Randomize-FilesIntoSubfolders.ps1
19 Sep 2025Description
Purpose
Distributes files from a base directory into a specified number of randomly named subfolders.
Detailed Description
The Randomize-FilesIntoSubfolders function takes all files from a specified base directory and distributes them into a specified number of subfolders with random names. If the base directory does not exist or contains no files, appropriate warnings or errors are displayed.
Usage
Example 1
Randomize-FilesIntoSubfolders -baseDirectory "C:\Path\To\Your\Files" -numFolders 5
Distributes all files from “C:\Path\To\Your\Files” into 5 randomly named subfolders within the same directory.
Notes
Author: Your Name Date: 2024-06-30
Script
function Randomize-FilesIntoSubfolders {
<#
.SYNOPSIS
Distributes files from a base directory into a specified number of randomly named subfolders.
.DESCRIPTION
The Randomize-FilesIntoSubfolders function takes all files from a specified base directory and distributes them into a specified number of subfolders with random names. If the base directory does not exist or contains no files, appropriate warnings or errors are displayed.
.PARAMETER baseDirectory
The path of the base directory containing the files to be moved.
.PARAMETER numFolders
The number of subfolders to create in the base directory.
.EXAMPLE
Randomize-FilesIntoSubfolders -baseDirectory "C:\Path\To\Your\Files" -numFolders 5
Distributes all files from "C:\Path\To\Your\Files" into 5 randomly named subfolders within the same directory.
.INPUTS
None. You cannot pipe objects to this function.
.OUTPUTS
None. This function does not produce any output.
.NOTES
Author: Your Name
Date: 2024-06-30
#>
[CmdletBinding()]
param (
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
[string]$baseDirectory,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
[int]$numFolders
)
# Check if the directory exists
if (-Not (Test-Path -Path $baseDirectory)) {
Write-Error "The directory '$baseDirectory' does not exist."
return
}
else {
Write-Verbose "The directory '$baseDirectory' exists."
}
# Check if the directory is not empty
$files = Get-ChildItem -Path $baseDirectory -File
if ($files.Count -eq 0) {
Write-Warning "There are no files in the base directory '$baseDirectory' to move."
return
}
else {
Write-Verbose "Found $($files.Count) files in the base directory '$baseDirectory'."
}
# Generate random folder names and create them
$randomFolderNames = 1..$numFolders | ForEach-Object {
$randomFolderName = [System.IO.Path]::GetRandomFileName().Replace(".", "")
$folderPath = Join-Path -Path $baseDirectory -ChildPath $randomFolderName
New-Item -Path $folderPath -ItemType Directory | Out-Null
Write-Verbose "Created folder '$folderPath'."
$folderPath
}
# Move files to random folders
foreach ($file in $files) {
$randomFolderPath = Get-Random -InputObject $randomFolderNames
$destinationPath = Join-Path -Path $randomFolderPath -ChildPath $file.Name
Move-Item -Path $file.FullName -Destination $destinationPath
Write-Verbose "Moved file '$($file.Name)' to folder '$randomFolderPath'."
}
}
# Example Usage:
# Randomize-FilesIntoSubfolders -baseDirectory "C:\Path\To\Your\Files" -numFolders 5 -Verbose
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