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I've compared two files using the following code:

Compare-Object $(Get-Content c:\user\documents\List1.txt) $(Get-Content c:\user\documents\List2.txt)

How can I write the output of this to a new text file? I've tried using an echo command, but I don't really understand the syntax.

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3 Answers 3

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100

Use the Out-File cmdlet

 Compare-Object ... | Out-File C:\filename.txt

Optionally, add -Encoding utf8 to Out-File as the default encoding is not really ideal for many uses.

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1 Comment

What about STDOUT (info) vs. STDERR (error) messages? Will they both go to the out-file?
24

The simplest way is to just redirect the output, like so:

Compare-Object $(Get-Content c:\user\documents\List1.txt) $(Get-Content c:\user\documents\List2.txt) > c:\user\documents\diff_output.txt

> will cause the output file to be overwritten if it already exists.
>> will append new text to the end of the output file if it already exists.

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4 Comments

This is the cmd / dos method. For powershell I think Out-File is a much better habit to get into
@AthomSfere, I agree. I'm still learning PowerShell, and old habits die hard. :)
This is also the Unix way, if you are using windows by force, this is the way.
Maybe not so outdated? learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/…
8

Another way this could be accomplished is by using the Start-Transcript and Stop-Transcript commands, respectively before and after command execution. This would capture the entire session including commands.

Start-Transcript

Stop-Transcript

For this particular case Out-File is probably your best bet though.

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