FindFileExtension is a program to find files with a particular extension (type) on a disk/folder or share. The output of the program is stored in a CSV file and can be opened in Excel for further processing. Examples for use are:
Find all files with extension .doc on desktop computers and notebooks and then collect the resulting files on a network drive. This can quickly provide an overview of personal data files that are carried on notebooks (AVG/GDPR).
Find all executables installed in the user profile. There are programs bypassing the User Account Control (UAC) feature to bypass the administrator installation by installing software in the User profile.
Other features:
FindFileExtension requires no installation and configuration
Works with UNC paths (\\<server name>\<share name>)
The first version of FindFileExtension was designed to quickly find Outlook archives or different files on PC's and notebooks a corporate worldwide network.
The program FindFileExtension can be used on the command prompt or in a scheduled batch file or log on script.
Features
The program FindFileExtension is very easy to use, but very flexible.
The small program runs quickly and the source folder can be on a local disk or network share on a file server. The resulting file FindFileExtension creates is a (unicode) CSV file. Every file found is listed together with its full path and file size. This makes it easy to find very large files.
License
The program FindFileExtension is licensed according to the EULA in the download. Read the EULA carefully before using the program. A recent copy can be downloaded here.
YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS EULA BY INSTALLING, COPYING, OR OTHERWISE USING THE SOFTWARE. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE, DO NOT INSTALL, COPY, OR USE THE SOFTWARE.
Manual
The program FindFileExtension has three case insensitive parameters.
Root folder
Extension
Output File (CSV file)
Getting Quick help on FindFileExtension
By starting FindFileExtension without parameters or with an error in the parameters, FindFileExtension will display its options and a simple example:
FindFileExtension help screen.
The program FindFileExtension requires a folder path for the source files, a file extension (with dot) and a file name for storing the data. The source path can be a hard disk, a mapped disk ( "G:\PublicFiles"), or a UNC path (\\nlaalfs1\PublicFiles). The destination file is created or overwritten with Unicode data. The destination file can be on a hard disk, mapped disk, or an UNC path.
Examples
Just run the program on a command line to see the quick help documentation.
Start the program from the hard drive, for example from the folder "Batch":
C:\Batch\FindFileExtension
By including the call to the FindFileExtension program in the login script or GPO, all Outlook archives can be found on the C:\ disks of all the systems logged-on on the network and the information can be collected on a network disk.
This gives the following output in the file that is called "Johan_PC00001. csv":
Path;Size
c:\Users\johan\Documents\Outlook Files\Outlook Data File - Johan.pst;779264
Processing the files for analysis:
By means of the command line instruction FindStr, the files can be easily made suitable for analysis.
Go to the folder from the preceding example and create a drive mapping or use the Net Use command to map an unused letter to the folder share.
Net Use Y: \\nlaalfs1\PublicFiles
Now use the FindStr command to search all files on the PST extension:
Y:\FindStr /i pst *.csv >> Analyse.txt
This creates an analysis.txt file with the following content:
Johan_PC00001.csv:c:\Users\johan\Documents\Outlook Files\Outlook Data File - Johan.pst;779264
Paul_PC00002.csv:c:\Users\Paul\Documents\Outlook Files\Outlook Data File - Paul.pst;87265388
George_PC00003.csv:c:\Users\George\Documents\Outlook Files\Outlook Data File - George.pst;6453782
By using the "Text to table" function in Excel using the separators underscore "_", colon ":" and semicolon ";", the data is easily filtered to the next result.
FindFileExtension Excel example.
To find executables in a user profile, add the following to your login script
The following table shows the history of the FindFileExtension project.
Version
Properties
1.0
Initial version
Programmed in Microsoft C# .Net
Installation
Download, unzip and copy the program FindFileExtension anywhere you want on the disk.
System requirements
FindFileExtension is designed for the .NET platform with Microsoft C#. Therefore Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 or newer is required.
Windows Version
Runs .Net 2.0
Tested
Windows XP
Yes
No
Windows Vista
Yes
No
Windows 7
Yes
Yes
Windows 8.1
Yes
No
Windows 10
Yes
Yes
Windows Server 2008 SP2
Yes
No
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
Yes
No
Windows Server 2012
Yes
No
Windows Server 2012 R2
Yes
No
Windows Server 2016
Yes
Yes
Support matrix
vanSoest.it will only support the latest version of free software.
Download
Upon clicking the "Start download process" button, you get to another web page where you have to agree to the End User License Agreement (EULA) before you can download the program FindFileExtension
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Just use the postcard icon in the left menu to ask a question.
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