PowerShell Get-Childitem -Include

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PowerShell GCI -Include Parameter

My advice is to avoid the -Include parameter. If you want to filter the output then use the -Filter parameter! The problem with -Include is that it doesn’t do what you think. In the case of Get-ChildItem, -Include operates on the path and not on the individual filenames. To overcome this limitation you need a wildcard* or the -Recurse parameter.

Topics for Get-ChildItem -Include

Example 1: Let Us Get Some Action with -Include

Scenario: You want an inventory of only the executables in the Windows System32 folder.

# PowerShell GCI -Include example
Get-ChildItem -Path $env:SystemRoot\System32 -Include *e*

Problem 1: You get a few .exe files, but also an assortment of other file types.

Explanation: You struck lucky, the System32 contains ‘e’!

Example 2: The -Include Parameter is a Huge Disappointment

The same scenario: You want a list of exe files in the Windows System32 folder. This time you try *.exe.

Clear-Host
Get-ChildItem -Path $env:SystemRoot\System32 -Include *.exe

Problem 2: No files are returned. Have you realized why? There is no .exe. in the fullname of the stream of objects created by Get-ChildItem.

Example 3: Adjustments to Get -Include Working

Solution A: Add a *wildcard after the folder name:

# PowerShell -Include working example
Clear-Host
Get-ChildItem -Path $env:SystemRoot\System32\* -Include *.exe

Note 1: Appending \* to the path makes all the difference.

Solution B: Append -Recurse

Clear-Host
Get-ChildItem -Path $env:SystemRoot\System32 -Include *.exe -Recurse

This gets -Include working, but you may not want to ‘Recurse’ through all those subfolders.

Here is function I created to extend what Get-ChildItem can achieve. PowerShell Get-File function.

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Example 4: Ditch -Include; Prefer -Filter

Solution C: Ditch -Include; and substitute a parameter called -Filter.

Clear-Host
Get-ChildItem -Path $env:SystemRoot\System32 -Filter *.exe

Eureka: You get a neat list of all the executables in the System32. No unwanted files from the folders lower down the tree.

Conclusion: Now you know why -Include is my least favorite PowerShell parameter, wherever possible employ the -Filter instead. I confess that I have deliberately not shown -Include in its best possible light, nevertheless it always disappoints me whenever I give it a try.