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

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

Answer 1

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