Create a custom file name based on a template.

New-CustomFileName [-Template] <String> [-Case <String>] [<CommonParameters>]

This command will generate a custom file name based on a template string that you provide. You can create a template string using any of these variables. Most of these should be self-explanatory

• %username
• %computername
• %year - 4 digit year
• %yr - 2 digit year
• %monthname - The abbreviated month name
• %month - The month number
• %dayofweek - The full name of the week day
• %day
• %hour
• %minute
• %seconds
• %time - A compact string of HourMinuteSecond
• %string - A random string
• %guid

You can also insert a random number using %### with a # character for each digit. If you want a 2 digit random number use %##. If you want 6 digits, use %######.

The command will attempt to preserve case for any non pattern string, but you should separate it from other placeholder patterns with one of these characters: - ( ) [ ] or a . Using an underscore will not work.

Another option, is to turn the entire name into upper or lower case.

PS C:\> New-CustomFileName %computername_%day%monthname%yr-%time.log
COWPC_28Nov18-142138.log

PS C:\> New-CustomFileName %dayofweek-%####.dat
Tuesday-3128.dat

Create a custom file name using the day of the week and a 4 digit random number.

PS C:\> New-CustomFileName %username-%string.tmp -Case Upper
JEFF-Z0XUXMFS.TMP

Create an upper case custom file name. The %string placeholder will be replaced with a random 8 character string.

PS C:\> Join-Path c:\work (New-CustomFilename "%Year%Monthname-LOG-%computername[%username].txt" -case lower)
c:\work\2018nov-log-bovine320[jeff].txt

Create a lower case filename using Join-Path. This command does not create the file, it only generates a name for you to use.

PS C:\> 1..10 | foreach-object {
    $file = New-Item (Join-Path c:\work\data (New-CustomFileName %string-%####.dat))
    $stream =$file.open("OpenOrCreate")
    $stream.Seek((Get-Random -minimum 250 -Maximum 2KB), "Begin") | Out-Null
    $stream.WriteByte(0)
    $stream.Close()
    $file
}

    Directory: C:\work\data

Mode                LastWriteTime         Length Name
----                -------------         ------ ----
-a----        3/15/2019   4:46 PM            976 rcphz2nj-6431.dat
-a----        3/15/2019   4:46 PM           1797 viz32er5-0526.dat
-a----        3/15/2019   4:46 PM           1775 k2mukuv4-8267.dat
-a----        3/15/2019   4:46 PM            666 0encqdlt-8753.dat
-a----        3/15/2019   4:46 PM            513 dbswpujf-6314.dat
-a----        3/15/2019   4:46 PM            371 qlkdufp0-0481.dat
-a----        3/15/2019   4:46 PM           2010 5cxq3tb5-5624.dat
-a----        3/15/2019   4:46 PM           2043 mcvoh4n5-8041.dat
-a----        3/15/2019   4:46 PM           1048 4iwibnmf-1584.dat
-a----        3/15/2019   4:46 PM            378 fgsj0rtd-2894.dat

Create 10 dummy files with random names and sizes.

Some values like username or computername might be in different case than what you want. You can use the default value, or return a value that is all upper or lower case.

Type: String
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases:
Accepted values: Lower, Upper, Default

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

A string that defines the naming pattern based on a set of placeholders.

Type: String
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases:

Required: True
Position: 0
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

This cmdlet supports the common parameters: -Debug, -ErrorAction, -ErrorVariable, -InformationAction, -InformationVariable, -OutVariable, -OutBuffer, -PipelineVariable, -Verbose, -WarningAction, and -WarningVariable. For more information, see about_CommonParameters (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=113216).

Learn more about PowerShell: http://jdhitsolutions.com/blog/essential-powershell-resources/

New-RandomFileName