win_find - Refactor for better performance and alignment to find (#65536)

* win_find - refactor to make more performance and use newer style

* win_find - refactor for performance improvements and alignment to find

* More path alignment to find

* Fix yamllint error

changelogs/fragments/win_find-performance.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+minor_changes:
+- win_find - Improve performance when scanning heavily nested directories and align behaviour to the ``find`` module.

docs/docsite/rst/porting_guides/porting_guide_2.10.rst

@@ -98,6 +98,10 @@ Noteworthy module changes
 * :ref:`zabbix_action <zabbix_action_module>` no longer requires ``esc_period`` and ``event_source`` arguments when ``state=absent``.
 * :ref:`gitlab_user <gitlab_user_module>` no longer requires ``name``, ``email`` and ``password`` arguments when ``state=absent``.
 * :ref:`win_pester <win_pester_module>` no longer runs all ``*.ps1`` file in the directory specified due to it executing potentially unknown scripts. It will follow the default behaviour of only running tests for files that are like ``*.tests.ps1`` which is built into Pester itself
+* :ref:`win_find <win_find_module>` has been refactored to better match the behaviour of the ``find`` module. Here is what has changed:
+    * When the directory specified by ``paths`` does not exist or is a file, it will no longer fail and will just warn the user
+    * Junction points are no longer reported as ``islnk``, use ``isjunction`` to properly report these files. This behaviour matches the :ref:`win_stat <win_stat_module>`
+    * Directories no longer return a ``size``, this matches the ``stat`` and ``find`` behaviour and has been removed due to the difficulties in correctly reporting the size of a directory
 
 Plugins
 =======

lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_find.ps1

@@ -3,357 +3,414 @@
 # Copyright: (c) 2016, Ansible Project
 # GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see COPYING or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
 
-#Requires -Module Ansible.ModuleUtils.Legacy
-
-$ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
-
-$params = Parse-Args -arguments $args -supports_check_mode $true
-$_remote_tmp = Get-AnsibleParam $params "_ansible_remote_tmp" -type "path" -default $env:TMP
-
-$paths = Get-AnsibleParam -obj $params -name 'paths' -failifempty $true
-
-$age = Get-AnsibleParam -obj $params -name 'age'
-$age_stamp = Get-AnsibleParam -obj $params -name 'age_stamp' -default 'mtime' -ValidateSet 'mtime','ctime','atime'
-$file_type = Get-AnsibleParam -obj $params -name 'file_type' -default 'file' -ValidateSet 'file','directory'
-$follow = Get-AnsibleParam -obj $params -name 'follow' -type "bool" -default $false
-$hidden = Get-AnsibleParam -obj $params -name 'hidden' -type "bool" -default $false
-$patterns = Get-AnsibleParam -obj $params -name 'patterns' -aliases "regex","regexp"
-$recurse = Get-AnsibleParam -obj $params -name 'recurse' -type "bool" -default $false
-$size = Get-AnsibleParam -obj $params -name 'size'
-$use_regex = Get-AnsibleParam -obj $params -name 'use_regex' -type "bool" -default $false
-$get_checksum = Get-AnsibleParam -obj $params -name 'get_checksum' -type "bool" -default $true
-$checksum_algorithm = Get-AnsibleParam -obj $params -name 'checksum_algorithm' -default 'sha1' -ValidateSet 'md5', 'sha1', 'sha256', 'sha384', 'sha512'
-
-$result = @{
-    files = @()
-    examined = 0
-    matched = 0
-    changed = $false
+#AnsibleRequires -CSharpUtil Ansible.Basic
+#Requires -Module Ansible.ModuleUtils.LinkUtil
+
+$spec = @{
+    options = @{
+        paths = @{ type = "list"; elements = "str"; required = $true }
+        age = @{ type = "str" }
+        age_stamp = @{ type = "str"; default = "mtime"; choices = "mtime", "ctime", "atime" }
+        file_type = @{ type = "str"; default = "file"; choices = "file", "directory" }
+        follow = @{ type = "bool"; default = $false }
+        hidden = @{ type = "bool"; default = $false }
+        patterns = @{ type = "list"; elements = "str"; aliases = "regex", "regexp" }
+        recurse = @{ type = "bool"; default = $false }
+        size = @{ type = "str" }
+        use_regex = @{ type = "bool"; default = $false }
+        get_checksum = @{ type = "bool"; default = $true }
+        checksum_algorithm = @{ type = "str"; default = "sha1"; choices = "md5", "sha1", "sha256", "sha384", "sha512" }
+    }
+    supports_check_mode = $true
 }
 
-# C# code to determine link target, copied from http://chrisbensen.blogspot.com.au/2010/06/getfinalpathnamebyhandle.html
-$symlink_util = @"
-using System;
-using System.Text;
-using Microsoft.Win32.SafeHandles;
-using System.ComponentModel;
-using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
-
-namespace Ansible.Command {
-    public class SymLinkHelper {
-        private const int FILE_SHARE_WRITE = 2;
-        private const int CREATION_DISPOSITION_OPEN_EXISTING = 3;
-        private const int FILE_FLAG_BACKUP_SEMANTICS = 0x02000000;
-
-        [DllImport("kernel32.dll", EntryPoint = "GetFinalPathNameByHandleW", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode, SetLastError = true)]
-        public static extern int GetFinalPathNameByHandle(IntPtr handle, [In, Out] StringBuilder path, int bufLen, int flags);
-
-        [DllImport("kernel32.dll", EntryPoint = "CreateFileW", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode, SetLastError = true)]
-        public static extern SafeFileHandle CreateFile(string lpFileName, int dwDesiredAccess,
-        int dwShareMode, IntPtr SecurityAttributes, int dwCreationDisposition, int dwFlagsAndAttributes, IntPtr hTemplateFile);
-
-        public static string GetSymbolicLinkTarget(System.IO.DirectoryInfo symlink) {
-            SafeFileHandle directoryHandle = CreateFile(symlink.FullName, 0, 2, System.IntPtr.Zero, CREATION_DISPOSITION_OPEN_EXISTING, FILE_FLAG_BACKUP_SEMANTICS, System.IntPtr.Zero);
-            if(directoryHandle.IsInvalid)
-                throw new Win32Exception(Marshal.GetLastWin32Error());
-
-            StringBuilder path = new StringBuilder(512);
-            int size = GetFinalPathNameByHandle(directoryHandle.DangerousGetHandle(), path, path.Capacity, 0);
-
-            if (size<0)
-                throw new Win32Exception(Marshal.GetLastWin32Error()); // The remarks section of GetFinalPathNameByHandle mentions the return being prefixed with "\\?\" // More information about "\\?\" here -> http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa365247(v=VS.85).aspx
-            if (path[0] == '\\' && path[1] == '\\' && path[2] == '?' && path[3] == '\\')
-                return path.ToString().Substring(4);
-            else
-                return path.ToString();
-        }
+$module = [Ansible.Basic.AnsibleModule]::Create($args, $spec)
+
+$paths = $module.Params.paths
+$age = $module.Params.age
+$age_stamp = $module.Params.age_stamp
+$file_type = $module.Params.file_type
+$follow = $module.Params.follow
+$hidden = $module.Params.hidden
+$patterns = $module.Params.patterns
+$recurse = $module.Params.recurse
+$size = $module.Params.size
+$use_regex = $module.Params.use_regex
+$get_checksum = $module.Params.get_checksum
+$checksum_algorithm = $module.Params.checksum_algorithm
+
+$module.Result.examined = 0
+$module.Result.files = @()
+$module.Result.matched = 0
+
+Load-LinkUtils
+
+Function Assert-Age {
+    Param (
+        [System.IO.FileSystemInfo]$File,
+        [System.Int64]$Age,
+        [System.String]$AgeStamp
+    )
+
+    $actual_age = switch ($AgeStamp) {
+        mtime { $File.LastWriteTime.Ticks }
+        ctime { $File.CreationTime.Ticks }
+        atime { $File.LastAccessTime.Ticks }
+    }
+
+    if ($Age -ge 0) {
+        return $Age -ge $actual_age
+    } else {
+        return ($Age * -1) -le $actual_age
     }
 }
-"@
-$original_tmp = $env:TMP
-$env:TMP = $_remote_tmp
-Add-Type -TypeDefinition $symlink_util
-$env:TMP = $original_tmp
-
-Function Assert-Age($info) {
-    $valid_match = $true
-
-    if ($null -ne $age) {
-        $seconds_per_unit = @{'s'=1; 'm'=60; 'h'=3600; 'd'=86400; 'w'=604800}
-        $seconds_pattern = '^(-?\d+)(s|m|h|d|w)?$'
-        $match = $age -match $seconds_pattern
-        if ($match) {
-            [int]$specified_seconds = $matches[1]
-            if ($null -eq $matches[2]) {
-                $chosen_unit = 's'
-            } else {
-                $chosen_unit = $matches[2]
-            }
 
