VBscript to check for the existance of a file (with the ability to use a wildcard) within a certain time frame - windows

Question

Good morning all,
I have been trying to pull together a VBscript that takes a file path and a file name (that may have a wildcard in it) from the user when the script is exicuted. The script will then check the specified directory for a file that matches the provided file name and then looks at the last modified date to see if it was created/modified within a certain time frame (i.e. 6am plus or minus 5 minutes). It would then copy said file into a zip file.
So far I have been able to get the arguments working, and I have it setup to grab the current time, look at the files in the folder and match a hard coded filename to one in the folder. This is what I have thus far.
currentTime = Now()
filePath = Wscript.Arguments.Item(0)
fileName = Wscript.Arguments.Item(1)
Set fileSystem = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set directory = fileSystem.GetFolder(filePath)
For each file in directory.Files
If file.Name = fileName Then
Wscript.echo file.Name & " " & file.DateLastModified
end if
Next
I am a VBscript noob and I am looking forward to learning the way!
Cap3

Answer 1

If you use WMI, it supports wildcards.
Dim strPath
strFile = "*.*"
If WScript.Arguments.Count > 1 Then
strPath = WScript.Arguments.Item(0)
strFile = WScript.Arguments.Item(1)
Elseif WScript.Arguments.Count = 1 Then
strPath = WScript.Arguments.Item(0)
Else
End If
Set objFso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
If Not objFso.FolderExists(strPath) Then
WScript.Echo "Folder path does not exist."
WScript.Quit
Else
'Remove any trailing slash
If Right(strPath, 1) = "\" Then
strPath = Left(strPath, Len(strPath) - 1)
End If
End If
Set objFso = Nothing
If Not IsNull(strPath) And strPath <> "" Then
strQuery = strPath & "\" & strFile
Else
strQuery = strFile
End If
strQuery = Replace(strQuery, "*", "%")
strQuery = Replace(strQuery, "?", "_")
strQuery = Replace(strQuery, "\", "\\")
strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
& "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
Set colFiles = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
("Select * From CIM_DataFile Where FileName Like '" & strQuery & "'")
For Each objFile in colFiles
WScript.Echo "Access mask: " & objFile.AccessMask
WScript.Echo "Archive: " & objFile.Archive
WScript.Echo "Compressed: " & objFile.Compressed
WScript.Echo "Compression method: " & objFile.CompressionMethod
WScript.Echo "Creation date: " & objFile.CreationDate
WScript.Echo "Computer system name: " & objFile.CSName
WScript.Echo "Drive: " & objFile.Drive
WScript.Echo "8.3 file name: " & objFile.EightDotThreeFileName
WScript.Echo "Encrypted: " & objFile.Encrypted
WScript.Echo "Encryption method: " & objFile.EncryptionMethod
WScript.Echo "Extension: " & objFile.Extension
WScript.Echo "File name: " & objFile.FileName
WScript.Echo "File size: " & objFile.FileSize
WScript.Echo "File type: " & objFile.FileType
WScript.Echo "File system name: " & objFile.FSName
WScript.Echo "Hidden: " & objFile.Hidden
WScript.Echo "Last accessed: " & objFile.LastAccessed
WScript.Echo "Last modified: " & objFile.LastModified
WScript.Echo "Manufacturer: " & objFile.Manufacturer
WScript.Echo "Name: " & objFile.Name
WScript.Echo "Path: " & objFile.Path
WScript.Echo "Readable: " & objFile.Readable
WScript.Echo "System: " & objFile.System
WScript.Echo "Version: " & objFile.Version
WScript.Echo "Writeable: " & objFile.Writeable
Next
EDIT..........
You can use a WMI event script with the __InstanceCreationEvent to monitor for new file creation in a specific folder. It looks like this:
strSource = "C:\\somefilepath\\withdoubleshlashes"
strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" & strComputer & "rootcimv2")
Set colEvents = objWMIService.ExecNotificationQuery _
("SELECT * FROM __InstanceCreationEvent WITHIN 10 WHERE " _
& "Targetinstance ISA 'CIM_DirectoryContainsFile' AND " _
& "TargetInstance.GroupComponent= " _
& "'Win32_Directory.Name=""" & strSource & """'")
Do While True
Set objEvent = colEvents.NextEvent()
copyFile(objEvent.TargetInstance.PartComponent)
Loop
For a full explanation, you can read Monitoring and Archiving Newly Created Files on my blog.

Answer 2

This answer uses Regular Expressions. To make it work it rewrites your pattern format into regular expression format. e.g. *.txt will become ^.*[.]txt$.
The following lists text files in C:\Temp last modified between 5:55 AM and 6:05 AM:
strPath = "C:\Temp"
strFile = "*.txt"
startTime = 555
endTime = 605
Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set folder = fso.GetFolder(strPath)
Set files = folder.Files
Set re = New RegExp
re.IgnoreCase = true
re.Pattern = "^" + Replace(Replace(strFile, ".", "[.]"), "*", ".*") + "$"
For Each f in Files
Set matches = re.Execute(f.Name)
If matches.Count > 0 Then
HM = Hour(f.DateLastAccessed) * 100 + Minute(f.DateLastAccessed)
If HM >= startTime And HM <= endTime Then
WScript.Echo f.Name, f.DateLastAccessed
End If
End If
Next
References:
Regular Expression (RegExp) Object
Regular Expressions and Operators
Microsoft Beefs Up VBScript with Regular Expressions
Hey, Scripting Guy! Raising Eyebrows on Regular Expressions

Answer 3

For your example, the easiest way to do this is to use the inStr (In String)function. I find it works in 99% of my wild card tasks. So, in your example, instead of using:
If file.Name = fileName Then
use:
If inStr(file.Name, filename) Then
This doesn't actually allow for wildcards(*) as it won't find a match(with the asterisk in the argument), so you would need to strip the wildcard from the string and replace it with nothing (or just train the user to not use wildcards):
Replace(filename,"*", "")
However, the inStr function does allow for partial or full matches which makes it suitable for most wildcard tasks. Therefore, if your file name is pic.jpg, whether the user searches for:
pic or jpg or p or c or pi etc.
It will return a match. Keep in mind though, that the instr function returns a number where the match shows up in the string. So, if it doesn't create a match, the result will be 0. I've run into examples where NOT doesn't work or I've needed to use the full syntax which in this case would be:
If inStr(file.Name, filename)<>0 Then