PowerShell script that uses Ghostscript to extract 1st page pictures from each PDF in a directory and its subdirectories

readme.md

"Extract first page from multiple pdfs"

For (more) context, see also my answer to Extract first page from multiple pdfs question.

PDFs-to-1st-page-pictures.ps1

# Recursively for each PDF file make a 1st page JPEG nearby.

# Execute `$WhatIfPreference = 1` before running this script to dry run.
#   (tip: dry run doesn't require Ghostscript at all, so in this way it's possible to simulate this script is before even actually installing the gs)
# Execute `$VerbosePreference = 'Continue'` before running this script to enable verbose output.
# Execute `$VerbosePreference = 'Inquire'` before running this script to be asked to confirm before each operation.
#   (NOTE: the `$VerbosePreference = 'Inquire'` treats `[A] Yes to All` as simply `[Y] Yes` for some reason.)
# (Also any of the above can be copy-pasted right into this script itself but it's rather anti-idiomatic.)

# Where the PDFs are (reminder: this script is recursive but this can be changed easily, see below).
$path = 'Y:\our\P\ath'

# How to call Ghostscript (tip: it's fine to use full path to the executable if short version doesn't work).
$gs = 'gswin64c'

# Filter: Must be newer than this.
$time = '2001-01-01'
# Filter: Detect existing pictures and skip them?
$skipExisting = $true

# The easiest are both 'jpeg' or both 'png'. To learn more advanced options: https://ghostscript.readthedocs.io/en/latest/Devices.html#image-file-formats
$sDevice = 'jpeg'
$extension = 'jpeg'

# (Tip: remove -Recurse if lack of subdirectory processing is desired.)
Get-ChildItem -Path $path -Recurse -Include *.pdf |
    Where-Object -FilterScript {
        # Filter by last write time. Change to other kind of time as needed.
            ($_.LastWriteTime -gt $time)
    } |
    ForEach-Object {
        $nameWithoutExtension = $_.BaseName
        $directoryFullPath = $_.DirectoryName

        $out = "$directoryFullPath\1p $nameWithoutExtension.$extension"

        if ($skipExisting -and (Test-Path -Path $out -PathType leaf)) {
            Write-Verbose "skip (already exists): $_ => $out"
            # Note that Return in ForEach-Object acts like Continue in foreach would (i.e. it skips to next iteration and not exits fully).
            Return
        }

        if ($WhatIfPreference) {
            Write-Host "(dry run) $_ => $out"
        }
        else {
            Write-Host "$_ => $out"
            & $gs -sDEVICE="$sDevice" -o $out -dFirstPage=1 -dLastPage=1 $_
        }
    }