Need to list all new files in directory with Powershell

Question

I have to create a list of all latest or accessed files in a directory in .csv format. However my current script doesn't output a useful file. (always 0KB)

Get-ChildItem -Path X:\ -Directory -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | 
ForEach-Object { Get-ChildItem $_.Name -Recurse | 
select Name, *time | 
Sort-Object -Property LastAccessTime -Descending | 
Select-Object -First 1 } |
Export-Csv -Path C:\...\testfile.csv

Does anyone have a better idea?

EDIT: The errors look like this:

+ CategoryInfo          : ReadError: (X:\xxx:String) [Get-ChildItem], DirectoryNotFoundException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : DirIOError,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.GetChildItemCommand

It works only a bit for me unfortunately, after like 5mins i get some "Path too long"-Errors :/ — drgreenthumb93, Jun 26 '20 at 12:06
@drgreenthumb93 Please add this information directly to your question. — mklement0, Jun 26 '20 at 12:51

Robert Dyjas · Answer 1 · 2020-06-26T13:13:34.003

1

That code might generate some errors if you don't cd to X:\ before running it. You can remediate that with changing:

# this
Get-ChildItem $_.Name -Recurse
# to this
Get-ChildItem $_.FullName -Recurse

Then it always uses absolute path rather than relative one.

NOTE: as @mklement0 pointed out in the comments, it's worth noting that in PowerShell 6 and higher the same can be achieved by using the object directly (no need to use .FullName property).

Here's his helpful answer explaining it in details - really worth reading!

edited Jun 26 '20 at 13:13

answered Jun 26 '20 at 11:52

Robert Dyjas

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Thanks, i'll try this! – drgreenthumb93 Jun 26 '20 at 12:06
@drgreenthumb93 sure, once you test either please [mark answer as accepted](https://stackoverflow.com/help/someone-answers) or add the details of what doesn't work to **your question**. – Robert Dyjas Jun 26 '20 at 12:09
@drgreenthumb93 has since stated in a comment that the actual problem is the occurrence of "Path too long" errors. – mklement0 Jun 26 '20 at 12:51

Need to list all new files in directory with Powershell

1 Answers1