Extract text from numerous files across many sub directories using PowerShell and output to file

Question

I am attempting to extract text from a series of text files to a .txt document. The text files are stored in a series of sub-directories on the desktop.

So far, I can get the variables from a specific text file using a regular expression, but I need it to search through multiple files spanning across a number of directories - instead of the single file I direct it to.

$input_path = "C:\Users\Darren\Desktop\FolderofData\DataFile1.txt"
$regex = '(\W"_[a-z]+\W)'
$output_file = "C:\Users\Darren\Desktop\Extracted_Data.txt"
select-string -Path $input_path -Pattern $regex -AllMatches | % { $_.Matches } | % { $_.Value } > $output_file

Is this possible in PowerShell?

Mathias R. Jessen · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-24 22:51:34Z

2

You can pipe FileInfo objects (like those returned from Get-ChildItem) to Select-String:

Get-ChildItem $home\Desktop -Filter Data*.txt |Select-String -Pattern $regex -AllMatches | % { $_.Matches } | % { $_.Value } > $output_file

answered Nov 24, 2016 at 22:51

Mathias R. Jessen

178k13 gold badges175 silver badges234 bronze badges

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

1 Comment

user6811411 Over a year ago

For multiple directories get-childitem needs a -recurse

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Extract text from numerous files across many sub directories using PowerShell and output to file

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related