Toggle "show hidden files and folders with Powershell

Question

I have been trying to create a line item within a .bat or .ps script that toggles the "Show hidden files/folders" option ON. I am having no luck so far. I have tried using the get-childitem command in various flavors and it's not working for me. What am I missing? Is this even something that can be done?

Answer 1

Working from Ash's fine script,here's a slight enhancement. This allows a third option of no parameter which will just toggles the current setting.

function Show-HiddenFiles {
 
   Param (
          [Parameter(Mandatory = $False,Position=0)]
            [String] $Setting
   )

   # Define the path to the registry key that contains the 
   # registry value/subkey
   $Path = "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion" +
           "\Explorer\Advanced"

   #No argument toggle setting..
   If ($Args.Count -eq 0) {

     $GIPArgs = @{Path = $Path
                  Name = "Hidden"}

     If ((Get-ItemProperty @GIPArgs ).Hidden -eq 1) {
       $Value = 2
     }
     Else {$Value = 1}   
   }
   Else {
   # Set a variable with the value we want to set on the 
   # registry value/subkey.
     If ($Setting -eq "On" ) { $Value = 1 }
     Else                    { $Value = 2 }
   }
   
   # Set the registry value/subkey.
   Set-ItemProperty -Path $Path -Name Hidden -Value $Value

   # Refresh open Explorer windows.
   # You will need to refresh the window if you have none 
   # currently open.
   # Create the Shell.Application ComObject
   $Shell = New-Object -ComObject Shell.Application
   # For each one of the open windows, refresh it.
    $Shell.Windows() | ForEach-Object { $_.Refresh() }
}