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I am trying to create a systemFileWatcher that watches a specific excel file for any changes. When triggered it should runs a few commands, logs the activity and then continues watching. However, for now I am unable to get the watcher to react to changes in the .xlsx file. My watcher is currently set up as follows, based an answer here.

$watch_path = 'D:\Projects\test\'
$watch_file = 'test.xlsx'

SET FOLDER TO WATCH + FILES TO WATCH + SUBFOLDERS YES/NO


$watcher = New-Object System.IO.FileSystemWatcher
$watcher.Path = $watch_path
$watcher.Filter = $watch_file
$watcher.IncludeSubdirectories = $false
$watcher.EnableRaisingEvents = $true  




DEFINE ACTIONS AFTER AN EVENT IS DETECTED


$action = { $path = $Event.SourceEventArgs.FullPath
            $changeType = $Event.SourceEventArgs.ChangeType
            $logline = "$(Get-Date), $changeType, $path"
            Add-content "log.txt" -value $logline
          }    



DECIDE WHICH EVENTS SHOULD BE WATCHED


Register-ObjectEvent $watcher "Created" -Action $action
Register-ObjectEvent $watcher "Changed" -Action $action
while ($true) {sleep 60}

This does not trigger on a save within the excel program, however when I put the default filter of '.' it reacts to the temporary files created with this saving. I don't want that though, as there are more files in this folder that the watcher should not react to. How do I fix this filter/watcher?

EDIT: I just wanted to add some output to this question. Adding the line: Write-Host $logline after creating $logline I get the following ouput:

Id     Name            PSJobTypeName   State         HasMoreData     Location             Command                  
--     ----            -------------   -----         -----------     --------             -------                  
1      7dd34e5a-484...                 NotStarted    False                                 $path = $Event.Source...
2      d7a74a71-5ae...                 NotStarted    False                                 $path = $Event.Source...

Then I open the Excel File:

03/12/2024 11:34:39, Created, D:\Projects\test\~$test.xlsx
03/12/2024 11:34:40, Changed, D:\Projects\test\~$test.xlsx

Then I change and save the Excel file:

03/12/2024 11:35:06, Created, D:\Projects\test\845C7B30
03/12/2024 11:35:06, Changed, D:\Projects\test\845C7B30
03/12/2024 11:35:06, Changed, D:\Projects\test\845C7B30

Finally I close the excel file, but I get no further messages.

Orange Pukeko
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  • Is excel closed after the save? When excel opens a file, it gets a file lock. Saving may be picked up by your watcher, but it may not be able to access the file as its still locked by excel. – LPChip Mar 11 '24 at 14:14
  • I have just added and edit that should help answer this question. I do open and close Excel, make edits, etc. But it never seems to trigger on the actual xlsx file, only on temp files.

    It does react to changes made to a .txt file when changed in notepad.

     – Orange Pukeko Mar 12 '24 at 01:42
  • Just found the answer as it is registered as a "renamed" event, rather than a "changed" event. I have answered my own question below. – Orange Pukeko Mar 12 '24 at 02:08

1 Answers1

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The event was not triggered because Excel saving is registered as a "Renamed" event. So adding the line Register-ObjectEvent $watcher "Renamed" -Action $action with the other action registers gives the following output on a save in Excel:

Id     Name            PSJobTypeName   State         HasMoreData     Location             Command                  
--     ----            -------------   -----         -----------     --------             -------                  
6      bc4f7a5b-747...                 NotStarted    False                                 $path = $Event.Source...
7      a3977062-fbb...                 NotStarted    False                                 $path = $Event.Source...
8      f28260d1-43a...                 NotStarted    False                                 $path = $Event.Source...
03/12/2024 11:50:04, Created, D:\Projects\test\3B0A8B30
03/12/2024 11:50:04, Created, D:\Projects\test\3B0A8B30
03/12/2024 11:50:04, Changed, D:\Projects\test\3B0A8B30
03/12/2024 11:50:04, Changed, D:\Projects\test\3B0A8B30
03/12/2024 11:50:04, Changed, D:\Projects\test\3B0A8B30
03/12/2024 11:50:05, Changed, D:\Projects\test\3B0A8B30
03/12/2024 11:50:05, Renamed, D:\Projects\test\69E4C836.tmp
03/12/2024 11:50:05, Renamed, D:\Projects\test\69E4C836.tmp
03/12/2024 11:50:05, Renamed, D:\Projects\test\test.xlsx
03/12/2024 11:50:06, Renamed, D:\Projects\test\test.xlsx
Orange Pukeko
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