Replace spaces

Have you ever found yourself staring at a folder full of files with spaces in their names, wishing for a quick way to tidy things up? As a fellow software engineer, I've been there too. While spaces in filenames are common in Windows, they can sometimes cause headaches, especially when working with scripts or command-line tools.

Today, I'm excited to share a nifty Microsoft PowerShell 7 solution that can help streamline your file organization by replacing those pesky spaces with underscores.

Let's dive into some code that will make your file management a breeze and potentially save you from future headaches. Whether you're a seasoned PowerShell pro or just getting started, this simple yet powerful piece of code is sure to become a valuable addition to your toolkit.

# Get all files in the current directory with spaces in their names and rename them, replacing spaces with underscores

Get-ChildItem -File |

    Where-Object { $_.Name -match '\s' } |

    Rename-Item -NewName { $_.Name -replace '\s+', '_' } -WhatIf

Renaming files that are in use by running processes can cause issues. Ensure that the items you're renaming are not actively being used by other applications. Remember to remove the -WhatIf parameter when you're ready to actually perform the rename operation.

File prefix

Picture this: You're knee-deep in a project, and you need a clean slate to work with. What do you do? You whip up a temporary playground – a fresh directory where you can toss all your project files without fear of messing up the originals.

But here's the kicker – you've got this nifty trick up your sleeve. You rename these files with a special prefix, like leaving breadcrumbs in a forest. Your go-to prefix? 'Gash'. It's your secret code that screams, "Hey, these files are just for now – feel free to bin them later!"

It's like creating your own little sandbox where you can build, break, and experiment to your heart's content. Pretty smart way to keep your work organized and your original files safe, if you ask me!

Here’s some Microsoft PowerShell code to rename files with our selected (preferred) prefix:

# Get all files in the current directory, excluding those that already start with 'gash'

Get-ChildItem -File |

    Where-Object { $_.Name -notmatch '^gash' } |

    Rename-Item -NewName { 'gash_' + $_.Name } -WhatIf

Renaming files that are in use by running processes can cause issues. Ensure that the items you're renaming are not actively being used by other applications.

WhatIf (risk mitigation) parameter: Use the -WhatIf parameter to simulate the rename operation without making actual changes. This can help you verify the expected outcome before committing to the change.

Remember to remove the -WhatIf parameter when you're ready to actually perform the rename operation

The Edington Music Festival

 I've been meaning to see and hear The Edington Music Festival for a while now, but I've not managed it yet. So thought I would write a few words on this long running music festival.

The Edington Music Festival is a festival of music within the liturgy, held in the 14th century Priory Church of St Katherine and All Saints in Edington, Wiltshire, UK. It is one of the oldest and most famous festivals of church music in the world, featuring over 80 musicians in three choirs, and offering new commissions, rediscovered music and music from the choral repertoire from the 16th century to the present day.

The festival was founded in 1956 by the organist and composer David Calcutt, and has since attracted many renowned singers, organists and composers to participate and perform. The theme of the 2024 festival is the extraordinary work of the 12th century Benedictine Abbess, Saint, mystic, poet and composer Hildegard of Bingen, whose 845th anniversary of her death is in 2024. The festival is free and open to the public, and visitors can enjoy the beautiful environment and the welcoming atmosphere of the Edington community.

The Edington Music Festival boasts a long history, possibly the longest running festival of church music in the world. Here's a quick rundown:

• Founded in 1956 by Rev Ralph Dudley and David Calcutt, aiming to preserve the tradition of choral singing.
• Began modestly with a weekend of choral liturgy, but its success led to an annual event. 
• Currently, the festival lasts eight days with four daily services featuring three different choirs.
• It focuses on sacred music, including beloved classics from the 16th century to the present day, alongside rediscovered pieces and newly commissioned works.
• The festival has become a launchpad for many prominent singers, organists, and composers in the UK. 

William Edington was a 14th century English bishop and administrator. He served as Bishop of Winchester from 1346 till his death in 1366. He was also a key financial figure for King Edward III, acting as keeper of the wardrobe, treasurer and chancellor. He played a vital role in managing finances for the Hundred Years' War. As Bishop, he initiated a major rebuilding project of Winchester Cathedral and founded Edington Priory. 

The Edington Music Festival in 2024 will be held from Sunday, August 21st to Sunday, August 28th.  This marks the 65th year for the festival. 

Address:

Edington Priory Church

Monastery Road,

Edington,

Wiltshire

BA13 4QN

UK

See the following links for further information.

An overview of the Edington Music Festival

Edington Arts is a Registered Charity (no. 1187289), independent both of the Priory Church and of the Music Festival which takes place in it annually during August.

A Hidden English Gem

Edington’s majestic Priory church towers over this enchanting little village, tucked beneath the escarpment on the edge of Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. Built in the 14th century by former Bishop of Winchester William of Edington, the Grade I listed building is now Wiltshire’s only perfect monastic church. Since 1956, supporters from far and wide have been helping local people to restore, maintain and improve this remarkable building.

The Friends organisation was founded in 1956 by the then Vicar of Edington, Canon Ralph Dudley.   Although most of the Friends live outside the parish, we’re united in our love of this great building.

Friends of The Priory Church of Edington - Charity overview

The theme of this year’s festival (2024) is the extraordinary work of the 12th century Benedictine Abbess, Saint, mystic, poet and composer Hildegard of Bingen; the 845th anniversary of her death is in 2024.

Edington church is unusual in that it was completed in a very short length of time (1352-61) and has remained largely unaltered since that time. It is one of the finest examples in the country of the transitional period between Decorated and Perpendicular Gothic architecture.

Edington Priory Church is famous for hosting the Edington Festival of Music Within the Liturgy (often known as the 'Edington Festival'): a week-long celebration of all that is best in church music. Participants come from many different Anglican and Roman Catholic cathedrals and Oxbridge colleges, and visitors travel to the Festival from all over the world. The midweek Evensong is always broadcast around the world by BBC Radio 3.

Drop-In Sessions

One of the services HMR Circle (Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale (Lancashire)) provides is a digital support (IT) drop-in session for people who wish to improve or require assistance with things IT related. These sessions are held at The Tottington Centre every Thursday between 1 and 2PM.

The Tottington Centre is a vital community hub in Tottington, near Bury in Lancashire, UK. It hosts various groups, events, and activities and includes a well-used library with almost 9000 books. Furthermore, the Tottington Tea Rooms, part of the Tottington Centre, is a popular spot and is now open to the public. Tottington is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury in Greater Manchester, on the edge of the West Pennine Moors.

The Tottington Centre can be found in Market Street, Tottington, Lancashire BL8 3LL.