How to replace text in multiple files and save each in new folder using PowerShell?

Question

I have a folder with multiple files. I want to read each file and replace with whatever the user passes to the application (a parameter). After the content of the file is replaced, I want to save the file in a new folder.

This is what I have so far:

gci C:\Users\Person\Documents\Test1\*.bat -recurse | ForEach {
  (Get-Content $_ | ForEach {$_ -replace "<client_instance>", "ClientName"}) | Set-Content $_ 
}

My first question is, is this correct and secondly, how do I change "Set-Content" so that it saves the files in a different folder?

I want to use variables for the source and destination:

$sourePath
$destinationPath

I'm new to PowerShell so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

hcm · Accepted Answer · 2019-12-17 22:04:28Z

1

Yes, your code is fine. You can build your new path like this:

$files = gci C:\Users\Person\Documents\Test1\*.bat -recurse
$destinationpath = "C:\users\person\documents\test2"
ForEach ($file in $files){
    Get-Content $file.fullname | ForEach {$_ -replace "<client_instance>", "ClientName"} | set-content "$destinationpath\$($file.basename)"
}

You might have to tweak it here and there to fit your needs.

edited Dec 17, 2019 at 22:04

answered Dec 17, 2019 at 21:45

hcm

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5 Comments

JJ. Over a year ago

this worked. thank you. i just had to add ".bat" for the destination file type. i can accept your answer in 3 mins.

Lance U. Matthews Over a year ago

Why is changing to Out-File required? You could just as easily do Set-Content "$destinationpath\$($file.basename)". The major point is that Get-Content $_ | ... | Set-Content $_ overwrites the source file.

JJ. Over a year ago

I definitely don't want to replace the original file. I want to create a copy with the replaced values.

hcm Over a year ago

@BACON You're completely right, I've somehow taken "change set-content" literally. Edited my answer to be more concise what had to be changed.

Lance U. Matthews Over a year ago

@RJ. Right. The problem with the Set-Content $_ that you used is not Set-Content but the value passed for the -Path parameter, $_.

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