CODEWITHSUNDEEP
regexpowershellpipeline
Sabuncu
Sabuncu

Reputation: 5274

PowerShell - How to process files in folders selected by regex pipeline

I use the following pipeline to select specific folders:

gci -path * | ? { $_.PsIsContainer -and $_.Fullname -notmatch '_' }

The above gives me folders that do not have an underscore in their name, which is what I want, and all is good so far.

But when I pipe the result to another Get-ChildItem, I get a BindingException error:

gci -path * | ? { $_.PsIsContainer -and $_.Fullname -notmatch '_' } | gci *.pdf

gci : The input object cannot be bound to any parameters for the command either because the command does not take pipeline input or the input and its properties do not match any of the parameters that take pipeline input.

+ CategoryInfo : InvalidArgument: (Book Folder B:PSObject) [Get-ChildItem], ParameterBindingException

+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : InputObjectNotBound,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.GetChildItemCommand

How can I process the files within each folder output from the above pipeline. For example, if a file has a pdf extension, I would like to invoke the Move-Item command for it.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 874

Answers (2)

JosefZ
JosefZ

Reputation: 30183

The following code snippet outputs fully qualified names of all .pdf files in subfolders one level under current folder that do not have an underscore in their full path. (Output file names could contain an underscore).

Get-ChildItem -Path . | 
  Where-Object { $_.PsIsContainer -and $_.Fullname -notmatch '_' } | 
    Get-ChildItem -Filter *.pdf |
      ForEach-Object { 
        <# do anything with every file object instead of just outputting its FullName <##>
        $_.FullName 
      }

You need to use the -Filter keyword in the second gci with respect to its allowed position 2 (note that position 1 is dedicated for -Path parameter).

For further explanation and for potential improvements/optimalisations, read Get-ChildItem as well as Get-ChildItem for FileSystem.

Upvotes: 2

Ranadip Dutta
Ranadip Dutta

Reputation: 9173

Change the last pipeline object

From gci *.pdf

To Get-childitem -Filter *.pdf

But I would suggest you optimize the total existing line with the below one: 

gci -path C:\Folder\Path\* -Filter *.pdf | ? { $_.PsIsContainer -and $_.Fullname -notmatch '_' }

Upvotes: 2

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