-            $abs_seconds = $specified_seconds * ($seconds_per_unit.$chosen_unit)
-            $epoch = New-Object -Type DateTime -ArgumentList 1970, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0
-            if ($age_stamp -eq 'mtime') {
-                $age_comparison = $epoch.AddSeconds($info.lastwritetime)
-            } elseif ($age_stamp -eq 'ctime') {
-                $age_comparison = $epoch.AddSeconds($info.creationtime)
-            } elseif ($age_stamp -eq 'atime') {
-                $age_comparison = $epoch.AddSeconds($info.lastaccesstime)
-            }
+Function Assert-FileType {
+    Param (
+        [System.IO.FileSystemInfo]$File,
+        [System.String]$FileType
+    )
 
-            if ($specified_seconds -ge 0) {
-                $start_date = (Get-Date).AddSeconds($abs_seconds * -1)
-                if ($age_comparison -gt $start_date) {
-                    $valid_match = $false
-                }
-            } else {
-                $start_date = (Get-Date).AddSeconds($abs_seconds)
-                if ($age_comparison -lt $start_date) {
-                    $valid_match = $false
-                }
+    $is_dir = $File.Attributes.HasFlag([System.IO.FileAttributes]::Directory)
+    return ($FileType -eq 'directory' -and $is_dir) -or ($FileType -eq 'file' -and -not $is_dir)
+}
+
+Function Assert-FileHidden {
+    Param (
+        [System.IO.FileSystemInfo]$File,
+        [Switch]$IsHidden
+    )
+
+    $file_is_hidden = $File.Attributes.HasFlag([System.IO.FileAttributes]::Hidden)
+    return $IsHidden.IsPresent -eq $file_is_hidden
+}
+
+
+Function Assert-FileNamePattern {
+    Param (
+        [System.IO.FileSystemInfo]$File,
+        [System.String[]]$Patterns,
+        [Switch]$UseRegex
+    )
+
+    $valid_match = $false
+    foreach ($pattern in $Patterns) {
+        if ($UseRegex) {
+            if ($File.Name -match $pattern) {
+                $valid_match = $true
+                break
             }
         } else {
-            throw "failed to process age for file $($info.FullName)"
+            if ($File.Name -like $pattern) {
+                $valid_match = $true
+                break
+            }
         }
     }
-
-    $valid_match
+    return $valid_match
 }
 
-Function Assert-FileType($info) {
-    $valid_match = $true
+Function Assert-FileSize {
+    Param (
+        [System.IO.FileSystemInfo]$File,
+        [System.Int64]$Size
+    )
 
-    if ($file_type -eq 'directory' -and $info.isdir -eq $false) {
-        $valid_match = $false
-    }
-    if ($file_type -eq 'file' -and $info.isdir -eq $true) {
-        $valid_match = $false
+    if ($Size -ge 0) {
+        return $File.Length -ge $Size
+    } else {
+        return $File.Length -le ($Size * -1)
     }
-
-    $valid_match
 }
 
-Function Assert-Hidden($info) {
-    $valid_match = $true
-
-    if ($hidden -eq $true -and $info.ishidden -eq $false) {
-        $valid_match = $false
+Function Get-FileChecksum {
+    Param (
+        [System.String]$Path,
+        [System.String]$Algorithm
+    )
+
+    $sp = switch ($algorithm) {
+        'md5' { New-Object -TypeName System.Security.Cryptography.MD5CryptoServiceProvider }
+        'sha1' { New-Object -TypeName System.Security.Cryptography.SHA1CryptoServiceProvider }
+        'sha256' { New-Object -TypeName System.Security.Cryptography.SHA256CryptoServiceProvider }
+        'sha384' { New-Object -TypeName System.Security.Cryptography.SHA384CryptoServiceProvider }
+        'sha512' { New-Object -TypeName System.Security.Cryptography.SHA512CryptoServiceProvider }
     }
-    if ($hidden -eq $false -and $info.ishidden -eq $true) {
-        $valid_match = $false
+
+    $fp = [System.IO.File]::Open($Path, [System.IO.Filemode]::Open, [System.IO.FileAccess]::Read, [System.IO.FileShare]::ReadWrite)
+    try {
+        $hash = [System.BitConverter]::ToString($sp.ComputeHash($fp)).Replace("-", "").ToLower()
+    } finally {
+        $fp.Dispose()
     }
 
-    $valid_match
+    return $hash
 }
 
-Function Assert-Pattern($info) {
-    $valid_match = $false
+Function Search-Path {
+    [CmdletBinding()]
+    Param (
+        [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)]
+        [System.String]
+        $Path,
 
-    if ($null -ne $patterns) {
-        foreach ($pattern in $patterns) {
-            if ($use_regex -eq $true) {
-                # Use -match for regex matching
-                if ($info.filename -match $pattern) {
-                    $valid_match = $true
-                }
-            } else {
-                # Use -like for wildcard matching
-                if ($info.filename -like $pattern) {
-                    $valid_match = $true
-                }
-            }
-        }
-    } else {
-        $valid_match = $true
+        [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)]
+        [AllowEmptyCollection()]
+        [System.Collections.Generic.HashSet`1[System.String]]
+        $CheckedPaths,
+
+        [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)]
+        [Object]
+        $Module,
+
+        [System.Int64]
+        $Age,
+
+        [System.String]
+        $AgeStamp,
+
+        [System.String]
+        $FileType,
+
+        [Switch]
+        $Follow,
+
+        [Switch]
+        $GetChecksum,
+
+        [Switch]
+        $IsHidden,
+
+        [System.String[]]
+        $Patterns,
+
+        [Switch]
+        $Recurse,
+
+        [System.Int64]
+        $Size,
+
+        [Switch]
+        $UseRegex
+    )
+
+    $dir_obj = New-Object -TypeName System.IO.DirectoryInfo -ArgumentList $Path
+    if ([Int32]$dir_obj.Attributes -eq -1) {
+        $Module.Warn("Argument path '$Path' does not exist, skipping")
+        return
+    } elseif (-not $dir_obj.Attributes.HasFlag([System.IO.FileAttributes]::Directory)) {
+        $Module.Warn("Argument path '$Path' is a file not a directory, skipping")
+        return
     }
 
-    $valid_match
-}
+    $dir_files = @()
+    try {
+        $dir_files = $dir_obj.EnumerateFileSystemInfos("*", [System.IO.SearchOption]::TopDirectoryOnly)
+    } catch [System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException] { # Broken ReparsePoint/Symlink, cannot enumerate
+    } catch [System.UnauthorizedAccessException] {}  # No ListDirectory permissions, Get-ChildItem ignored this
 
