How to properly -filter multiple strings in a PowerShell copy script

Question

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-Chi         


        

Answer 1

use the include is the easiest way as per

http://www.vistax64.com/powershell/168315-get-childitem-filter-files-multiple-extensions.html

Answer 2

-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

Answer 3

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

Answer 4

Get-ChildItem $originalPath\* -Include @("*.gif", "*.jpg", "*.xls*", "*.doc*", "*.pdf*", "*.wav*", "*.ppt")