif,*.jpg,*.xls*,*.doc*,*.pdf*,*.wav*,*.ppt*"
. There are no errors, but I and get no results and nothing back to the console. I suspect I've inadvertently coded an impicit and
with that statement?
So what am I doing wrong, and how can I correct it?
-Filter only accepts a single string. -Include accepts multiple values, but qualifies the -Path argument. The trick is to append \*
to the end of the path, and then use -Include to select multiple extensions. BTW, quoting strings is unnecessary in cmdlet arguments unless they contain spaces or shell special characters.
Get-ChildItem $originalPath\* -Include *.gif, *.jpg, *.xls*, *.doc*, *.pdf*, *.wav*, .ppt*
Note that this will work regardless of whether $originalPath ends in a backslash, because multiple consecutive backslashes are interpreted as a single path separator. For example, try:
Get-ChildItem C:\\\\\Windows
Something like this should work (it did for me). The reason for wanting to use -Filter
instead of -Include
is that include takes a huge performance hit compared to -Filter
.
Below just loops each file type and multiple servers/workstations specified in separate files.
##
## This script will pull from a list of workstations in a text file and search for the specified string
## Change the file path below to where your list of target workstations reside
## Change the file path below to where your list of filetypes reside
$filetypes = gc 'pathToListOffiletypes.txt'
$servers = gc 'pathToListOfWorkstations.txt'
##Set the scope of the variable so it has visibility
set-variable -Name searchString -Scope 0
$searchString = 'whatYouAreSearchingFor'
foreach ($server in $servers)
{
foreach ($filetype in $filetypes)
{
## below creates the search path. This could be further improved to exclude the windows directory
$serverString = "\\"+$server+"\c$\Program Files"
## Display the server being queried
write-host “Server:” $server "searching for " $filetype in $serverString
Get-ChildItem -Path $serverString -Recurse -Filter $filetype |
#-Include "*.xml","*.ps1","*.cnf","*.odf","*.conf","*.bat","*.cfg","*.ini","*.config","*.info","*.nfo","*.txt" |
Select-String -pattern $searchstring | group path | select name | out-file f:\DataCentre\String_Results.txt
$os = gwmi win32_operatingsystem -computer $server
$sp = $os | % {$_.servicepackmajorversion}
$a = $os | % {$_.caption}
## Below will list again the server name as well as its OS and SP
## Because the script may not be monitored, this helps confirm the machine has been successfully scanned
write-host $server “has completed its " $filetype "scan:” “|” “OS:” $a “SP:” “|” $sp
}
}
#end script
use the include is the easiest way as per
http://www.vistax64.com/powershell/168315-get-childitem-filter-files-multiple-extensions.html
Get-ChildItem $originalPath\* -Include @("*.gif", "*.jpg", "*.xls*", "*.doc*", "*.pdf*", "*.wav*", "*.ppt")