CODEWITHSUNDEEP
powershellpowershell-2.0
tor
tor

Reputation: 636

String variable as argument to Get-ChildItem

Why is it that this works:

PS C:\Users\user> Get-ChildItem '\\COMPUTER\folder with spaces'

But this does not:

PS C:\Users\user> $a = "'\\COMPUTER\folder with spaces'"
PS C:\Users\user> Get-ChildItem $a

Cannot find path 'C:\Users\user\'\COMPUTER\folder with spaces''
because it does not exist

How can I use a variable to do something to the effect of the latter?

Upvotes: 2

Views: 13290

Answers (2)

Ansgar Wiechers
Ansgar Wiechers

Reputation: 200293

Nested quotes become part of the string.

  • Get-ChildItem '\\COMPUTER\folder with spaces'

    This will read the child items from the share folder with spaces on the host COMPUTER.

  • Get-ChildItem "\\COMPUTER\folder with spaces"

    This will do the same, but the double quotes also allow you to use variables inside the string, e.g. like this: "\\$computer\folder with spaces".

  • Get-ChildItem "'\\COMPUTER\folder with spaces'"

    This, however, will look for a file or folder with the literal name '\\COMPUTER\folder with spaces' (including the single quotes) in the current working directory on your local computer.

Upvotes: 3

tor
tor

Reputation: 636

Further experiments revealed this solution:

PS C:\Users\user> $a = "\\COMPUTER\folder with spaces"
PS C:\Users\user> Get-ChildItem "$a"

Upvotes: 4

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