Powershell script that can log already scanned files and ignore them on next run?

Question

I am attempting to write a script that will recursively scan a directory, local files with the \'.Error\' extension, then email a group of people with a list of the files. I am

Answer 1

Try breaking the task into simple steps:

• Read list of exclusions from file
• Discover files
• Filter files against list of exclusions
• Send emails
• Append new list of exclusions to file

$exclusionFilePath = '.\path\to\exclusions\file.txt'
if(-not(Test-Path $exclusionFilePath)){
    # Create the exclusion file if it doesn't already exist
    New-Item $exclusionFilePath -ItemType File
}

# read list of exclusions from file
$exclusions = Get-Content -Path $exclusionFilePath

# discover files
$array = @((Get-ChildItem -Path \\SERVER\FOLDER -Recurse -Include *.Error).Fullname)

# filter current files against list of exclusions
$array = $array |Where-Object {$exclusions -notcontains $_}

foreach($file in $array){
  # send emails
  sendEmail

  # append new file path to exclusions file
  $file |Add-Content -Path $exclusionFilePath
}

---

Bonus tip: parameterize your functions

Relying on variables from the calling context is a bit of an anti-pattern, I'd strongly suggest refactoring your sendEmail function to something like:

function Send-ErrorFileEmail {
    param(
        [string]$File
    )
    $MailMessageArgs = @{
        SMTPServer = "relay.EXAMPLE.com"
        From       = "Test@EXAMPLE.com" 
        To         = "user@EXAMPLE.com"
        Subject    = "Error loading XPOLL File - $file" 
        Body       = "This is the body" 
    }
    Send-MailMessage @MailMessageArgs
}

Then use it in the script like:

Send-ErrorFileEmail -File $file