Pick-File

I often find that I need a quick way of browsing directory contents
and picking a single file from the list, but without all the typing.
This function works somewhat, but I was wondering if I was missing a
better way of doing it:

function Pick-File ($file, $index) {
$file = get-childitem $file
if ($index -ne $null) {return $file[$index]}
else {$file | %{$i=0}{write $_; $i++} |
format-table @{label="Index";expression={$i}},
Name,
@{label="Path";expression={$_.directoryname}} -auto}
}

All this does is return the directory contents against a list of index
numbers; these can then be added as a second parameter to get the file
object, e.g. 'pick-file c:\*' to view, then 'pick-file c:\* 12' to
select file number 12 in the list.

-Hecks

I tweaked your function a little. This way it gets only files, including
hidden ones. And when you pass an index it lists all the file's properties.
Since the function targets one directory, the Path is shown as a header.

function Pick-File ($file, $index) {
$file = get-childitem $file -force | ? {!$_.PSIsContainer}
if ($index -ne $null) {return $file[$index] | fl *}
else {$file[0].directoryName; $file | %{$i=0}{write $_; $i++} | ft
@{label="Index";expression={$i}}, Name -auto | more}
}
--
Kiron

On May 26, 3:15 am, Kiron <K...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> I tweaked your function a little. This way it gets only files, including
> hidden ones. And when you pass an index it lists all the file's properties.
> Since the function targets one directory, the Path is shown as a header.
>
> function Pick-File ($file, $index) {
> $file = get-childitem $file -force | ? {!$_.PSIsContainer}
> if ($index -ne $null) {return $file[$index] | fl *}
> else {$file[0].directoryName; $file | %{$i=0}{write $_; $i++} | ft
> @{label="Index";expression={$i}}, Name -auto | more}}
>
> --
> Kiron

Thanks, that's much better. Only the last part doesn't work for me,
as I just need the file object to be returned rather than a formatted
list.

I've just noticed that it also accepts multiple indices as args, e.g.
$f = pick-file C:\* 10,11,12.

Also, if directories aren't excluded, the function can be nested to
browse and select from folders: pick-file (pick-file c:\* 1) 15. But
maybe that's getting too fiddly, and your solution is a lot neater.

-Hecks

On May 26, 3:15 am, Kiron <K...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> I tweaked your function a little. This way it gets only files, including
> hidden ones. And when you pass an index it lists all the file's properties.
> Since the function targets one directory, the Path is shown as a header.
>
> function Pick-File ($file, $index) {
> $file = get-childitem $file -force | ? {!$_.PSIsContainer}
> if ($index -ne $null) {return $file[$index] | fl *}
> else {$file[0].directoryName; $file | %{$i=0}{write $_; $i++} | ft
> @{label="Index";expression={$i}}, Name -auto | more}}
>
> --
> Kiron

And here's another variant that has some interesting results: 'pick-
file c:\' enables folder selection, but 'pick-file c:\*' lists
subfolders and subfolder contents in an alphabetized list - any of
these can be selected, too, with an optional -force switch for
including hidden items.

function Pick-File ($file, $index,[switch]$force) {
if ($force) {$file = (get-childitem ("" + $file + "\*") -force |
sort-object @{expression={$_.PSIsContainer}; Descending=$true},
@{expression={$_.Name}; Descending=$false})}
else {$file = (get-childitem ("" + $file + "\*") |
sort-object @{expression={$_.PSIsContainer}; Descending=$true},
@{expression={$_.Name}; Descending=$false})}
if ($index -ne $null) {return $file[$index]}
else {$file | %{$i=0}{write $_; $i++} |
ft @{label="Index";expression={$i}},Name,
#@{label="File Path";expression={$_.directoryname}},
@{label="Path";expression={if (!($_.directoryname)) {"<Dir> " +
$_.fullname}
else {$_.directoryname}}} -auto | more}
}

-Hecks

Yes, it is quite efficient. Thanks for the tip on the '\*', but when no
arguments are past, Pick-File will always list the contents of the root
directory of the current drive, ignoring the present working directory. To
avoid this, pass a '.' at least. Also, notice that you can use the range
operator, but it has to be inside parenthesis, like so:

pick-file . -fo (736..723)
--
Kiron

On May 27, 5:34 am, Kiron <K...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> Yes, it is quite efficient. Thanks for the tip on the '\*', but when no
> arguments are past, Pick-File will always list the contents of the root
> directory of the current drive, ignoring the present working directory. To
> avoid this, pass a '.' at least. Also, notice that you can use the range
> operator, but it has to be inside parenthesis, like so:
>
> pick-file . -fo (736..723)
> --
> Kiron

Nice tips! Thanks. Here's a final cleaned-up version:

function Pick-File ($file, $index, [switch]$force) {
if ($force) {$switch = "-force"}
$file = (invoke-expression "get-childitem '$file\*' $switch" |
sort-object @{expression={$_.PSIsContainer}; Descending=$true},
@{expression={$_.Name}; Ascending=$true})
if ($index -ne $null) {return $file[$index]}
else {$file | %{$i=0} {$_; $i++} |
format-table @{label="Index"; expression={$i}}, Name,
@{label="Path"; expression={
if ($_.PSISContainer) {"<Dir> $_"}
else {$_.directoryname}}} -auto | more}
}

-Hecks