-Function Assert-Size($info) {
-    $valid_match = $true
-
-    if ($null -ne $size) {
-        $bytes_per_unit = @{'b'=1; 'k'=1024; 'm'=1024*1024; 'g'=1024*1024*1024; 't'=1024*1024*1024*1024}
-        $size_pattern = '^(-?\d+)(b|k|m|g|t)?$'
-        $match = $size -match $size_pattern
-        if ($match) {
-            [int64]$specified_size = $matches[1]
-            if ($null -eq $matches[2]) {
-                $chosen_byte = 'b'
-            } else {
-                $chosen_byte = $matches[2]
+    foreach ($dir_child in $dir_files) {
+        if ($dir_child.Attributes.HasFlag([System.IO.FileAttributes]::Directory) -and $Recurse) {
+            if ($Follow -or -not $dir_child.Attributes.HasFlag([System.IO.FileAttributes]::ReparsePoint)) {
+                $PSBoundParameters.Remove('Path') > $null
+                Search-Path -Path $dir_child.FullName @PSBoundParameters
             }
+        }
 
-            $abs_size = $specified_size * ($bytes_per_unit.$chosen_byte)
-            if ($specified_size -ge 0) {
-                if ($info.size -lt $abs_size) {
-                    $valid_match = $false
-                }
-            } else {
-                if ($info.size -gt $abs_size * -1) {
-                    $valid_match = $false
-                }
-            }
-        } else {
-            throw "failed to process size for file $($info.FullName)"
+        # Check to see if we've already encountered this path and skip if we have.
+        if (-not $CheckedPaths.Add($dir_child.FullName.ToLowerInvariant())) {
+            continue
         }
-    }
 
-    $valid_match
-}
+        $Module.Result.examined++
 
-Function Assert-FileStat($info) {
-    $age_match = Assert-Age -info $info
-    $file_type_match = Assert-FileType -info $info
-    $hidden_match = Assert-Hidden -info $info
-    $pattern_match = Assert-Pattern -info $info
-    $size_match = Assert-Size -info $info
+        if ($PSBoundParameters.ContainsKey('Age')) {
+            $age_match = Assert-Age -File $dir_child -Age $Age -AgeStamp $AgeStamp
+        } else {
+            $age_match = $true
+        }
 
-    if ($age_match -and $file_type_match -and $hidden_match -and $pattern_match -and $size_match) {
-        $info
-    } else {
-        $false
-    }
-}
+        $file_type_match = Assert-FileType -File $dir_child -FileType $FileType
+        $hidden_match = Assert-FileHidden -File $dir_child -IsHidden:$IsHidden
 
-Function Get-FileStat($file) {
-    $epoch = New-Object -Type DateTime -ArgumentList 1970, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0
-    $access_control = $file.GetAccessControl()
-    $attributes = @()
-    foreach ($attribute in ($file.Attributes -split ',')) {
-        $attributes += $attribute.Trim()
-    }
+        if ($PSBoundParameters.ContainsKey('Patterns')) {
+            $pattern_match = Assert-FileNamePattern -File $dir_child -Patterns $Patterns -UseRegex:$UseRegex.IsPresent
+        } else {
+            $pattern_match = $true
+        }
 
-    $file_stat = @{
-        isreadonly = $attributes -contains 'ReadOnly'
-        ishidden = $attributes -contains 'Hidden'
-        isarchive = $attributes -contains 'Archive'
-        attributes = $file.Attributes.ToString()
-        owner = $access_control.Owner
-        lastwritetime = (New-TimeSpan -Start $epoch -End $file.LastWriteTime).TotalSeconds
-        creationtime = (New-TimeSpan -Start $epoch -End $file.CreationTime).TotalSeconds
-        lastaccesstime = (New-TimeSpan -Start $epoch -End $file.LastAccessTime).TotalSeconds
-        path = $file.FullName
-        filename = $file.Name
-    }
+        if ($PSBoundParameters.ContainsKey('Size')) {
+            $size_match = Assert-FileSize -File $dir_child -Size $Size
+        } else {
+            $size_match = $true
+        }
 
-    $islnk = $false
-    $isdir = $attributes -contains 'Directory'
-    $isshared = $false
+        if (-not ($age_match -and $file_type_match -and $hidden_match -and $pattern_match -and $size_match)) {
+            continue
+        }
 
-    if ($attributes -contains 'ReparsePoint') {
-        # TODO: Find a way to differenciate between soft and junction links
-        $islnk = $true
+        # It passed all our filters so add it
+        $module.Result.matched++
+
+        # TODO: Make this generic so it can be shared with win_find and win_stat.
+        $epoch = New-Object -Type System.DateTime -ArgumentList 1970, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0
+        $file_info = @{
+            attributes = $dir_child.Attributes.ToString()
+            checksum = $null
+            creationtime = (New-TimeSpan -Start $epoch -End $dir_child.CreationTime).TotalSeconds
+            exists = $true
+            extension = $null
+            filename = $dir_child.Name
+            isarchive = $dir_child.Attributes.HasFlag([System.IO.FileAttributes]::Archive)
+            isdir = $dir_child.Attributes.HasFlag([System.IO.FileAttributes]::Directory)
+            ishidden = $dir_child.Attributes.HasFlag([System.IO.FileAttributes]::Hidden)
+            isreadonly = $dir_child.Attributes.HasFlag([System.IO.FileAttributes]::ReadOnly)
+            isreg = $false
+            isshared = $false
+            lastaccesstime = (New-TimeSpan -Start $epoch -End $dir_child.LastAccessTime).TotalSeconds
+            lastwritetime = (New-TimeSpan -Start $epoch -End $dir_child.LastWriteTime).TotalSeconds
+            owner = $null
+            path = $dir_child.FullName
+            sharename = $null
+            size = $null
+        }
 
-        # Try and get the symlink source, can result in failure if link is broken
         try {
-            $lnk_source = [Ansible.Command.SymLinkHelper]::GetSymbolicLinkTarget($file)
-            $file_stat.lnk_source = $lnk_source
-        } catch {}
-    } elseif ($file.PSIsContainer) {
-        $isdir = $true
-
-        $share_info = Get-CIMInstance -Class Win32_Share -Filter "Path='$($file.Fullname -replace '\\', '\\')'"
-        if ($null -ne $share_info) {
-            $isshared = $true
-            $file_stat.sharename = $share_info.Name
+            $file_info.owner = $dir_child.GetAccessControl().Owner
+        } catch {}  # May not have rights to get the Owner, historical behaviour is to ignore.
+
+        if ($dir_child.Attributes.HasFlag([System.IO.FileAttributes]::Directory)) {
+            $share_info = Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_Share -Filter "Path='$($dir_child.FullName -replace '\\', '\\')'"
+            if ($null -ne $share_info) {
+                $file_info.isshared = $true
+                $file_info.sharename = $share_info.Name
+            }
+        } else {
+            $file_info.extension = $dir_child.Extension
+            $file_info.isreg = $true
+            $file_info.size = $dir_child.Length
+
+            if ($GetChecksum) {
+                try {
+                    $file_info.checksum = Get-FileChecksum -Path $dir_child.FullName -Algorithm $checksum_algorithm
+                } catch {}  # Just keep the checksum as $null in the case of a failure.
+            }
         }
 
