Get-Content

Get-Content [-Credential <PSCredential>] [-Delimiter <String>] [-Encoding {Unknown | String | Unicode | Byte |BigEndianUnicode | UTF8 | UTF7 | UTF32 | Ascii | Default | Oem | BigEndianUTF32}] [-Exclude <String[]>] [-Filter<String>] [-Force] [-Include <String[]>] -LiteralPath* <String[]> [-Raw] [-ReadCount <Int64>] [-Stream <String>][-Tail <Int32>] [-TotalCount <Int64>] [-UseTransaction] [-Wait] [<CommonParameters>]

Get-Content [-Path*] <String[]> [-Credential <PSCredential>] [-Delimiter <String>] [-Encoding {Unknown | String |Unicode | Byte | BigEndianUnicode | UTF8 | UTF7 | UTF32 | Ascii | Default | Oem | BigEndianUTF32}] [-Exclude<String[]>] [-Filter <String>] [-Force] [-Include <String[]>] [-Raw] [-ReadCount <Int64>] [-Stream <String>][-Tail <Int32>] [-TotalCount <Int64>] [-UseTransaction] [-Wait] [<CommonParameters>]

Get-Content [-Delimiter <string>] [-Encoding {Unknown | String | Unicode | Byte | BigEndianUnicode | UTF8 | UTF7 |UTF32 | Ascii | Default | Oem}] [-Force] [-Raw <switch>] [-Stream <string>] [-Wait] [-UseTransaction][<CommonParameters>]

The Get-Content cmdlet gets the content of the item at the location specified by the path, such as the text in a file. It reads the content one line at a time and returns a collection of objects, each of which represents a line of content.

Beginning in Windows PowerShell 3.0, this cmdlet can also get a specified number of lines from the beginning or end of an item.In file system drives, you can use the the Get-Content cmdlet to get content that you display at the command line, save in a variable for processing, or write to another file. It is not valid on folders.

Note: This custom cmdlet help file explains how the Get-Content cmdlet works in a file system drive. For information about the Get-Content cmdlet in all drives, type "Get-Help Get-Content -Path $null" or see Get-Content at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=113310.

Parameters

-Encoding <FileSystemCmdletProviderEncoding>

Default value is ASCII

Specifies the file encoding. The default is ASCII.

Valid values are:

-- ASCII: Uses the encoding for the ASCII (7-bit) character set.-- BigEndianUnicode: Encodes in UTF-16 format using the big-endian byte order.-- Byte: Encodes a set of characters into a sequence of bytes.-- String: Uses the encoding type for a string.-- Unicode: Encodes in UTF-16 format using the little-endian byte order.-- UTF7: Encodes in UTF-7 format.-- UTF8: Encodes in UTF-8 format.-- Unknown: The encoding type is unknown or invalid. The data can be treated as binary.

Encoding is a dynamic parameter that the FileSystem provider adds to the Get-Content cmdlet. This parameter works only in file system drives.

When reading from and writing to binary files, use a value of Byte for the Encoding dynamic parameter and a value of 0 for the ReadCount parameter. A ReadCount value of 0 reads the entire file in a single read operation and converts it into a single object (PSObject). The default ReadCount value, 1, reads one byte in each read operation and converts each byte into a separate object, which causes errors when you use the Set-Content cmdlet to write the bytes to a file.

-Delimiter <string>

Default value is End-of-line character

Specifies the delimiter that Get-Content uses to divide the file into objects while it reads.

The default is "\n", the end-of-line character.

Therefore, by default, when reading a text file, Get-Content returns a collection of string objects, each of which ends with an end-of-line character.

When you enter a delimiter that does not exist in the file, Get-Content returns the entire file as a single, undelimited object.

You can use this parameter to split a large file into smaller files by specifying a file separator, such as "End of Example", as the delimiter. The delimiter is preserved (not discarded) and becomes the last item in each file section.

Delimiter is a dynamic parameter that the FileSystem provider adds to the Get-Content cmdlet. This parameter works only in file system drives.

Troubleshooting Note: Currently, when the value of the Delimiter parameter is an empty string, Get-Content does not return anything. This is a known issue. To force Get-Content to return the entire file as a single, undelimited string, enter a value that does not exist in the file.

-Force [<SwitchParameter>]

Default value is False

Gets the contents of all files, including hidden files. By default, Get-Content does not get the contents of hidden files unless you specify the hidden file by name.

-Raw <switch>

Ignores newline characters and returns the entire contents of a file in one string. By default, the contents of a file is returned as a array of strings that is delimited by the newline character.

Raw is a dynamic parameter that the FileSystem provider adds to the Get-Content cmdlet. This parameter works only in file system drives.

This parameter is introduced in Windows PowerShell 3.0.

-Wait [<SwitchParameter>]

Default value is False

Waits for the cmdlet to get the content before returning the command prompt. While waiting, Get-Content checks the file once each second until you interrupt it, such as by pressing CTRL+C.

