June, 2008

Hey, Scripting Guy! I have large files output by a reservoir simulator, files I use to predict oil, water and gas movements in hydrocarbon reservoirs. These files are finite-difference numerical simulators, and work by timestep (i.e. a time interval,...

Hey, Scripting Guy! I have a CSV file, and every time I open that file in Office Excel my numbers get converted to dates. How can I import numbers as numbers? -- JR Hey, JR. You know, just yesterday the Scripting Guy who writes this column learned...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I match multiple criteria in a file name? I need to copy all the files in a folder that are less than 24 hours old, and that have file names beginning with the letters FS , CG , or GPS . How can I do that? -- EM Hey,...

Hey, Scripting Guy! I’m trying to use a script to create a Microsoft Office Outlook signature, but I can’t figure out how to add a live hyperlink to that signature. Can you help? -- BK Hey, BK. You know, it’s interesting that you...

Hey, Scripting Guy! I am trying to change a registry value that has the name (Default). I can change any registry value that has a “real” name, but I can’t figure out how to change one with the name (Default). If I export the value the name shows up as...

Hey, Scripting Guy! We recently implemented a scheme whereby Team Leads or Contract Sponsors may request server access for their Team members by submitting an Excel spreadsheet. To this end, I proposed a script that will open Outlook, look for items in...

Hey, Scripting Guy (and the $12 million-a-year Scripting Editor)! Is there a way to mass-rename all the files in a folder, changing the letter case as needed? -- MV Hey, MV. To begin with, we should mention that we know that you actually asked two...

Hey, Scripting Guy! I need some help in cleaning up a text file. I have a file that contains multiple columns of data, and I need to either delete or modify lines in the file based on the value of the 13 th column. Can you help me? -- AM Hey, AM...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I change file names using a file mask? You know, like when you run the command-line command ren ??x???p?.* ?a????bc.x?? . -- AM Hey, AM. Well, the big news out of Seattle is that the Mariners have fired their general...

Hey, Scripting Guy! We have a whole bunch of PowerPoint presentations that we would like to share with other people. However, before we make these presentations available we’d like to remove all the speaker notes from each one. Is there a way we...

Hey, Scripting Guy! I have a comma-separated values file in which several fields have a comma embedded in the field value; that’s causing problems when I try and import the information into another application. I was wondering if there is a way to remove...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I write a script that retrieves free/busy time from Outlook? -- JH Hey, JH. As we noted yesterday , the Scripting Guys are back from a whirlwind trip to Orlando, where we flew into town, delivered a pair of instructor-led...

Hey, Scripting Guy! I’m trying to write a script that will run Fsutil.exe against all the drives on a computer. That’s pretty easy. However, I’d like to have all the output written to a text file rather than displayed on screen; that’s the part that I...

Hey, Scripting Guy! Is it possible to get a list of all the styles available in a Word document? -- RK Hey, RK. Believe it or not, TechEd Orlando is over, at least for the Scripting Guys. Admittedly, it was a somewhat abbreviated trip: we flew in,...

Hey, Scripting Guy! I would like to write a script, with a number of sequential actions, that can continue where it left off after a reboot. How can I do that? -- GS Hey, GS. By the way, what are you doing at 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time today? Nothing...

Hey, Scripting Guy! I know that, by using the WSH Popup method, you can time out a message box. Is it possible to do something similar with the InputBox function? -- JR Hey, JR. Greetings from sunny Florida! Well, at least we assume it’s sunny Florida;...

Hey, Scripting Guy! I have a script that adds a line to a log file. Each time I add a new line to this file I would like to delete the last line in the file; that way I always have 20 lines in the file. Can you help me get this to work? -- HW Hey,...

Hey, Scripting Guy! I would like to export all my contacts as .MSG files. Is that possible? -- FG Hey, FG. You know, the other day the Scripting Guy who writes this column was watching his … beloved … Seattle Mariners play the Angels. (The Scripting...

Hey, Scripting Guy! I have a script that automatically creates a Microsoft Office Word table that features several columns of data. At the bottom of each column I need to list the largest number that can be found in that column. What’s the easiest way...

Hey, Scripting Guy! I have a folder filled with invoice files. Each of these files has been given a file name based on a specific three-part naming convention: a three-letter abbreviation of the vendor name; the invoice date (e.g., 06032008) ; and the...

Hey, Scripting Guy! I just read your “ using calculated properties ” PowerShell Tip of the Week, and it addresses a problem I recently had. However, when I got to the last step in your article, I realized the file sizes – and my displayed values – are...