Deleting file using Powershell

Question

I have a powershell script that connects to a SFTP every 2 minutes and deletes the files. If the file does not get deleted it retries 10 times.

code:

$session = New-Object WinSCP.Session

$retryTimes = 0

while ($retryTimes -ne 10) {

  try {
    $retryTimes++
    $session.Open($sessionOptions)
    echo ("Opened a session with options: " + $sessionOptions)
    echo ("Trying to remove a file: " + $fileToRemove)
    $fileToRemove = "/File_$((Get-Date).AddDays(-1).ToString("yyyyMMdd_HHmm")).csv"
    $session.RemoveFiles($fileToRemove)
    echo ("File" + $fileToRemove + "removed." )
    }
   catch {
    echo ("File not removed retrying for the " + $retryTimes + "time.")
    echo ($Error[0].Exception)
  }
  }

I have noticed that it doesn't delete files when it runs every 2 mins sometimes and other times it deletes fine.

I checked my logs and I am getting an error of - {} {WinSCP.SessionRemoteException: Can't get attributes of file

not sure what this means.

Is there a way to make sure it deletes the file?

The issue you are getting is because of the specific file's attribute and not related to your code.. You can create some dummy txt file and it will work properly. I did the testing in my local and it is not having any issue except the timeout is high in my case. — Ranadip Dutta, Apr 24 '19 at 11:14
sorry but i dont understand what you mean by the specific file attributes. — R.Dave, Apr 24 '19 at 11:22
See the error you are getting is because of one file and not related to the code. You just take sample 5 txt files and try removing them, your script will work like a charm. — Ranadip Dutta, Apr 24 '19 at 11:23

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 24 '19 at 11:35

1

Can't get attributes of file

The error/log file for sure includes more details, that will tell us the root cause.

But most probably it means that the file simply does not exist.

answered Apr 24 '19 at 11:35

Martin Prikryl

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Theo · Answer 2 · 2019-04-27T14:14:53.310

I agree with Martin Prikryl that the file you are after probably does not exist. You could build in a check to find out if the file exists or not using something like this:

if ($session.FileExists($fileToRemove)) {
    $session.RemoveFiles($fileToRemove).Check()
    Write-Host "File '$fileToRemove' removed."
    # exit the while loop, because the action succeeded
    break
}
else {
    Write-Host "File '$fileToRemove' not found."
}

Also, I would close the session after the while loop using $session.Close. Maybe you already do that, but it does not show in your code.

Putting it together with your code:

$session = New-Object WinSCP.Session

$retryTimes = 0

while ($retryTimes -ne 10) {
    try {
        $retryTimes++
        $session.Open($sessionOptions)
        echo ("Opened a session with options: " + $sessionOptions)
        echo ("Trying to remove a file: " + $fileToRemove)
        $fileToRemove = "/File_$((Get-Date).AddDays(-1).ToString("yyyyMMdd_HHmm")).csv"

        if ($session.FileExists($fileToRemove)) {
            # we know now that the file actually exists, so the next line should not throw the exception
            $session.RemoveFiles($fileToRemove)
            Write-Output "File '$fileToRemove' removed."
            # exit the while loop, because the action succeeded
            break
        }
        else {
            Write-Output "File '$fileToRemove' not found."
        }

    }
    catch {
        # some other exception happened
        echo ("File not removed retrying for the " + $retryTimes + " time.")
        echo ($Error[0].Exception)
    }
}

where would i put this code into mine? after the catch statement? — R.Dave, Apr 24 '19 at 13:21
@R.Dave No, it should go inside the `try{..}` block, directly above the `catch{..}`. It replaces these two lines: `$session.RemoveFiles($fileToRemove)` and `echo ("File" + $fileToRemove + "removed." )` — Theo, Apr 24 '19 at 13:24
@R.Dave P.S. I have added a small piece to exit the while loop if the removal succeeded. — Theo, Apr 24 '19 at 13:27
i added you code with mine and it is not working. i think i am not placing it in the right place. could you edit your code and add my code with yours please. it will help me understand where i am going wrong. thanks! — R.Dave, Apr 24 '19 at 14:35
@R.Dave Sorry for the really late reply.. I have put the snippet in your code and added it to my answer. — Theo, Apr 27 '19 at 14:15

Deleting file using Powershell

2 Answers2