Wait is a dynamic parameter that the FileSystem provider adds to the Get-Content cmdlet. This parameter works only in file system drives.

-Stream <string>

Gets the contents of the specified alternate NTFS file stream from the file. Enter the stream name. Wildcards are not supported.

Stream is a dynamic parameter that the FileSystem provider adds to the Get-Content cmdlet. This parameter works only in file system drives.

This parameter is introduced in Windows PowerShell 3.0.

-UseTransaction [<SwitchParameter>]

Includes the command in the active transaction. This parameter is valid only when a transaction is in progress.

-Credential <PSCredential>

Default value is None
Accepts pipeline input ByPropertyName

Specifies a user account that has permission to perform this action. The default is the current user.

Type a user name, such as User01 or Domain01\User01, or enter a PSCredential object, such as one generated by the Get-Credential cmdlet. If you type a user name, you will be prompted for a password.

This parameter is not supported by any providers that are installed with Windows PowerShell.

-Exclude <String[]>

Default value is None
Accepts pipeline input False

Specifies, as a string array, the item or items that this cmdlet omits when performing the operation. The value of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. Enter a path element or pattern, such as *.txt. Wildcards are permitted.

-Filter <String>

Default value is None
Accepts pipeline input False

Specifies a filter in the provider's format or language. The value of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. The syntax of the filter, including the use of wildcards, depends on the provider. Filters are more efficient than other parameters, because the provider applies them when this cmdlet gets the objects, rather than having Windows PowerShell filter the objects after they are retrieved.

-Include <String[]>

Default value is None
Accepts pipeline input False

Specifies, as a string array, the item or items that this cmdlet includes in the operation. The value of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. Enter a path element or pattern, such as *.txt. Wildcards are permitted.

-LiteralPath <String[]>

This value is required
Default value is None
Accepts pipeline input ByPropertyName

Specifies the path to an item. Unlike the Path parameter, the value of LiteralPath is used exactly as it is typed. No characters are interpreted as wildcards. If the path includes escape characters, enclose it in single quotation marks. Single quotation marks tell Windows PowerShell not to interpret any characters as escape sequences.

-Path <String[]>

This value is required
Default value is None
Accepts pipeline input ByPropertyName

Specifies the path to an item. Get-Content gets the content of the item. Wildcards are permitted.

-ReadCount <Int64>

Default value is None
Accepts pipeline input ByPropertyName

Specifies how many lines of content are sent through the pipeline at a time. The default value is 1. A value of 0 (zero) sends all of the content at one time.

This parameter does not change the content displayed, but it does affect the time it takes to display the content. As the value of ReadCount increases, the time it takes to return the first line increases, but the total time for the operation decreases. This can make a perceptible difference in very large items.

-Tail <Int32>

Default value is None
Accepts pipeline input ByPropertyName

Specifies the number of lines from the end of a file or other item.

This parameter was introduced in Windows PowerShell 3.0.

You can use the Tail parameter name or its alias, Last.

-TotalCount <Int64>

Default value is None
Accepts pipeline input ByPropertyName

Specifies the number of lines from the beginning of a file or other item. The default is -1 (all lines).

You can use the TotalCount parameter name or its aliases, First or Head.

<CommonParameters>

This cmdlet supports the common parameters: Verbose, Debug,ErrorAction, ErrorVariable, WarningAction, WarningVariable,OutBuffer, PipelineVariable, and OutVariable.

Inputs

System.Int64, System.String[], System.Management.Automation.PSCredential

You can pipe the read count, total count, paths, or credentials to Get-Content.

Outputs

System.Object, System.String

Get-Content returns objects that represent the content that it gets. The object type depends on the content type. If you use the Stream parameter, the cmdlet returns the alternate data stream contents as a string.

Examples

This command gets the content of the Chapter1.txt file and displays it in the console:
```
C:\PS> Get-Content -Path C:\Chapters\chapter1.txt
```
It uses the Path parameter to specify the name of the item.

Get-Content actually passes the content down the pipeline, but because there are no other cmdlets in the pipeline, Windows PowerShell formats the contents and displays it in the console.
This command gets the first 50 lines of the Log060912.txt file and stores them in the sample.txt file:
```
C:\PS> Get-Content C:\Logs\Log060912.txt -TotalCount 50 | Set-Content Sample.txt
```
The command uses the Get-Content cmdlet to get the text in the file. (The name of Path parameter, which is optional, is omitted.) The TotalCount parameter limits the retrieval to the first 50 lines. The pipeline operator (|) sends the result to Set-Content, which places it in the sample.txt file.
This command gets the fifth line of the Cmdlets.txt text file:
```
C:\PS> (Get-Content Cmdlets.txt -TotalCount 5)[-1]
```
It uses the TotalCount parameter to get the first five lines and then uses array notation to get the last line (indicated by "-1") of the resulting set.
This command gets the contents of all CSV files in the DataSets subdirectory:
```
C:\PS> Get-Content .\DataSets\*.csv -Delimiter "*---*" -Force -Encoding UTF8
```
It uses the Force parameter to get all files, including hidden files, and the Encoding parameter to specify the file encoding.

