Split a Directory Path (String ) into two strings using Powershell

Question

I am new at Powershell and I have spent a whole day working out this how to split a string I have this string path

RootFolder\Subfolder1\SubFolder2\SubFolder3

I want to split this into two strings so that the first string holds the RootFolder and the second string has rest of the string.

E.g: RootFolder\Subfolder1\SubFolder2\SubFolder3

$rootFolder = RootFolder 
$subFolders = Subfolder1\SubFolder2\SubFolder3

Thanks in advance!

$root, $path = "RootFolder\Subfolder1\SubFolder2\SubFolder3".Split("\", 2) leaves you with $root # --> RootFolder and $path # --> Subfolder1\SubFolder2\SubFolder3 — Theo
– Theo, Commented May 13, 2021 at 13:27
there is a cmdlet for that >>> Get-Help Split-Path -Parameter * <<< [grin] look specifically at 'qualifier', 'parent', & 'leaf'. also, if the item is a FileInfo or DirInfo object, look at the .Root, .Parent, and .Directory.Parent properties. — Lee_Dailey
– Lee_Dailey, Commented May 13, 2021 at 13:50

boxdog · Accepted Answer · 2021-05-13 13:38:08Z

1

One option is to use the split operator:

$splitPath = 'RootFolder\Subfolder1\SubFolder2\SubFolder3' -split '\\', 2

Which gives this output:

$splitPath

RootFolder
Subfolder1\SubFolder2\SubFolder3

You can access the individual parts like this:

$splitPath[0]

RootFolder

If the path begins with a drive letter (e.g. C:\RootFolder\Subfolder1\SubFolder2\SubFolder3) and you want to ignore it, just increase the substring count:

$splitPath = 'C:\RootFolder\Subfolder1\SubFolder2\SubFolder3' -split '\\', 3


$splitPath

C:
RootFolder
Subfolder1\SubFolder2\SubFolder3

answered May 13, 2021 at 13:38

boxdog

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1 Comment

sam Over a year ago

thanks for your help !

Theo · Accepted Answer · 2021-05-13 13:35:17Z

1

Here's a few methods for you:

Using the string's Split() method

$root, $path = "RootFolder\Subfolder1\SubFolder2\SubFolder3".Split("\", 2)

$root # --> RootFolder
$path # --> Subfolder1\SubFolder2\SubFolder3

Using the string's IndexOf() method

$folder = "RootFolder\Subfolder1\SubFolder2\SubFolder3"
$index = $folder.IndexOf("\")
$root  = $folder.Substring(0, $index)
$path  = $folder.Substring($index + 1)

$root # --> RootFolder
$path # --> Subfolder1\SubFolder2\SubFolder3

Or even something like

$folder = "RootFolder\Subfolder1\SubFolder2\SubFolder3" -split '\\'
$root   = $folder[0]
$path   = $folder[1..($folder.Count -1)] -join '\'

$root # --> RootFolder
$path # --> Subfolder1\SubFolder2\SubFolder3

answered May 13, 2021 at 13:35

Theo

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