Difference between the Name and FullName property

Article
2012-07-03

Question

_{Tuesday, July 3, 2012 10:17 AM}

Why does this script work:

PS Dir_Prove:\>>> Get-ChildItem | Where-Object {$_.Length -gt 2MB} | Select-Object -Property Name | ForEach-Object {Remove-Item $_.Name -WhatIf}
WhatIf: Execution the operation "Remove File" on the destination "C:\Users\test\Documents\PowerShell\Guida_PowerShell_2,0.txt".
WhatIf: Execution the operation "Remove File" on the destination "C:\Users\test\Documents\PowerShell\it_windows_7_ultimate_with_sp1_x86_dvd_619122.iso".
WhatIf: Execution the operation "Remove File" on the destination "C:\Users\test\Documents\PowerShell\Kalimba.mp3".
WhatIf: Execution the operation "Remove File" on the destination "C:\Users\test\Documents\PowerShell\Lista.txt".
WhatIf: Execution the operation "Remove File" on the destination "C:\Users\test\Documents\PowerShell\ListSortedSize.txt".
WhatIf: Execution the operation "Remove File" on the destination "C:\Users\test\Documents\PowerShell\Maid with the Flaxen Hair.mp3".
WhatIf: Execution the operation "Remove File" on the destination "C:\Users\test\Documents\PowerShell\Sleep Away.mp3".
WhatIf: Execution the operation "Remove File" on the destination "C:\Users\test\Documents\PowerShell\Visio.Premium.2010.x64.Volume.License.SP1.iso".
WhatIf: Execution the operation "Remove File" on the destination "C:\Users\test\Documents\PowerShell\Wildlife.wmv".
PS Dir_Prove:\>>>

and this:

PS Dir_Prove:\>>> Get-ChildItem | Where-Object {$_.Length -gt 2MB} | Select-Object -Property Name | ForEach-Object {Remove-Item $_.FullName -WhatIf}
Remove-Item : Impossible to associate the argument to parameter 'Path' because it is null.
In line:1 car:110
+ Get-ChildItem | Where-Object {$_.Length -gt 2MB} | Select-Object -Property Name | ForEach-Object {Remove-Item <<<<  $_.FullName -WhatIf}
    + CategoryInfo          : InvalidData: (:) [Remove-Item], ParameterBindingValidationException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : ParameterArgumentValidationErrorNullNotAllowed,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.RemoveItemCommand

Remove-Item : Impossible to associate the argument to parameter 'Path' because it is null.
In line:1 car:110
+ Get-ChildItem | Where-Object {$_.Length -gt 2MB} | Select-Object -Property Name | ForEach-Object {Remove-Item <<<<  $_.FullName -WhatIf}
    + CategoryInfo          : InvalidData: (:) [Remove-Item], ParameterBindingValidationException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : ParameterArgumentValidationErrorNullNotAllowed,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.RemoveItemCommand

Remove-Item : Impossible to associate the argument to parameter 'Path' because it is null.
In line:1 car:110
+ Get-ChildItem | Where-Object {$_.Length -gt 2MB} | Select-Object -Property Name | ForEach-Object {Remove-Item <<<<  $_.FullName -WhatIf}
    + CategoryInfo          : InvalidData: (:) [Remove-Item], ParameterBindingValidationException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : ParameterArgumentValidationErrorNullNotAllowed,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.RemoveItemCommand

Remove-Item : Impossible to associate the argument to parameter 'Path' because it is null.
In line:1 car:110
+ Get-ChildItem | Where-Object {$_.Length -gt 2MB} | Select-Object -Property Name | ForEach-Object {Remove-Item <<<<  $_.FullName -WhatIf}
    + CategoryInfo          : InvalidData: (:) [Remove-Item], ParameterBindingValidationException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : ParameterArgumentValidationErrorNullNotAllowed,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.RemoveItemCommand