The command also uses the Delimiter parameter to divide the returned content into sets, each of which ends at the CSV file row that contains the "*----*" marker.
This command uses the Stream parameter to get the content of the Zone.Identifier alternate data stream:
```
C:\PS> Get-Content .\Copy-Scripts.ps1 -Stream Zone.Identifier

   [ZoneTransfer]
   ZoneId=3
```
The output includes Zone ID value of 3, which represents the Internet.

The Stream parameter is introduced in Windows PowerShell 3.0.

The commands in this example get the contents of a module manifest file (.psd1) as a hash table:

C:\PS> $Manifest = (Get-Module -List PSScheduledJob).Path


C:\PS> $Hash = Invoke-Expression (Get-Content $Manifest -Raw)


C:\PS> $Hash

   Name                           Value
   ----                           -----
   Copyright                      c Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
   ModuleToProcess                Microsoft.PowerShell.ScheduledJob.dll
   FormatsToProcess               PSScheduledJob.Format.ps1xml
   PowerShellVersion              3.0
   CompanyName                    Microsoft Corporation
   GUID                           50cdb55f-5ab7-489f-9e94-4ec21ff51e59
   Author                         Microsoft Corporation
   CLRVersion                     4.0
   CmdletsToExport                {New-JobTrigger, Add-JobTrigger, Remove-JobTrigger, Get-JobTrigger...}
   TypesToProcess                 PSScheduledJob.types.ps1xml
   HelpInfoURI                    http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=223911
   ModuleVersion                  1.0.0.0

C:\PS> $Hash.ModuleToProcess
Microsoft.PowerShell.ScheduledJob.dll

The manifest file contains a hash table, but if you get the contents without the Raw dynamic parameter, it is returned as an array of newline-delimited strings.

The Raw dynamic parameter is introduced in Windows PowerShell 3.0.

The first command uses the Path property of modules to get the path to the file that contains the module manifest for the PSScheduledJob module. It saves the path in the $Manifest variable.

The second command uses the Invoke-Expression cmdlet to run a Get-Content command and the Raw dynamic parameter of the Get-Content cmdlet to get the contents of the module manifest file in a single string. The command saves the hash table in the $Hash variable.

The third command gets the hash table in the Hash variable. The contents is returned as a collection of name-value pairs.

The fourth command uses the ModuleToProcess property of the hash table to get the value of the ModuleToProcess key in the module manifest.

This example shows how to use the ReadCount parameter of the Get-Content cmdlet with a value of 0 to avoid byte-related errors when using the Set-Content cmdlet to write the bytes to a file:
```
C:\PS> $a = Get-Content -Path .\Download.zip -Encoding Byte -ReadCount 0

   Set-Content -Path \\Server\Share\Download.zip -Encoding Byte -Value $a
   $b = Get-Content -Path .\Download.zip -Encoding Byte
   Set-Content -Path \\Server\Share\Download.zip -Encoding Byte -Value $b
   Set-Content : Cannot proceed with byte encoding. When using byte encoding the content must be of type byte.
   At line:1 char:1
   + Set-Content \\Server\Share\Download.zip -Encoding Byte -Value $b 
   + ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
       + CategoryInfo          : InvalidArgument: (:) [Set-Content], PSArgumentException
       + FullyQualifiedErrorId : Argument,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.SetContentCommand
```
When getting the content of a file in bytes, Get-Content creates an object (PSObject) for the bytes in each read operation. If you read the bytes one at a time, which is the default, Get-Content creates an object for each byte. The objects cause errors when you use the Set-Content cmdlet to write the bytes to a file.

The first command uses the Get-Content cmdlet to get the contents of the Download.zip file and save it in the $a variable. The command uses the Encoding dynamic parameter with a value of Byte. It also uses the ReadCount parameter with a value of 0, which directs Get-Content to get the file contents in a single read operation. The default value of the ReadCount parameter, 1, gets one byte at a time.

The second command uses the Set-Content cmdlet to write the bytes in the $a variable to the Download.zip file on a file share. The command succeeds.

The third and fourth commands show the same sequence without the ReadCount parameter.

The third command uses the Encoding dynamic parameter of the Get-Content cmdlet to get the contents of the Download.zip file and save it in the $b variable. Because the command omits the ReadCount parameter, it uses the default value of 1.

The fourth command uses the Set-Content cmdlet to write the bytes in the $b variable to the Download.zip file on a file share. Because the content is a collection of objects, rather than a single object that contains a byte array, the command fails.

Additional Notes

 * This cmdlet is designed to work with the data exposed by any provider. To get the providers in your session, 
 use the Get-PSProvider cmdlet. For more information, see 
 about_Providers(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=113250).

 *

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International. It is attributed to Microsoft Corporation and can be found here.

PowerShell Commands