asked on

Powershell/Windows Batch/VB Script: replace string in folders and files

Hello experts,

I am looking for a batch, powershell or vbscript to cover the following requirement:

-Loop a reported folder with drill down
-Check the various files and folder
-Replace SourceString by TargetString
-SourceString and TargetString should be reported as parameter

-Example:
BaseDir= C:\Test
SourceString= “_”
TargetString “-“

-Various files and folders which contains source string “_” should be replaced by target “-“.

If you have questions, please contact me.
Thank you.

Bill Prew

Are the replacements being made in the file name? Of folders and files, or just files? Or the extension?

»bp

oBdA

Save this as Rename-ItemRecurse.ps1 or Whatever.ps1 (not in test mode, see below).
You can pass the start path, the source string, and the target string as parameters; if an argument is not passed, the defaults will be taken from the command line.
In addition, you can use the following arguments:
-Verbose
-WhatIf (test mode, will not rename anything)
-Confirm (will list and prompt before renaming anything)
Examples:

.\Rename-ItemRecurse.ps1 -Path C:\toto -WhatIf
.\Rename-ItemRecurse.ps1 -Confirm

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[CmdletBinding(SupportsShouldProcess=$true)]
Param(
	[Parameter(Position=0)]
	[string]$Path = 'C:\Test',
	[Parameter(Position=1)]
	[string]$SourceString = '_',
	[Parameter(Position=2)]
	[string]$TargetString = '-'
)
$verbose = $PSBoundParameters.ContainsKey('Verbose') -and $PSBoundParameters['Verbose'].ToBool()
$pattern = [regex]::Escape($SourceString)

Get-ChildItem -Path $Path -File -Recurse |
	Where-Object {$_.Name -match $pattern} |
	Rename-Item -NewName {$_.Name -replace $pattern, $TargetString} -Verbose:$verbose

Get-ChildItem -Path $Path -Directory -Recurse |
	Where-Object {$_.Name -match $pattern} |
	Sort-Object -Property @{e={$_.FullName.Split('\').Count}} -Descending |
	Rename-Item -NewName {$_.Name -replace $pattern, $TargetString} -Verbose:$verbose

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Bill Prew

If you are just talking about doing the replacements in file names (not folder names) then this should work.

@echo off
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion

set BaseDir=B:\EE\EE29144987\test
set SourceString=_
set TargetString=-

for /f "tokens=*" %%A in ('dir /b /s /a-d "%BaseDir%\*%SourceString%*.*"') do (
    set FileName=%%~nA
    set FileName=!FileName:%SourceString%=%TargetString%!
    ren "%%~A" "!FileName!%%~xA"
)

Open in new window

»bp

Luis Diaz

ASKER

Hello,
Is it possible to have flag to calibrate the procedure. 1 for file names 2 for folder names.
Batches and powershell approaches?
Thank you very much for your help.
The procedure concerns file names and not extensions.

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oBdA

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Shaun Vermaak

I would just use fnr.exe - Find And Replace Tool for this

https://archive.codeplex.com/?p=findandreplace

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Bill Prew

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Luis Diaz

ASKER

Thank you very much! Unable to test right now I will keep you informed!

Luis Diaz

ASKER

Question: espace " " Can be reported as SourceString?
Example: replace " " by "-".
SourceString= " "
TargetString= "-"

oBdA

Yep.

Luis Diaz

ASKER

Thank you.

Bill Prew

To replace a space in the BAT approach, you would do this (there is one space after the equal sign):

set "SourceString= "

not:

set SourceString=" "

»bp

Luis Diaz

ASKER

Noted. Thank you very much!