How to use the command Invoke-Item (with examples)

The Invoke-Item command in PowerShell allows users to open files in their respective default programs. It is a powerful command that can be used to perform various file-related operations through PowerShell.

Use case 1: Open a file in its default program

Code:

Invoke-Item -Path path\to\file

Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to quickly open a specific file in its default program without navigating through the file system manually.

Explanation:

• -Path: Specifies the path of the file that you want to open. It accepts both absolute and relative file paths.

Example output: If you run the following command: Invoke-Item -Path C:\Documents\example.txt, it will open the file “example.txt” in its default program, such as Notepad.

Use case 2: Open all files inside a directory

Code:

Invoke-Item -Path path\to\directory\*

Motivation: This use case is helpful when you want to open multiple files within a directory without having to individually open each file.

Explanation:

• -Path: Specifies the path of the directory containing the files. The asterisk (*) is used as a wildcard character to match all files within the directory.

Example output: If you run the command Invoke-Item -Path C:\Documents\*, it will open all files within the “Documents” directory in their respective default programs.

Use case 3: Open all PNGs inside a directory

Code:

Invoke-Item -Path path\to\directory\*.png

Motivation: This use case is beneficial when you specifically want to open all PNG image files within a directory.

Explanation:

• -Path: Specifies the path of the directory containing the files. The asterisk (*) is used as a wildcard character to match all PNG files within the directory.

Example output: If you run the command Invoke-Item -Path C:\Pictures\*.png, it will open all PNG image files within the “Pictures” directory in their respective default programs.

Use case 4: Open all files inside a directory containing a specific keyword

Code:

Invoke-Item -Path path\to\directory\* -Include *keyword*

Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to open all files within a directory that contain a specific keyword in their file names.

Explanation:

• -Path: Specifies the path of the directory containing the files. The asterisk (*) is used as a wildcard character to match all files within the directory.
• -Include: Specifies the keyword to filter the files. The asterisks (*) before and after the keyword are used as wildcard characters to match any characters before and after the keyword in the file names.

Example output: If you run the command Invoke-Item -Path C:\Documents\* -Include *report*, it will open all files within the “Documents” directory that contain the keyword “report” in their file names.

Use case 5: Open all files inside a directory except those containing a specific keyword

Code:

Invoke-Item -Path path\to\directory\* -Exclude *keyword*

Motivation: This use case is helpful when you want to open all files within a directory except those that contain a certain keyword in their names.

Explanation:

• -Path: Specifies the path of the directory containing the files. The asterisk (*) is used as a wildcard character to match all files within the directory.
• -Exclude: Specifies the keyword to exclude from the files. The asterisks (*) before and after the keyword are used as wildcard characters to match any characters before and after the keyword in the file names.

Example output: If you run the command Invoke-Item -Path C:\Documents\* -Exclude *draft*, it will open all files within the “Documents” directory except those that contain the keyword “draft” in their file names.

Use case 6: Perform a dry run to determine which files will be opened inside a directory through Invoke-Item

Code:

Invoke-Item -Path path\to\directory\* -WhatIf

Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to preview which files will be opened inside a directory without actually performing the action.

Explanation:

• -Path: Specifies the path of the directory containing the files. The asterisk (*) is used as a wildcard character to match all files within the directory.
• -WhatIf: Displays a list of files that would be opened without actually opening them.

Example output: If you run the command Invoke-Item -Path C:\Documents\* -WhatIf, it will display a list of files within the “Documents” directory that would be opened if the command was executed without the -WhatIf parameter.