Executing PowerShell script via explorer context menu on items containing ampersands in their names

powershell

I'm using a slightly modified version of the technique given in this answer to create a context menu item in Windows' file explorer that allows me to run a PowerShell script against specific folders.

The command looks like:

cmd /K PowerShell "C:\PowerShellScript\folder_script.ps1 \"%1\" | clip"

This works fine except when the folder has an ampersand (&) in its name. Then I get the following error (target folder was named Testing & Testing):

The string starting:
At line:1 char:37
+ C:\PowerShellScript\folder_script.ps1  <<<< "E:\tmp\Testing
is missing the terminator: ".
At line:1 char:53
+ E:\Dropbox\PowerShell\namefixer.ps1 "E:\tmp\Testing  <<<<
    + CategoryInfo          : ParserError: (E:\tmp\Testing :String) [], ParentContainsErrorRecordException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : TerminatorExpectedAtEndOfString

Clearly something is interpreting the ampersand as a special character but I'm at a loss as how to fix this. Eliminating the ampersand from the folder name is not a viable solution for me.

A solution that doesn't involve a batch script would be preferred.

I'm using Windows 7 Enterprise (64-bit) with PowerShell 2.

Best Answer

You can use the verbatim marker of Powershell : --%, it tells Powershell that anything following it should not be interpreted.

This way, your command would become : 

cmd /K PowerShell "C:\PowerShellScript\folder_script.ps1 --% \"%1\" | clip"

Unless there are double quotes in your filenames, it should be ok.

This marker is new to Powershell 3.0, so make sure you have it up to date.

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