Remove-Item : Impossible to associate the argument to parameter 'Path' because it is null.
In line:1 car:110
+ Get-ChildItem | Where-Object {$_.Length -gt 2MB} | Select-Object -Property Name | ForEach-Object {Remove-Item <<<<  $_.FullName -WhatIf}
    + CategoryInfo          : InvalidData: (:) [Remove-Item], ParameterBindingValidationException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : ParameterArgumentValidationErrorNullNotAllowed,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.RemoveItemCommand

Remove-Item : Impossible to associate the argument to parameter 'Path' because it is null.
In line:1 car:110
+ Get-ChildItem | Where-Object {$_.Length -gt 2MB} | Select-Object -Property Name | ForEach-Object {Remove-Item <<<<  $_.FullName -WhatIf}
    + CategoryInfo          : InvalidData: (:) [Remove-Item], ParameterBindingValidationException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : ParameterArgumentValidationErrorNullNotAllowed,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.RemoveItemCommand

Remove-Item : Impossible to associate the argument to parameter 'Path' because it is null.
In line:1 car:110
+ Get-ChildItem | Where-Object {$_.Length -gt 2MB} | Select-Object -Property Name | ForEach-Object {Remove-Item <<<<  $_.FullName -WhatIf}
    + CategoryInfo          : InvalidData: (:) [Remove-Item], ParameterBindingValidationException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : ParameterArgumentValidationErrorNullNotAllowed,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.RemoveItemCommand

Remove-Item : Impossible to associate the argument to parameter 'Path' because it is null.
In line:1 car:110
+ Get-ChildItem | Where-Object {$_.Length -gt 2MB} | Select-Object -Property Name | ForEach-Object {Remove-Item <<<<  $_.FullName -WhatIf}
    + CategoryInfo          : InvalidData: (:) [Remove-Item], ParameterBindingValidationException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : ParameterArgumentValidationErrorNullNotAllowed,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.RemoveItemCommand

Remove-Item : Impossible to associate the argument to parameter 'Path' because it is null.
In line:1 car:110
+ Get-ChildItem | Where-Object {$_.Length -gt 2MB} | Select-Object -Property Name | ForEach-Object {Remove-Item <<<<  $_.FullName -WhatIf}
    + CategoryInfo          : InvalidData: (:) [Remove-Item], ParameterBindingValidationException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : ParameterArgumentValidationErrorNullNotAllowed,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.RemoveItemCommand

PS Dir_Prove:\>>>

does not work?

What is the difference between the Name and FullName property?

Thanks

Bye

Balubeto

All replies (5)

_{Tuesday, July 3, 2012 6:03 PM ✅Answered | 1 vote}

See for yourself. Fullname is the full path, and name is just the file name. Run the following code to see the difference:

'Test' | Set-Content 'Test.txt'
$file = Get-Item '.\test.txt'
$file.Name
$file.FullName

Grant Ward, a.k.a. Bigteddy

_{Tuesday, July 3, 2012 6:37 PM ✅Answered | 1 vote}

Also, the fullname can be either a drive letter oriented or a UNC path:

C:> $file = get-item '\EPSON563EAC\MEMORYCARD\xo'

C:> $file.name

C:> $file.fullname

\EPSON563EAC\MEMORYCARD\xo

_{Tuesday, July 3, 2012 10:35 AM | 2 votes}

Hi Balubeto,

The reason why it isn't working has nothing to do with the difference between Name and FullName.

The reason why it isn't working for you is because you have used Select-Object -Property Name. Once you do this, you limit the output of the object to the property selected. You can see this by running Get-ChildItem | Where-Object {$_.Length -gt 2MB} | Select-Object -Property FullName | Get-Member

Try:

Get-ChildItem | Where-Object {$_.Length -gt 2MB} | Select-Object -Property FullName | ForEach-Object {Remove-Item $_.FullName -WhatIf}

Phill McSherry

_{Tuesday, July 3, 2012 10:43 AM}

It is not necessary to use the Select-Object cmdlet at all, really.

Get-ChildItem | Where-Object {$_.Length -gt 2MB} | ForEach-Object {Remove-Item $_.FullName -WhatIf}