Creating a folder if it does not exists - "Item already exists"

Question

I am trying to create a folder using PowerShell if it does not exists so I did :

$DOCDIR = [Environment]::GetFolderPath("MyDocuments")
$TARGETDIR = "$DOCDIR\MatchedLog"
if(!(Test-Path -Path MatchedLog )){
   New-Item -ItemType directory -Path $DOCDIR\MatchedLog
}

This is giving me error that the folder already exists, which it does but It shouldn't be trying to create it.

I am not sure what's wrong here

New-Item : Item with specified name C:\Users\l\Documents\MatchedLog already exists. At C:\Users\l\Documents\Powershell\email.ps1:4 char:13 + New-Item <<<< -ItemType directory -Path $DOCDIR\MatchedLog + CategoryInfo : ResourceExists: (C:\Users\l....ents\MatchedLog:String) [New-Item], IOException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : DirectoryExist,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.NewItemCommand`

try this:New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path C:\Path\That\May\Or\May\Not\Exist — Farzad J, Apr 27 '17 at 13:47

score 122 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 26 '13 at 20:07

122

I was not even concentrating, here is how to do it

$DOCDIR = [Environment]::GetFolderPath("MyDocuments")
$TARGETDIR = '$DOCDIR\MatchedLog'
if(!(Test-Path -Path $TARGETDIR )){
    New-Item -ItemType directory -Path $TARGETDIR
}

answered Jun 26 '13 at 20:07

laitha0

4,148
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The value of $TARGETDIR should be in double quotes, string expansion is disabled inside single and you'll end up with invalid path – Shay Levy Jun 26 '13 at 20:40
5

Wouldn't an existing file of the same name as the folder you are trying to create match Test-Path -Path $TARGETDIR too? (Thinking of adding "-pathType container") – ftexperts Sep 10 '14 at 21:19

score 63 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 25 '17 at 15:10

63

With New-Item you can add the Force parameter

New-Item -Force -ItemType directory -Path foo

Or the ErrorAction parameter

New-Item -ErrorAction Ignore -ItemType directory -Path foo

edited Apr 25 '17 at 15:10

Martijn Pieters

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answered Apr 28 '14 at 22:16

Zombo

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JFI "-ErrorAction Ignore" not supported in PowerShell 2 – KindDragon Oct 20 '15 at 17:22
2

An answer to a different question. – Oskar Berggren Apr 01 '16 at 15:24
1

To create the item without console printout: New-Item -Force -ItemType directory -Path D:\yourpath\1 | Out-Null – George Nov 15 '16 at 02:33

score 21 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 18 '16 at 02:18

21

Alternative syntax using the -Not operator and depending on your preference for readability:

if( -Not (Test-Path -Path $TARGETDIR ) )
{
    New-Item -ItemType directory -Path $TARGETDIR
}

answered Nov 18 '16 at 02:18

Willem van Ketwich

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Alternatively, even simpler: if (-Not (Get-Item C:\Temp)) { New-Item -ItemType dir "C:\Temp" } Assuming you want to create C:\Temp. – shivesh suman Oct 01 '18 at 23:10
'(if((test-path \\$ServersList\d$\install\foldertocopy -eq $false) { New-Item -force -ErrorAction Ignore -ItemType directory -Path \\$ServersList\d$\install\foldertocopy)|out-null' – Patrick Burwell Oct 13 '21 at 19:24

Creating a folder if it does not exists - "Item already exists"

3 Answers3