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Learn how to efficiently copy files of a specific type from subfolders using PowerShell without copying unwanted directory structures.
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Copy Specific Type Files from Subfolders Using a PowerShell Script

Are you facing a challenge in copying files from multiple folders and their subfolders without carrying over the entire folder structure? You are not alone! Many users need to streamline their file management processes by extracting only specific types of files, such as .txt files, from a wider directory of content. This guide will walk you through how to use PowerShell to accomplish this effectively.

The Problem at Hand

Imagine you have a directory with multiple subfolders filled with various file types — some are vital, while others clutter your workspace. You want to extract only .txt files from these subfolders and copy them to a designated folder, without bringing along the empty directories or other unwanted structures.

You may have tried a script that uses the Copy-Item cmdlet, but it ends up copying the entire folder hierarchy, thus complicating your file setup. Luckily, there is a more effective solution.

The Solution: Using Get-ChildItem

Instead of recursively copying entire directories, we can utilize the Get-ChildItem cmdlet. This command allows you to discover and filter files based on their type, giving you better control over which files are copied and avoiding the inherent issues of copying entire directories. Here’s how you can use it effectively.

Step 1: Discover and Filter Files

The Get-ChildItem cmdlet can search through directories and subdirectories for specific file types. In our case, we’ll look for .txt files. The command we’ll use looks like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Key components:

S:\other: This is the path to your original directory where the .txt files are located.

-Filter *.txt: This option filters the search to only include files that end with the .txt extension.

-Recurse: This ensures that all subdirectories are included in the search.

Step 2: Copy Files to the Destination Folder

After identifying the files, we will pass them directly into the Copy-Item cmdlet. The complete command looks as follows:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Explanation of this combined command:

The pipe (|) takes the output from Get-ChildItem (all the .txt files found) and sends it directly into Copy-Item.

-Destination 'D:\FinishFolder': This specifies where the .txt files will be copied to — make sure this directory already exists.

Final Thoughts

By using Get-ChildItem combined with Copy-Item, you have a clean and efficient way to copy only the files you want, without dragging along unwanted folder structures. This not only saves time but also helps in maintaining a clean workspace.

Now that you have the right script, you can easily adapt it for different file types by simply changing the filter, making this approach versatile for various tasks.

If you have further questions or need assistance with other PowerShell tasks, don't hesitate to reach out!