-        # only get the size of a directory if there are files (not directories) inside the folder
-        # Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath does not work properly on older OS', use .NET instead
-        $dir_files = @()
-        try {
-            $dir_files = $file.EnumerateFiles("*", [System.IO.SearchOption]::AllDirectories)
-        } catch [System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException] { # Broken ReparsePoint/Symlink, cannot enumerate
-      	} catch [System.UnauthorizedAccessException] {}  # No ListDirectory permissions, Get-ChildItem ignored this
-        $size = 0
-        foreach ($dir_file in $dir_files) {
-            $size += $dir_file.Length
+        # Append the link information if the path is a link
+        $link_info = @{
+            isjunction = $false
+            islnk = $false
+            nlink = 1
+            lnk_source = $null
+            lnk_target = $null
+            hlnk_targets = @()
         }
-        $file_stat.size = $size
-    } else {
-        $file_stat.size = $file.length
-        $file_stat.extension = $file.Extension
-
-        if ($get_checksum) {
-            try {
-                $checksum = Get-FileChecksum -path $path -algorithm $checksum_algorithm
-                $file_stat.checksum = $checksum
-            } catch {
-                throw "failed to get checksum for file $($file.FullName)"
+        $link_stat = Get-Link -link_path $dir_child.FullName
+        if ($null -ne $link_stat) {
+            switch ($link_stat.Type) {
+                "SymbolicLink" {
+                    $link_info.islnk = $true
+                    $link_info.isreg = $false
+                    $link_info.lnk_source = $link_stat.AbsolutePath
+                    $link_info.lnk_target = $link_stat.TargetPath
+                    break
+                }
+                "JunctionPoint" {
+                    $link_info.isjunction = $true
+                    $link_info.isreg = $false
+                    $link_info.lnk_source = $link_stat.AbsolutePath
+                    $link_info.lnk_target = $link_stat.TargetPath
+                    break
+                }
+                "HardLink" {
+                    $link_info.nlink = $link_stat.HardTargets.Count
+
+                    # remove current path from the targets
+                    $hlnk_targets = $link_info.HardTargets | Where-Object { $_ -ne $dir_child.FullName }
+                    $link_info.hlnk_targets = @($hlnk_targets)
+                    break
+                }
             }
         }
-    }
+        foreach ($kv in $link_info.GetEnumerator()) {
+            $file_info.$($kv.Key) = $kv.Value
+        }
 
-    $file_stat.islnk = $islnk
-    $file_stat.isdir = $isdir
-    $file_stat.isshared = $isshared
+        # Output the file_info object
+        $file_info
+    }
+}
 
-    Assert-FileStat -info $file_stat
+$search_params = @{
+    CheckedPaths = [System.Collections.Generic.HashSet`1[System.String]]@()
+    GetChecksum = $get_checksum
+    Module = $module
+    FileType = $file_type
+    Follow = $follow
+    IsHidden = $hidden
+    Recurse = $recurse
 }
 
-Function Get-FilesInFolder($path) {
-    $items = @()
+if ($null -ne $age) {
+    $seconds_per_unit = @{'s'=1; 'm'=60; 'h'=3600; 'd'=86400; 'w'=604800}
+    $seconds_pattern = '^(-?\d+)(s|m|h|d|w)?$'
+    $match = $age -match $seconds_pattern
+    if ($Match) {
+        $specified_seconds = [Int64]$Matches[1]
+        if ($null -eq $Matches[2]) {
+            $chosen_unit = 's'
+        } else {
+            $chosen_unit = $Matches[2]
+        }
 
-    # Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath can bomb out on older OS', use .NET instead
-    $dir = New-Object -TypeName System.IO.DirectoryInfo -ArgumentList $path
-    $dir_files = @()
-    try {
-        $dir_files = $dir.EnumerateFileSystemInfos("*", [System.IO.SearchOption]::TopDirectoryOnly)
-    } catch [System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException] { # Broken ReparsePoint/Symlink, cannot enumerate
-    } catch [System.UnauthorizedAccessException] {}  # No ListDirectory permissions, Get-ChildItem ignored this
-    foreach ($item in $dir_files) {
-        if ($item -is [System.IO.DirectoryInfo] -and $recurse) {
-            if (($item.Attributes -like '*ReparsePoint*' -and $follow) -or ($item.Attributes -notlike '*ReparsePoint*')) {
-                # File is a link and we want to follow a link OR file is not a link
-                $items += $item.FullName
-                $items += Get-FilesInFolder -path $item.FullName
-            } else {
-                # File is a link but we don't want to follow a link
-                $items += $item.FullName
-            }
+        $total_seconds = $specified_seconds * ($seconds_per_unit.$chosen_unit)
+
+        if ($total_seconds -ge 0) {
+            $search_params.Age = (Get-Date).AddSeconds($total_seconds * -1).Ticks
         } else {
-            $items += $item.FullName
+            # Make sure we add the positive value of seconds to current time then make it negative for later comparisons.
+            $age = (Get-Date).AddSeconds($total_seconds).Ticks
+            $search_params.Age = $age * -1
         }
+        $search_params.AgeStamp = $age_stamp
+    } else {
+        $module.FailJson("Invalid age pattern specified")
     }
+}
 
-    $items
+if ($null -ne $patterns) {
+    $search_params.Patterns = $patterns
+    $search_params.UseRegex = $use_regex
 }
 
-$paths_to_check = @()
-foreach ($path in $paths) {
-    if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $path) {
-        if ((Get-Item -LiteralPath $path -Force).PSIsContainer) {
-            $paths_to_check += Get-FilesInFolder -path $path
+if ($null -ne $size) {
+    $bytes_per_unit = @{'b'=1; 'k'=1KB; 'm'=1MB; 'g'=1GB;'t'=1TB}
+    $size_pattern = '^(-?\d+)(b|k|m|g|t)?$'
+    $match = $size -match $size_pattern
+    if ($Match) {
+        $specified_size = [Int64]$Matches[1]
+        if ($null -eq $Matches[2]) {
+            $chosen_byte = 'b'
         } else {
-            Fail-Json $result "Argument path $path is a file not a directory"
+            $chosen_byte = $Matches[2]
         }
+
+        $search_params.Size = $specified_size * ($bytes_per_unit.$chosen_byte)
     } else {
-        Fail-Json $result "Argument path $path does not exist cannot get information on"
+        $module.FailJson("Invalid size pattern specified")
     }
 }
-$paths_to_check = $paths_to_check | Select-Object -Unique | Sort-Object
 
-foreach ($path in $paths_to_check) {
-    try {
-        $file = Get-Item -LiteralPath $path -Force
-        $info = Get-FileStat -file $file
-    } catch {
-        Add-Warning -obj $result -message "win_find failed to check some files, these files were ignored and will not be part of the result output"
-        break
-    }
-
-    $new_examined = $result.examined + 1
-    $result.examined = $new_examined
+$matched_files = foreach ($path in $paths) {
+    # Ensure we pass in an absolute path. We use the ExecutionContext as this is based on the PSProvider path not the
+    # process location which can be different.
+    $abs_path = $ExecutionContext.SessionState.Path.GetUnresolvedProviderPathFromPSPath($path)
+    Search-Path -Path $abs_path @search_params
+}
 
-    if ($info -ne $false) {
-        $files = $result.Files
-        $files += $info
+# Make sure we sort the files in alphabetical order.
+$module.Result.files = @() + ($matched_files | Sort-Object -Property {$_.path})
 
-        $new_matched = $result.matched + 1
-        $result.matched = $new_matched
-        $result.files = $files
-    }
-}
+$module.ExitJson()
 
