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Replace multiple text values within every file of a selected folder

I have searched and tried all kinds of scripts and have not found what I am looking for. I cannot use a shareware app as it is against the network security rules to install any shareware. I have to use standard scripting tools.

I have a large number of text files that need to have multiple values changed in each file. I have found a script that will make the change but I have to set the file name, string to search, and string to replace each time. I want to be able to create a list of values to search for and their corresponding replacement value. Then set a base folder that the code will search each file within the folder and replace each of the listed values. i.e. Within every file in a designated folder replace every instance of "Thomas" with "Tom", every instance of "Susan" with "Sue" etc. The code I am using now is:

Option Explicit

Dim fso,strFilename,strSearch,strReplace,objFile,oldContent,newContent
 
strFilename="C:\Files\Test1.txt"
strSearch="Thomas"
strReplace="Tom"
 
'Does file exist?
Set fso=CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
if fso.FileExists(strFilename)=false then
   wscript.echo "file not found!"
   wscript.Quit
end if
 
'Read file
set objFile=fso.OpenTextFile(strFilename,1)
oldContent=objFile.ReadAll
 
'Write file
newContent=replace(oldContent,strSearch,strReplace,1,-1,0)
set objFile=fso.OpenTextFile(strFilename,2)
objFile.Write newContent
objFile.Close

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oBdA

How about a few lines of Powershell? This will overwrite the processed files (as your script does) but could easily be changed to use new names or a different target directory. The replacement is currently case sensitive.

$BaseFolder = "C:\Files"
$Filter = "*.txt"
$Replace = @{
	"Thomas" = "Tom"
	"Susan" = "Sue"
}
Get-ChildItem -Path $BaseFolder -Filter $Filter | % {
	"Processing $($_.FullName) ..." | Write-Host
	$Content = Get-Content -Path $_.FullName | Out-String
	$Replace.GetEnumerator() | % {$Content = $Content.Replace($_.Name, $_.Value)}
	$Content | Set-Content -Path $_.FullName
}

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SCMCEN

ASKER

Thanks for the quick response. Unfortunately Powershell cannot be run on my machine due to network security rules.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Robert Schutt

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SCMCEN

ASKER

Perfect and simple answer. Thank You!!