PowerShell script that creates a comprehensive project snapshot by generating a single text file containing directory structure and file contents. Useful for code reviews, documentation, and sharing project snapshots without version control.

ps-file-merger.ps1

# Get current date in YYYY-MM-DD format
$currentDate = Get-Date -Format "yyyy-MM-dd"

# Get the current folder name
$currentFolderName = Split-Path -Path (Get-Location).Path -Leaf

# Define output file path one folder above the current location with date prefix
$parentFolder = Split-Path -Path (Get-Location).Path -Parent
$outputFile = Join-Path -Path $parentFolder -ChildPath "$currentDate-$currentFolderName`_merged.txt"

# Verify output path before proceeding
if ([string]::IsNullOrEmpty($outputFile)) {
    Write-Error "Output file path is null or empty. Exiting script."
    exit
}

# Create the output file
Set-Content -Path $outputFile -Value "" -Force

# Get the full path of the current script file to exclude it
$scriptPath = $MyInvocation.MyCommand.Path

function Get-DirectoryTree {
    param (
        [string]$Path = ".",
        [int]$IndentLevel = 0,
        [string]$OutputFilePath
    )
    
    # Pass the output file path to the function
    $indent = "    " * $IndentLevel
    $dirInfo = Get-Item -Path $Path
    
    Add-Content -Path $OutputFilePath -Value "$indent[DIR] $($dirInfo.Name)"
    
    Get-ChildItem -Path $Path -File | ForEach-Object {
        Add-Content -Path $OutputFilePath -Value "$indent    [FILE] $($_.Name)"
    }
    
    Get-ChildItem -Path $Path -Directory | ForEach-Object {
        Get-DirectoryTree -Path $_.FullName -IndentLevel ($IndentLevel + 1) -OutputFilePath $OutputFilePath
    }
}

Add-Content -Path $outputFile -Value "================ DIRECTORY STRUCTURE ================`n"

# Pass the output file path explicitly to the function
Get-DirectoryTree -OutputFilePath $outputFile

Add-Content -Path $outputFile -Value "`n`n================ FILE CONTENTS ================`n"

# Get all files except the script itself
$files = Get-ChildItem -Path . -File -Recurse | Where-Object { $_.FullName -ne $scriptPath }

foreach ($file in $files) {
    $filePath = $file.FullName
    $fileName = $file.Name
    
    $separator = "--------------------------------------------------------------------------------"
    $header = "`n$separator`nFILE: $fileName`nPATH: $filePath`n$separator`n"
    
    try {
        $content = Get-Content -Path $filePath -Raw -ErrorAction Stop
        
        Add-Content -Path $outputFile -Value $header
        Add-Content -Path $outputFile -Value $content
        Add-Content -Path $outputFile -Value "`n$separator END $separator`n`n`n"
    }
    catch {
        Add-Content -Path $outputFile -Value "$header`nError reading file: $_`n$separator END $separator`n`n`n"
    }
}

Write-Host "All files have been merged into $outputFile"

Logic

• Gets current date and folder name for output file naming
• Creates output file in parent directory with format YYYY-MM-DD-FolderName_merged.txt
• Recursively maps directory structure with indentation showing hierarchy
• Captures content of all files (excluding the script itself)
• Organizes output with clear section headers and file separators
• Includes error handling for file read operations

Usage
Save as ps-file-merger.ps1 in project root directory and execute. The merged output file will be generated in the parent directory._

Generated by Claude 3.7 Sonnet