-Exit-Json $result

lib/ansible/modules/windows/win_find.py

@@ -235,6 +235,11 @@ files:
             returned: success, path exists
             type: float
             sample: 1477984205.15
+        exists:
+            description: Whether the file exists, will always be true for M(win_find).
+            returned: success, path exists
+            type: bool
+            sample: true
         extension:
             description: The extension of the file at path.
             returned: success, path exists, path is a file
@@ -245,6 +250,13 @@ files:
             returned: success, path exists
             type: str
             sample: temp
+        hlnk_targets:
+            description: List of other files pointing to the same file (hard links), excludes the current file.
+            returned: success, path exists
+            type: list
+            sample:
+            - C:\temp\file.txt
+            - C:\Windows\update.log
         isarchive:
             description: If the path is ready for archiving or not.
             returned: success, path exists
@@ -260,9 +272,14 @@ files:
             returned: success, path exists
             type: bool
             sample: true
+        isjunction:
+            description: If the path is a junction point.
+            returned: success, path exists
+            type: bool
+            sample: true
         islnk:
-            description: If the path is a symbolic link or junction or not.
-            returned: success, path exists or deduped files
+            description: If the path is a symbolic link.
+            returned: success, path exists
             type: bool
             sample: true
         isreadonly:
@@ -270,6 +287,11 @@ files:
             returned: success, path exists
             type: bool
             sample: true
+        isreg:
+            description: If the path is a regular file or not.
+            returned: success, path exists
+            type: bool
+            sample: true
         isshared:
             description: If the path is shared or not.
             returned: success, path exists
@@ -286,10 +308,20 @@ files:
             type: float
             sample: 1477984205.15
         lnk_source:
-            description: The target of the symbolic link, will return null if not a link or the link is broken.
-            returned: success, path exists, path is a symbolic link
+            description: The target of the symlink normalized for the remote filesystem.
+            returned: success, path exists, path is a symbolic link or junction point
             type: str
             sample: C:\temp
+        lnk_target:
+            description: The target of the symlink. Note that relative paths remain relative, will return null if not a link.
+            returned: success, path exists, path is a symbolic link or junction point
+            type: str
+            sample: temp
+        nlink:
+            description: Number of links to the file (hard links)
+            returned: success, path exists
+            type: int
+            sample: 1
         owner:
             description: The owner of the file.
             returned: success, path exists
@@ -306,8 +338,8 @@ files:
             type: str
             sample: file-share
         size:
-            description: The size in bytes of a file or folder.
-            returned: success, path exists, path is not a link
+            description: The size in bytes of the file.
+            returned: success, path exists, path is a file
             type: int
             sample: 1024
 '''

test/integration/targets/win_find/tasks/tests.yml

@@ -1,103 +1,139 @@
 ---
-- name: expect failure when not setting paths
-  win_find:
-    patterns: a
-  register: actual
-  failed_when: "actual.msg != 'Get-AnsibleParam: Missing required argument: paths'"
-
-- name: expect failure when setting paths to a file
+- name: expected skip when paths to a file
   win_find:
     paths: "{{win_find_dir}}\\single\\large.ps1"
   register: actual
-  failed_when: actual.msg != 'Argument path ' + win_find_dir + '\\single\\large.ps1 is a file not a directory'
 
-- name: expect failure when path is set to a non existent folder
+- name: assert skip when path is set to a file
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - not actual is changed
+    - actual.examined == 0
+    - actual.files == []
+    - actual.matched == 0
+    - actual.warnings == ["Argument path '" + win_find_dir + "\\single\\large.ps1' is a file not a directory, skipping"]
+
+- name: expect skip when path is set to a non existent folder
   win_find:
     paths: "{{win_find_dir}}\\thisisafakefolder"
   register: actual
-  failed_when: actual.msg != 'Argument path ' + win_find_dir + '\\thisisafakefolder does not exist cannot get information on'
+
+- name: assert skip when path is set to a non existent folder
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - not actual is changed
+    - actual.examined == 0
+    - actual.files == []
+    - actual.matched == 0
+    - actual.warnings == ["Argument path '" + win_find_dir + "\\thisisafakefolder' does not exist, skipping"]
 
 - name: get files in single directory
   win_find:
     paths: "{{win_find_dir}}\\single"
   register: actual
 
-- name: set expected value for files in a single directory
-  set_fact:
-    expected:
-      changed: False
-      examined: 5
-      failed: False
-      files:
-      - { isarchive: True,
-          attributes: Archive,
-          checksum: f8d100cdcf0e6c1007db2f8dd0b7ee2884df89af,
-          creationtime: 1477984205,
-          extension: .ps1,
-          filename: large.ps1,
-          ishidden: False,
-          isdir: False,
-          islnk: False,
-          lastaccesstime: 1477984205,
-          lastwritetime: 1477984205,
-          owner: BUILTIN\Administrators,
-          path: "{{win_find_dir}}\\single\\large.ps1",
-          isreadonly: False,
-          isshared: False,
-          size: 260002 }
-      - { isarchive: True,
-          attributes: Archive,
-          checksum: 8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3,
-          creationtime: 1477984205,
-          extension: .log,
-          filename: out_20161101-091005.log,
-          ishidden: False,
-          isdir: False,
-          islnk: False,
-          lastaccesstime: 1477984205,
-          lastwritetime: 1477984205,
-          owner: BUILTIN\Administrators,
-          path: "{{win_find_dir}}\\single\\out_20161101-091005.log",
-          isreadonly: False,
-          isshared: False,
-          size: 14 }
-      - { isarchive: True,
-          attributes: Archive,
-          checksum: 86f7e437faa5a7fce15d1ddcb9eaeaea377667b8,
-          creationtime: 1477984205,
-          extension: .ps1,
-          filename: small.ps1,
-          ishidden: False,
-          isdir: False,
-          islnk: False,
-          lastaccesstime: 1477984205,
-          lastwritetime: 1477984205,
-          owner: BUILTIN\Administrators,
-          path: "{{win_find_dir}}\\single\\small.ps1",
-          isreadonly: False,
-          isshared: False,
-          size: 1 }
-      - { isarchive: True,
-          attributes: Archive,
-          checksum: 8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3,
-          creationtime: 1477984205,
-          extension: .ps1,
-          filename: test.ps1,
-          ishidden: False,
-          isdir: False,
-          islnk: False,
-          lastaccesstime: 1477984205,
-          lastwritetime: 1477984205,
-          owner: BUILTIN\Administrators,
-          path: "{{win_find_dir}}\\single\\test.ps1",
-          isreadonly: False,
-          isshared: False,
-          size: 14 }
-      matched: 4
-
-- name: assert actual == expected
+- name: assert get files in single directory
   assert:
-    that: actual == expected
+    that:
+    - not actual is changed
+    - actual.examined == 5
+    - actual.matched == 4
+    - actual.files[0].attributes == 'Archive'
+    - actual.files[0].checksum == 'f8d100cdcf0e6c1007db2f8dd0b7ee2884df89af'
+    - actual.files[0].creationtime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[0].exists == True
+    - actual.files[0].extension == '.ps1'
+    - actual.files[0].filename == 'large.ps1'
+    - actual.files[0].hlnk_targets == []
+    - actual.files[0].isarchive == True
+    - actual.files[0].isdir == False
+    - actual.files[0].ishidden == False
+    - actual.files[0].isjunction == False
+    - actual.files[0].islnk == False
+    - actual.files[0].isreadonly == False
+    - actual.files[0].isreg == True
+    - actual.files[0].isshared == False
+    - actual.files[0].lastaccesstime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[0].lastwritetime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[0].lnk_source == None
+    - actual.files[0].lnk_target == None
+    - actual.files[0].nlink == 1
+    - actual.files[0].owner == 'BUILTIN\\Administrators'
+    - actual.files[0].path == win_find_dir + '\\single\\large.ps1'
+    - actual.files[0].sharename == None
+    - actual.files[0].size == 260002
+    - actual.files[1].attributes == 'Archive'
+    - actual.files[1].checksum == '8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3'
+    - actual.files[1].creationtime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[1].exists == True
+    - actual.files[1].extension == '.log'
+    - actual.files[1].filename == 'out_20161101-091005.log'
+    - actual.files[1].hlnk_targets == []
+    - actual.files[1].isarchive == True
+    - actual.files[1].isdir == False
+    - actual.files[1].ishidden == False
+    - actual.files[1].isjunction == False
+    - actual.files[1].islnk == False
+    - actual.files[1].isreadonly == False
+    - actual.files[1].isreg == True
+    - actual.files[1].isshared == False
+    - actual.files[1].lastaccesstime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[1].lastwritetime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[1].lnk_source == None
+    - actual.files[1].lnk_target == None
+    - actual.files[1].nlink == 1
+    - actual.files[1].owner == 'BUILTIN\\Administrators'
+    - actual.files[1].path == win_find_dir + '\\single\\out_20161101-091005.log'
+    - actual.files[1].sharename == None
+    - actual.files[1].size == 14
+    - actual.files[2].attributes == 'Archive'
+    - actual.files[2].checksum == '86f7e437faa5a7fce15d1ddcb9eaeaea377667b8'
+    - actual.files[2].creationtime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[2].exists == True
+    - actual.files[2].extension == '.ps1'
+    - actual.files[2].filename == 'small.ps1'
+    - actual.files[2].hlnk_targets == []
+    - actual.files[2].isarchive == True
+    - actual.files[2].isdir == False
+    - actual.files[2].ishidden == False
+    - actual.files[2].isjunction == False
+    - actual.files[2].islnk == False
+    - actual.files[2].isreadonly == False
+    - actual.files[2].isreg == True
+    - actual.files[2].isshared == False
+    - actual.files[2].lastaccesstime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[2].lastwritetime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[2].lnk_source == None
+    - actual.files[2].lnk_target == None
+    - actual.files[2].nlink == 1
+    - actual.files[2].owner == 'BUILTIN\\Administrators'
+    - actual.files[2].path == win_find_dir + '\\single\\small.ps1'
+    - actual.files[2].sharename == None
+    - actual.files[2].size == 1
+    - actual.files[3].attributes == 'Archive'
+    - actual.files[3].checksum == '8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3'
+    - actual.files[3].creationtime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[3].exists == True
+    - actual.files[3].extension == '.ps1'
+    - actual.files[3].filename == 'test.ps1'
+    - actual.files[3].hlnk_targets == []
+    - actual.files[3].isarchive == True
+    - actual.files[3].isdir == False
+    - actual.files[3].ishidden == False
+    - actual.files[3].isjunction == False
+    - actual.files[3].islnk == False
+    - actual.files[3].isreadonly == False
+    - actual.files[3].isreg == True
+    - actual.files[3].isshared == False
+    - actual.files[3].lastaccesstime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[3].lastwritetime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[3].lnk_source == None
+    - actual.files[3].lnk_target == None
+    - actual.files[3].nlink == 1
+    - actual.files[3].owner == 'BUILTIN\\Administrators'
+    - actual.files[3].path == win_find_dir + '\\single\\test.ps1'
+    - actual.files[3].sharename == None
+    - actual.files[3].size == 14
 
