Mini powershell projects

Powershell is outstanding for Win11 automation. I ignored it for too long. Although none of this is complex, the easy automation with right-click folder options is satisfying.

Installation

I keep these files in a c:\bin\ folder, a nod to unix/linux. And that path is in my Path environment variable (system is my preference).

For trouble-free scripting, ensure that dependencies are in your Path environment variable.

Oh, yeah - and don't forget powershell ; )

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CNV_HEIC2JPG

After I transfer HEIC photos from iOS to my Win11 laptop, I convert to JPG and then transfer only select photos back to my devices. I avoid Apple cloud backup, as I avoid all cloud backup. I prefer self-sufficiency, like backup and disaster recovery, and the inherent privacy.

What the script does:

• From selected folder, scan recursively for HEIC files
• Convert each to JPG in the same folder
• Move HEIC files to a parallel .HEIC_backup folder
• Leave a log file in the original folder, alongside the new JPGs.

Dependency

• Requires local installation of gold-standard ImageMagick.

Assets:

• cnv_heic2jpg.ico, see icon_attribution.md.
• cnv_heic2jpg.reg, to register the right-click folder option in the Win11 registry
  • You can use the same command manually, from a terminal window
• cnv_heic2jpg.ps1, the powershell script

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EPUBCHECK_FILES

The Gutenberg Project is an essential cultural project, although all of these epub files benefit from some custom effort, ranging from tweaking to extensive refactoring.

• Calibre is essential and makes epub edits easy. At least as easy as they're gonna be.

What the script does:

• From selected folder, scan recursively for EPUB files
• Check validity of each, fail also on WARNING
• Write a log file in a parallel .epubcheck folder

Dependencies

• Java
• EpubCheck java installation is the gold-standard for validating .epub books.

Assets:

• epubcheck_files.ico, see icon_attribution.md.
• epubcheck_files.reg, to register the right-click folder option in the Win11 registry
  • You can use the same command manually, from a terminal window
• epubcheck_files.ps1, the powershell script

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GET_VIDEO_SUBTITLES

I like to subtitles my photo montages (videos), since that is more informative than memory : ) I containerize the videos and subtitles as MKV files. Then later I realize I want easy access to those logs of montage content. This script extracts them for all MKV files, recursively, in a folder.

What the script does:

• From selected folder, scan recursively for MKV files
• Use MKVToolNix to check for subtitle tracks
• Extract and rename each subtitle track to match the name of the video
• Log steps to video_subtitles.log

Dependencies

• MKVToolNix

Assets:

• get_video_subtitles.ico, see icon_attribution.md.
• get_video_subtitles.reg, to register the right-click folder option in the Win11 registry
  • You can use the same command manually, from a terminal window
• get_video_subtitles.ps1, the powershell script

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HASH2CSV

Windows Spotlight Images publishes beautiful landscape and portrait desktop images, suitable for any device. This script retrieves image metadata based on the SHA256 hash of each (alphanumerically-named) image that I previously downloaded to a folder.

What the script does:

• From selected folder, scan recursively for each file (not only images)
• Calculate SHA256 hash for each
• Search Windows Spotlight Images for that hash
• Retrieve metadata for each file, if available
• Write out a CSV that makes it easy to rename each (alphanumerically-named) image to something meaningful

Dependencies

• -none- unless you count Powershell

Assets:

• hash2csv.ico, see icon_attribution.md.
• hash2csv.reg, to register the right-click folder option in the Win11 registry
  • You can use the same command manually, from a terminal window
• hash2csv.ps1, the powershell script

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WALLPAPER-INFO

You know that wallpaper picture that rotates onto your desktop? What is that?! Now you can right-click and choose "ℹ️ Learn About Picture"

What the script does:

• Checks Win11 registry and files to find that wallpaper picture (which Windows may Transcoded ... for speed? for obfuscation? who knows)
• Open a dialog for permission to
  1. Copy path to your clipboard
  2. Open the image location
• which it will do, if you simply reply "Yes"

Dependencies

• -none- unless you count Powershell

Assets:

• wallpaper-info.reg, to register the right-click folder option in the Win11 registry
• wallpaper-info-remove.reg, to DE-register the right-click folder option in the Win11 registry, so you can try something else
  • You can use the same command manually, from a terminal window
• wallpaper-info.ps1, the powershell script

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next one

What this is

What the script does:

• if anything

Dependencies

• if any

Assets:

• nextone.ico, see icon_attribution.md.
• nextone.reg, to register the right-click folder option in the Win11 registry
  • You can use the same command manually, from a terminal window
• nextone.ps1, the powershell script

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Icon attribution

I greatly appreciate sites like Flaticon.com for my periodic icon needs. So far, I can always find a suitable, aethetically pleasing icon there. See icon_attribution.md for details.