How to dynamically append time in a file using Powershell

Question

Hopefully I worded that title correctly.

Transcript files don't show the info I want and I need to be able to see specific events at a glance, so I am adding an additional file that I am using as a log file.

I want to have the time appended at the beginning of each line, but it simply takes the the time it retrieved at the beginning of the script and uses that over and over again.

Script:

start-transcript -path "C:\temp\transcript  $(get-date -f dd-MM-yyyy).txt"
$log = "c:\temp\log $(get-date -f dd-MM-yyyy).txt"
$logtime = Get-Date -Format "hh:mm:ss"

Write-output "$logtime First line" | add-content $log
start-sleep -s 60
Write-output "$logtime Second line" | add-content $log

stop-transcript
exit

This is the output that I get, even though it sleeps for a full minute:

02:43:52 First line
02:43:52 Second line

There may very well be no way to do this, but thought I would give it a shot anyways.

Thanks for any help.

Willcodeforfun · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-29 04:28:16Z

2

Can you assign this to $logtime each time you want to output it instead?

$logtime = [System.DateTime]::Now

This method promises to get current time.

Edited to remove the suggestion that you re-assign to Get-Date each time since that didn't work for you.

edited Mar 29, 2016 at 4:28

answered Mar 29, 2016 at 4:12

Willcodeforfun

3613 silver badges10 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

3 Comments

Chris Over a year ago

Sadly, no. It also puts it on a new line each time when done this way: 03:14:34 First line 03:14:34 Second line

Willcodeforfun Over a year ago

Here's another try, fingers crossed for you!

Chris Over a year ago

Oh, my mistake! I thought you meant to do: Write-output $logtime "First line" | add-content $log. If you add $logtime = Get-Date -Format "hh:mm:ss" or $logtime = [System.DateTime]::Now before calling the $logtime variable, it actually does work. While this is a huge pain in the ass, I guess that's the price I pay for a customized log file! Thanks for your help, it's really appreciated.

Chris · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-29 05:10:24Z

Final code, thanks to "Willcodeforfun":

start-transcript -path "C:\temp\transcript  $(get-date -f dd-MM-yyyy).txt"
$log = "c:\temp\log $(get-date -f dd-MM-yyyy).txt"

$logtime = Get-Date -Format "hh:mm:ss"
Write-output $logtime "First line" | add-content $log
start-sleep -s 60
$logtime = Get-Date -Format "hh:mm:ss"
Write-output $logtime "Second line" | add-content $log

stop-transcript
exit

While I feel that this kind of defeats the purpose of variables and is painful to add through my entire script (looks messy), it does the job and makes the end result neat and easy to read.

The above is not taking a shot at "Willcodeforfun", but is taking a shot at Powershells inability to use a variable to get the real current time.

Kory Gill · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-29 07:01:58Z

1

Write a function for what you want to do.

function Write-Log1 ($message, $logfile)
{
    $logtime = Get-Date -Format "hh:mm:ss"
    Write-Output "$logtime $message" | Add-Content $logfile
}

function Write-Log2 ($message)
{
    $logfile = Join-Path "c:\temp\log" "$(get-date -f dd-MM-yyyy).txt"
    $logtime = Get-Date -Format "hh:mm:ss"
    Write-Output "$logtime $message" | Add-Content $logfile
}


# call like this:

Write-Log1 "First line" $log
Write-Log1 "Second line" $log

# if you want, hard code the log inside the function

Write-Log2 "First line" $log
Write-Log2 "Second line" $log

I am sure with some searching, you can find more elaborate and complete examples of a similar pattern.

answered Mar 29, 2016 at 7:01

Kory Gill

7,1711 gold badge28 silver badges35 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to dynamically append time in a file using Powershell

3 Answers 3

3 Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

3 Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related