VBscript to check for the existance of a file (with the ability to use a wildcard) within a certain time frame

Question

Good morning all, I have been trying to pull together a VBscript that takes a file path and a file name (that may have a wildcard in it) from the user when the script is exicuted. The script will then check the specified directory for a file that matches the provided file name and then looks at the last modified date to see if it was created/modified within a certain time frame (i.e. 6am plus or minus 5 minutes). It would then copy said file into a zip file.

So far I have been able to get the arguments working, and I have it setup to grab the current time, look at the files in the folder and match a hard coded filename to one in the folder. This is what I have thus far.

currentTime = Now()

filePath = Wscript.Arguments.Item(0)
fileName = Wscript.Arguments.Item(1)

Set fileSystem = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set directory = fileSystem.GetFolder(filePath)

For each file in directory.Files
    If file.Name = fileName Then
        Wscript.echo file.Name & " " & file.DateLastModified
    end if
Next

I am a VBscript noob and I am looking forward to learning the way!

Cap3

Answer 1

This answer uses Regular Expressions. To make it work it rewrites your pattern format into regular expression format. e.g. *.txt will become ^.*[.]txt$.

The following lists text files in C:\Temp last modified between 5:55 AM and 6:05 AM:

strPath = "C:\Temp"
strFile = "*.txt"
startTime = 555
endTime = 605

Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set folder = fso.GetFolder(strPath)
Set files = folder.Files

Set re = New RegExp
re.IgnoreCase = true
re.Pattern = "^" + Replace(Replace(strFile, ".", "[.]"), "*", ".*") + "$"

For Each f in Files
  Set matches = re.Execute(f.Name)
  If matches.Count > 0 Then
    HM = Hour(f.DateLastAccessed) * 100 + Minute(f.DateLastAccessed)
    If HM >= startTime And HM <= endTime Then
      WScript.Echo f.Name, f.DateLastAccessed
    End If
  End If
Next

References:

• Regular Expression (RegExp) Object

• Regular Expressions and Operators

• Microsoft Beefs Up VBScript with Regular Expressions

• Hey, Scripting Guy! Raising Eyebrows on Regular Expressions

Answer 2

For your example, the easiest way to do this is to use the inStr (In String)function. I find it works in 99% of my wild card tasks. So, in your example, instead of using:

If file.Name = fileName Then

use:

If inStr(file.Name, filename) Then

This doesn't actually allow for wildcards(*) as it won't find a match(with the asterisk in the argument), so you would need to strip the wildcard from the string and replace it with nothing (or just train the user to not use wildcards):

Replace(filename,"*", "")

However, the inStr function does allow for partial or full matches which makes it suitable for most wildcard tasks. Therefore, if your file name is pic.jpg, whether the user searches for:

pic or jpg or p or c or pi etc.

It will return a match. Keep in mind though, that the instr function returns a number where the match shows up in the string. So, if it doesn't create a match, the result will be 0. I've run into examples where NOT doesn't work or I've needed to use the full syntax which in this case would be:

If inStr(file.Name, filename)<>0 Then

Answer 3

If you use WMI, it supports wildcards.

Dim strPath

strFile = "*.*"
If WScript.Arguments.Count > 1 Then
    strPath = WScript.Arguments.Item(0)
    strFile = WScript.Arguments.Item(1)
Elseif WScript.Arguments.Count = 1 Then
    strPath = WScript.Arguments.Item(0)
Else

End If

Set objFso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
If Not objFso.FolderExists(strPath) Then
    WScript.Echo "Folder path does not exist."
    WScript.Quit
Else
    'Remove any trailing slash
    If Right(strPath, 1) = "\" Then
        strPath = Left(strPath, Len(strPath) - 1)
    End If
End If
Set objFso = Nothing

If Not IsNull(strPath) And strPath <> "" Then
    strQuery = strPath & "\" & strFile
Else
    strQuery = strFile
End If

strQuery = Replace(strQuery, "*", "%")
strQuery = Replace(strQuery, "?", "_")

strQuery = Replace(strQuery, "\", "\\")

strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
    & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")

Set colFiles = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
    ("Select * From CIM_DataFile Where FileName Like '" & strQuery & "'")

For Each objFile in colFiles
    WScript.Echo "Access mask: " & objFile.AccessMask
    WScript.Echo "Archive: " & objFile.Archive
    WScript.Echo "Compressed: " & objFile.Compressed
    WScript.Echo "Compression method: " & objFile.CompressionMethod
    WScript.Echo "Creation date: " & objFile.CreationDate
    WScript.Echo "Computer system name: " & objFile.CSName
    WScript.Echo "Drive: " & objFile.Drive
    WScript.Echo "8.3 file name: " & objFile.EightDotThreeFileName
    WScript.Echo "Encrypted: " & objFile.Encrypted
    WScript.Echo "Encryption method: " & objFile.EncryptionMethod
    WScript.Echo "Extension: " & objFile.Extension
    WScript.Echo "File name: " & objFile.FileName
    WScript.Echo "File size: " & objFile.FileSize
    WScript.Echo "File type: " & objFile.FileType
    WScript.Echo "File system name: " & objFile.FSName
    WScript.Echo "Hidden: " & objFile.Hidden
    WScript.Echo "Last accessed: " & objFile.LastAccessed
    WScript.Echo "Last modified: " & objFile.LastModified
    WScript.Echo "Manufacturer: " & objFile.Manufacturer
    WScript.Echo "Name: " & objFile.Name
    WScript.Echo "Path: " & objFile.Path
    WScript.Echo "Readable: " & objFile.Readable
    WScript.Echo "System: " & objFile.System
    WScript.Echo "Version: " & objFile.Version
    WScript.Echo "Writeable: " & objFile.Writeable
Next

EDIT..........

You can use a WMI event script with the __InstanceCreationEvent to monitor for new file creation in a specific folder. It looks like this:

strSource = "C:\\somefilepath\\withdoubleshlashes"
strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" & strComputer & "rootcimv2")

Set colEvents = objWMIService.ExecNotificationQuery _
    ("SELECT * FROM __InstanceCreationEvent WITHIN 10 WHERE " _
        & "Targetinstance ISA 'CIM_DirectoryContainsFile' AND " _
        & "TargetInstance.GroupComponent= " _
        & "'Win32_Directory.Name=""" & strSource & """'")

Do While True
    Set objEvent = colEvents.NextEvent()
    copyFile(objEvent.TargetInstance.PartComponent)
Loop

For a full explanation, you can read Monitoring and Archiving Newly Created Files on my blog.