Editing a file in a windows batch file using powershell

Question

I am attempting to edit a configuration file using a batch script. I looked around and I believe powershell is the way to go here. I have zero experience with powershell so I'm guessing that the syntax is what is causing me problems.

Here is what the file looks like now (This section is located in the middle of the file)

    <!--add key="MinNumCycles" value="25"/-->
    <!--add key="MaxNumCycles" value="40"/-->

Here's what I want it to look like

    <!--add key="MinNumCycles" value="25"/-->
    <!--add key="MaxNumCycles" value="40"/-->

    <!--RerunMode: 1 write to DB, 2 write to DB and add to RUN export/-->
    <add key="RerunMode" value="0"/>

Here's what I'm trying to do in my batch file that I need help with

SET pattern=<!--add key="MaxNumCycles" value="40"/-->
SET textToAdd1=<!--RerunMode: 1 write to DB, 2 write to DB and add to RUN export/-->
SET textToAdd2=<add key="RerunMode" value="0"/>
SET filename=Software.exe.config

powershell -Command "(gc %filename%) -replace "%pattern%", "$&`n`n%textToAdd1%"'n"%textToAdd2%" | sc %filename%"

scrthq · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-09 23:33:07Z

2

$pattern='<!--add key="MaxNumCycles" value="40"/-->'
$textToAdd = $pattern + '

    <!--RerunMode: 1 write to DB, 2 write to DB and add to RUN export/-->
    <add key="RerunMode" value="0"/>'

$filename = "Software.exe.config"

([IO.File]::ReadAllText($filename).Replace($pattern,$textToAdd) | Set-Content $filename -Force

Here's how I would replicate the batch file in all Powershell, personally.

The way your Powershell command did the replace will expect RegEx and your pattern would not match the way you expected it to. It would match it as if it were a RegEx pattern and not match the exact string like you had typed. If you use the .NET string method .Replace(), it only looks for exact strings.
$textToAdd contains the fully formatted final result, including the string we were searching for (both the beginning and end result have the string, this allows us to keep it there) as well as the concatenated addition. Per your description, the string marker is in the middle of the log, so this will allow it to just make those updates and re-save the log in it's entirety.

edited May 9, 2017 at 23:33

answered May 3, 2017 at 3:57

scrthq

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6 Comments

user1984300 Over a year ago

I get "Method invocation failed because [System.Object[]] doesn't contain a method named 'Replace'. How do you run this? I am just doing powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File script.ps1

scrthq Over a year ago

for the $filename, are you using the full path to the file you want to update, by chance? your call to run the script is good, the error being hit confirms it

scrthq Over a year ago

I tested it on my machine and everything worked fine... what version of Powershell are you using? You can run $PSVersionTable to check

user1984300 Over a year ago

Im on version 2.0

user1984300 Over a year ago

Alright I figured it out. I changed (Get-Content $filename) to [IO.File]::ReadAllText$filename)

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Robin · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-02 15:37:49Z

0

From the PowerShell command line, this would work (assuming your existing contents are in conf.bat):

$content = Get-Content -Path 'C:\path\to\Software.exe.config'
$content += "`r`n"
$content += '<!--RerunMode: 1 write to DB, 2 write to DB and add to RUN export/-->'
$content += '<add key="RerunMode" value="0"/>'
Set-Content -Value $content -Path 'C:\path\to\Software.exe.config'

You could save this as a script, and run it using:

powershell.exe -File script.ps1

edited May 2, 2017 at 15:37

answered May 2, 2017 at 15:35

Robin

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5 Comments

Jeff Zeitlin Over a year ago

-Path "conf.bat" should probably be -Path "software.exe.config" in both the Get-Content and Set-Content lines - or better still, make the file name a replaceable parameter.

Robin Over a year ago

Good call. Added.

user1984300 Over a year ago

Would this work in the middle of the file? I should have specified that the section I'm working with is not at the end of the file

Robin Over a year ago

This will take the existing content of the file, append new lines, and then overwrite the file. It doesn't care (so to speak) about a "middle". Please update your original question if this is what you require - and, please provide an example of what you require at the end :)

user1984300 Over a year ago

Updated. Sorry about that

Zoidburg · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-02 15:59:57Z

0

SET $pattern= '<!--add key="MaxNumCycles" value="40"/-->'
SET $textToAdd1='<!--RerunMode: 1 write to DB, 2 write to DB and add to 
RUN export/-->'
SET $textToAdd2='<add key="RerunMode" value="0"/>'
SET $filename='Software.exe.config'

(Get-Content $filename) -replace pattern, '`n' $textToAdd1 '`n' $textToAdd2 | Set-Content $filename

Similar to Robin's answer just another script you could run. He beat me to the punch :)

edited May 2, 2017 at 15:59

answered May 2, 2017 at 15:39

Zoidburg

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1 Comment

user1984300 Over a year ago

This still doesn't work for me. I am running like this

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