 - name: find hidden files
   win_find:
@@ -105,34 +141,36 @@
     hidden: True
   register: actual
 
-- name: set fact for hidden files
-  set_fact:
-    expected:
-      changed: False
-      examined: 11
-      failed: False
-      files:
-      - { isarchive: True,
-          attributes: "Hidden, Archive",
-          checksum: 8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3,
-          creationtime: 1477984205,
-          extension: .ps1,
-          filename: hidden.ps1,
-          ishidden: True,
-          isdir: False,
-          islnk: False,
-          lastaccesstime: 1477984205,
-          lastwritetime: 1477984205,
-          owner: BUILTIN\Administrators,
-          path: "{{win_find_dir}}\\single\\hidden.ps1",
-          isreadonly: False,
-          isshared: False,
-          size: 14 }
-      matched: 1
-
-- name: assert actual == expected
+- name: assert get files in single directory
   assert:
-    that: actual == expected
+    that:
+    - not actual is changed
+    - actual.examined == 11
+    - actual.matched == 1
+    - actual.files[0].attributes == 'Hidden, Archive'
+    - actual.files[0].checksum == '8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3'
+    - actual.files[0].creationtime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[0].exists == True
+    - actual.files[0].extension == '.ps1'
+    - actual.files[0].filename == 'hidden.ps1'
+    - actual.files[0].hlnk_targets == []
+    - actual.files[0].isarchive == True
+    - actual.files[0].isdir == False
+    - actual.files[0].ishidden == True
+    - actual.files[0].isjunction == False
+    - actual.files[0].islnk == False
+    - actual.files[0].isreadonly == False
+    - actual.files[0].isreg == True
+    - actual.files[0].isshared == False
+    - actual.files[0].lastaccesstime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[0].lastwritetime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[0].lnk_source == None
+    - actual.files[0].lnk_target == None
+    - actual.files[0].nlink == 1
+    - actual.files[0].owner == 'BUILTIN\\Administrators'
+    - actual.files[0].path == win_find_dir + '\\single\\hidden.ps1'
+    - actual.files[0].sharename == None
+    - actual.files[0].size == 14
 
 - name: find file based on pattern
   win_find:
@@ -147,36 +185,37 @@
     use_regex: True
   register: actual_regex
 
-- name: set fact for pattern files
-  set_fact:
-    expected:
-      changed: False
-      examined: 5
-      failed: False
-      files:
-      - { isarchive: True,
-          attributes: Archive,
-          checksum: 8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3,
-          creationtime: 1477984205,
-          extension: .log,
-          filename: out_20161101-091005.log,
-          ishidden: False,
-          isdir: False,
-          islnk: False,
-          lastaccesstime: 1477984205,
-          lastwritetime: 1477984205,
-          owner: BUILTIN\Administrators,
-          path: "{{win_find_dir}}\\single\\out_20161101-091005.log",
-          isreadonly: False,
-          isshared: False,
-          size: 14 }
-      matched: 1
-
-- name: assert actual == expected
+- name: assert find file based on pattern
   assert:
-    that: 
-    - actual_pattern == expected
-    - actual_regex == expected
+    that:
+    - not actual_pattern is changed
+    - actual_pattern.examined == 5
+    - actual_pattern.matched == 1
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].attributes == 'Archive'
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].checksum == '8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3'
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].creationtime == 1477984205
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].exists == True
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].extension == '.log'
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].filename == 'out_20161101-091005.log'
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].hlnk_targets == []
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].isarchive == True
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].isdir == False
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].ishidden == False
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].isjunction == False
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].islnk == False
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].isreadonly == False
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].isreg == True
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].isshared == False
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].lastaccesstime == 1477984205
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].lastwritetime == 1477984205
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].lnk_source == None
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].lnk_target == None
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].nlink == 1
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].owner == 'BUILTIN\\Administrators'
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].path == win_find_dir + '\\single\\out_20161101-091005.log'
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].sharename == None
+    - actual_pattern.files[0].size == 14
+    - actual_pattern == actual_regex
 
 - name: find files with recurse set
   win_find:
@@ -185,66 +224,84 @@
     patterns: "*.ps1"
   register: actual
 
-- name: set expected value for files in a nested directory
-  set_fact:
-    expected:
-      changed: False
-      examined: 8
-      failed: False
-      files:
-      - { isarchive: True,
-          attributes: Archive,
-          checksum: 8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3,
-          creationtime: 1477984205,
-          extension: .ps1,
-          filename: file.ps1,
-          ishidden: False,
-          isdir: False,
-          islnk: False,
-          lastaccesstime: 1477984205,
-          lastwritetime: 1477984205,
-          owner: BUILTIN\Administrators,
-          path: "{{win_find_dir}}\\nested\\file.ps1",
-          isreadonly: False,
-          isshared: False,
-          size: 14 }
-      - { isarchive: True,
-          attributes: Archive,
-          checksum: 8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3,
-          creationtime: 1477984205,
-          extension: .ps1,
-          filename: test.ps1,
-          ishidden: False,
-          isdir: False,
-          islnk: False,
-          lastaccesstime: 1477984205,
-          lastwritetime: 1477984205,
-          owner: BUILTIN\Administrators,
-          path: "{{win_find_dir}}\\nested\\sub-nest\\test.ps1",
-          isreadonly: False,
-          isshared: False,
-          size: 14 }
-      - { isarchive: True,
-          attributes: Archive,
-          checksum: 8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3,
-          creationtime: 1477984205,
-          extension: .ps1,
-          filename: test.ps1,
-          ishidden: False,
-          isdir: False,
-          islnk: False,
-          lastaccesstime: 1477984205,
-          lastwritetime: 1477984205,
-          owner: BUILTIN\Administrators,
-          path: "{{win_find_dir}}\\nested\\test.ps1",
-          isreadonly: False,
-          isshared: False,
-          size: 14 }
-      matched: 3
-
-- name: assert actual == expected
+- name: assert find files with recurse set
   assert:
-    that: actual == expected
+    that:
+    - not actual is changed
+    - actual.examined == 8
+    - actual.matched == 3
+    - actual.files[0].attributes == 'Archive'
+    - actual.files[0].checksum == '8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3'
+    - actual.files[0].creationtime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[0].exists == True
+    - actual.files[0].extension == '.ps1'
+    - actual.files[0].filename == 'file.ps1'
+    - actual.files[0].hlnk_targets == []
+    - actual.files[0].isarchive == True
+    - actual.files[0].isdir == False
+    - actual.files[0].ishidden == False
+    - actual.files[0].isjunction == False
+    - actual.files[0].islnk == False
+    - actual.files[0].isreadonly == False
+    - actual.files[0].isreg == True
+    - actual.files[0].isshared == False
+    - actual.files[0].lastaccesstime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[0].lastwritetime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[0].lnk_source == None
+    - actual.files[0].lnk_target == None
+    - actual.files[0].nlink == 1
+    - actual.files[0].owner == 'BUILTIN\\Administrators'
+    - actual.files[0].path == win_find_dir + '\\nested\\file.ps1'
+    - actual.files[0].sharename == None
+    - actual.files[0].size == 14
+    - actual.files[1].attributes == 'Archive'
+    - actual.files[1].checksum == '8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3'
+    - actual.files[1].creationtime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[1].exists == True
+    - actual.files[1].extension == '.ps1'
+    - actual.files[1].filename == 'test.ps1'
+    - actual.files[1].hlnk_targets == []
+    - actual.files[1].isarchive == True
+    - actual.files[1].isdir == False
+    - actual.files[1].ishidden == False
+    - actual.files[1].isjunction == False
+    - actual.files[1].islnk == False
+    - actual.files[1].isreadonly == False
+    - actual.files[1].isreg == True
+    - actual.files[1].isshared == False
+    - actual.files[1].lastaccesstime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[1].lastwritetime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[1].lnk_source == None
+    - actual.files[1].lnk_target == None
+    - actual.files[1].nlink == 1
+    - actual.files[1].owner == 'BUILTIN\\Administrators'
+    - actual.files[1].path == win_find_dir + '\\nested\\sub-nest\\test.ps1'
+    - actual.files[1].sharename == None
+    - actual.files[1].size == 14
+    - actual.files[2].attributes == 'Archive'
+    - actual.files[2].checksum == '8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3'
+    - actual.files[2].creationtime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[2].exists == True
+    - actual.files[2].extension == '.ps1'
+    - actual.files[2].filename == 'test.ps1'
+    - actual.files[2].hlnk_targets == []
+    - actual.files[2].isarchive == True
+    - actual.files[2].isdir == False
+    - actual.files[2].ishidden == False
+    - actual.files[2].isjunction == False
+    - actual.files[2].islnk == False
+    - actual.files[2].isreadonly == False
+    - actual.files[2].isreg == True
+    - actual.files[2].isshared == False
+    - actual.files[2].lastaccesstime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[2].lastwritetime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[2].lnk_source == None
+    - actual.files[2].lnk_target == None
+    - actual.files[2].nlink == 1
+    - actual.files[2].owner == 'BUILTIN\\Administrators'
+    - actual.files[2].path == win_find_dir + '\\nested\\test.ps1'
+    - actual.files[2].sharename == None
+    - actual.files[2].size == 14
 
 - name: find files with recurse set and follow links
   win_find:
@@ -254,82 +311,108 @@
     patterns: "*.ps1"
   register: actual
 
-- name: set expected value for files in a nested directory while following links
-  set_fact:
-    expected:
-      changed: False
-      examined: 10
-      failed: False
-      files:
-      - { isarchive: True,
-          attributes: Archive,
-          checksum: 8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3,
-          creationtime: 1477984205,
-          extension: .ps1,
-          filename: file.ps1,
-          ishidden: False,
-          isdir: False,
-          islnk: False,
-          lastaccesstime: 1477984205,
-          lastwritetime: 1477984205,
-          owner: BUILTIN\Administrators,
-          path: "{{win_find_dir}}\\nested\\file.ps1",
-          isreadonly: False,
-          isshared: False,
-          size: 14 }
-      - { isarchive: True,
-          attributes: Archive,
-          checksum: 8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3,
-          creationtime: 1477984205,
-          extension: .ps1,
-          filename: link.ps1,
-          ishidden: False,
-          isdir: False,
-          islnk: False,
-          lastaccesstime: 1477984205,
-          lastwritetime: 1477984205,
-          owner: BUILTIN\Administrators,
-          path: "{{win_find_dir}}\\nested\\link\\link.ps1",
-          isreadonly: False,
-          isshared: False,
-          size: 14 }
-      - { isarchive: True,
-          attributes: Archive,
-          checksum: 8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3,
-          creationtime: 1477984205,
-          extension: .ps1,
-          filename: test.ps1,
-          ishidden: False,
-          isdir: False,
-          islnk: False,
-          lastaccesstime: 1477984205,
-          lastwritetime: 1477984205,
-          owner: BUILTIN\Administrators,
-          path: "{{win_find_dir}}\\nested\\sub-nest\\test.ps1",
-          isreadonly: False,
-          isshared: False,
-          size: 14 }
-      - { isarchive: True,
-          attributes: Archive,
-          checksum: 8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3,
-          creationtime: 1477984205,
-          extension: .ps1,
-          filename: test.ps1,
-          ishidden: False,
-          isdir: False,
-          islnk: False,
-          lastaccesstime: 1477984205,
-          lastwritetime: 1477984205,
-          owner: BUILTIN\Administrators,
-          path: "{{win_find_dir}}\\nested\\test.ps1",
-          isreadonly: False,
-          isshared: False,
-          size: 14 }
-      matched: 4
-
-- name: assert actual == expected
+- name: assert find files with recurse set and follow links
   assert:
-    that: actual == expected
+    that:
+    - not actual is changed
+    - actual.examined == 10
+    - actual.matched == 4
+    - actual.files[0].attributes == 'Archive'
+    - actual.files[0].checksum == '8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3'
+    - actual.files[0].creationtime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[0].exists == True
+    - actual.files[0].extension == '.ps1'
+    - actual.files[0].filename == 'file.ps1'
+    - actual.files[0].hlnk_targets == []
+    - actual.files[0].isarchive == True
+    - actual.files[0].isdir == False
+    - actual.files[0].ishidden == False
+    - actual.files[0].isjunction == False
+    - actual.files[0].islnk == False
+    - actual.files[0].isreadonly == False
+    - actual.files[0].isreg == True
+    - actual.files[0].isshared == False
+    - actual.files[0].lastaccesstime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[0].lastwritetime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[0].lnk_source == None
+    - actual.files[0].lnk_target == None
+    - actual.files[0].nlink == 1
+    - actual.files[0].owner == 'BUILTIN\\Administrators'
+    - actual.files[0].path == win_find_dir + '\\nested\\file.ps1'
+    - actual.files[0].sharename == None
+    - actual.files[0].size == 14
+    - actual.files[1].attributes == 'Archive'
+    - actual.files[1].checksum == '8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3'
+    - actual.files[1].creationtime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[1].exists == True
+    - actual.files[1].extension == '.ps1'
+    - actual.files[1].filename == 'link.ps1'
+    - actual.files[1].hlnk_targets == []
+    - actual.files[1].isarchive == True
+    - actual.files[1].isdir == False
+    - actual.files[1].ishidden == False
+    - actual.files[1].isjunction == False
+    - actual.files[1].islnk == False
+    - actual.files[1].isreadonly == False
+    - actual.files[1].isreg == True
+    - actual.files[1].isshared == False
+    - actual.files[1].lastaccesstime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[1].lastwritetime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[1].lnk_source == None
+    - actual.files[1].lnk_target == None
+    - actual.files[1].nlink == 1
+    - actual.files[1].owner == 'BUILTIN\\Administrators'
+    - actual.files[1].path == win_find_dir + '\\nested\\link\\link.ps1'
+    - actual.files[1].sharename == None
+    - actual.files[1].size == 14
+    - actual.files[2].attributes == 'Archive'
+    - actual.files[2].checksum == '8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3'
+    - actual.files[2].creationtime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[2].exists == True
+    - actual.files[2].extension == '.ps1'
+    - actual.files[2].filename == 'test.ps1'
+    - actual.files[2].hlnk_targets == []
+    - actual.files[2].isarchive == True
+    - actual.files[2].isdir == False
+    - actual.files[2].ishidden == False
+    - actual.files[2].isjunction == False
+    - actual.files[2].islnk == False
+    - actual.files[2].isreadonly == False
+    - actual.files[2].isreg == True
+    - actual.files[2].isshared == False
+    - actual.files[2].lastaccesstime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[2].lastwritetime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[2].lnk_source == None
+    - actual.files[2].lnk_target == None
+    - actual.files[2].nlink == 1
+    - actual.files[2].owner == 'BUILTIN\\Administrators'
+    - actual.files[2].path == win_find_dir + '\\nested\\sub-nest\\test.ps1'
+    - actual.files[2].sharename == None
+    - actual.files[2].size == 14
+    - actual.files[3].attributes == 'Archive'
+    - actual.files[3].checksum == '8df33cee3325596517df5bb5aa980cf9c5c1fda3'
+    - actual.files[3].creationtime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[3].exists == True
+    - actual.files[3].extension == '.ps1'
+    - actual.files[3].filename == 'test.ps1'
+    - actual.files[3].hlnk_targets == []
+    - actual.files[3].isarchive == True
+    - actual.files[3].isdir == False
+    - actual.files[3].ishidden == False
+    - actual.files[3].isjunction == False
+    - actual.files[3].islnk == False
+    - actual.files[3].isreadonly == False
+    - actual.files[3].isreg == True
+    - actual.files[3].isshared == False
+    - actual.files[3].lastaccesstime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[3].lastwritetime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[3].lnk_source == None
+    - actual.files[3].lnk_target == None
+    - actual.files[3].nlink == 1
+    - actual.files[3].owner == 'BUILTIN\\Administrators'
+    - actual.files[3].path == win_find_dir + '\\nested\\test.ps1'
+    - actual.files[3].sharename == None
+    - actual.files[3].size == 14
 
 - name: find directories
   win_find:
@@ -337,32 +420,36 @@
     file_type: directory
   register: actual
 
-- name: set expected fact for directories with recurse and follow
-  set_fact:
-    expected:
-      changed: False
-      examined: 2
-      failed: False
-      files:
-      - { isarchive: False,
-          attributes: Directory,
-          creationtime: 1477984205,
-          filename: sub-link,
-          ishidden: False,
-          isdir: True,
-          islnk: False,
-          lastaccesstime: 1477984205,
-          lastwritetime: 1477984205,
-          owner: BUILTIN\Administrators,
-          path: "{{win_find_dir}}\\link-dest\\sub-link",
-          isreadonly: False,
-          isshared: False,
-          size: 0 }
-      matched: 1
-
-- name: assert actual == expected
+- name: assert find directories
   assert:
-    that: actual == expected
+    that:
+    - not actual is changed
+    - actual.examined == 2
+    - actual.matched == 1
+    - actual.files[0].attributes == 'Directory'
+    - actual.files[0].checksum == None
+    - actual.files[0].creationtime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[0].exists == True
+    - actual.files[0].extension == None
+    - actual.files[0].filename == 'sub-link'
+    - actual.files[0].hlnk_targets == []
+    - actual.files[0].isarchive == False
+    - actual.files[0].isdir == True
+    - actual.files[0].ishidden == False
+    - actual.files[0].isjunction == False
+    - actual.files[0].islnk == False
+    - actual.files[0].isreadonly == False
+    - actual.files[0].isreg == False
+    - actual.files[0].isshared == False
+    - actual.files[0].lastaccesstime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[0].lastwritetime == 1477984205
+    - actual.files[0].lnk_source == None
+    - actual.files[0].lnk_target == None
+    - actual.files[0].nlink == 1
+    - actual.files[0].owner == 'BUILTIN\\Administrators'
+    - actual.files[0].path == win_find_dir + '\\link-dest\\sub-link'
+    - actual.files[0].sharename == None
+    - actual.files[0].size == None
 
 - name: find directories recurse and follow with a broken link
   win_find:
@@ -375,12 +462,15 @@
 - name: check directory count with recurse and follow is correct
   assert:
     that:
+    - not actual is changed
     - actual.examined == 37
     - actual.matched == 17
     - actual.files[0].filename == 'broken-link'
+    - actual.files[0].isjunction == False
     - actual.files[0].islnk == True
     - actual.files[6].filename == 'junction-link'
-    - actual.files[6].islnk == True
+    - actual.files[6].isjunction == True
+    - actual.files[6].islnk == False
     - actual.files[6].lnk_source == win_find_dir + '\\junction-link-dest'
     - actual.files[11].filename == 'link'
     - actual.files[11].islnk == True
@@ -402,36 +492,37 @@
     size: 253k
   register: actual_with_byte
 
-- name: set expected fact for files by size
-  set_fact:
-    expected:
-      changed: False
-      examined: 5
-      failed: False
-      files:
-      - { isarchive: True,
-          attributes: Archive,
-          checksum: f8d100cdcf0e6c1007db2f8dd0b7ee2884df89af,
-          creationtime: 1477984205,
-          extension: ".ps1",
-          filename: large.ps1,
-          ishidden: False,
-          isdir: False,
-          islnk: False,
-          lastaccesstime: 1477984205,
-          lastwritetime: 1477984205,
-          owner: BUILTIN\Administrators,
-          path: "{{win_find_dir}}\\single\\large.ps1",
-          isreadonly: False,
-          isshared: False,
-          size: 260002 }
-      matched: 1
-
-- name: assert actual == expected
+- name: assert filter files by size
   assert:
-    that: 
-    - actual_without_byte == expected
-    - actual_with_byte == expected
+    that:
+    - not actual_without_byte is changed
+    - actual_without_byte.examined == 5
+    - actual_without_byte.matched == 1
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].attributes == 'Archive'
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].checksum == 'f8d100cdcf0e6c1007db2f8dd0b7ee2884df89af'
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].creationtime == 1477984205
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].exists == True
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].extension == '.ps1'
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].filename == 'large.ps1'
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].hlnk_targets == []
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].isarchive == True
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].isdir == False
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].ishidden == False
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].isjunction == False
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].islnk == False
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].isreadonly == False
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].isreg == True
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].isshared == False
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].lastaccesstime == 1477984205
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].lastwritetime == 1477984205
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].lnk_source == None
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].lnk_target == None
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].nlink == 1
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].owner == 'BUILTIN\\Administrators'
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].path == win_find_dir + '\\single\\large.ps1'
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].sharename == None
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].size == 260002
+    - actual_without_byte == actual_with_byte
 
 - name: filter files by size (less than) without byte specified
   win_find:
@@ -445,36 +536,37 @@
     size: -4b
   register: actual_with_byte
 
-- name: set expected fact for files by size (less than)
-  set_fact:
-    expected:
-      changed: False
-      examined: 5
-      failed: False
-      files:
-      - { isarchive: True,
-          attributes: Archive,
-          checksum: 86f7e437faa5a7fce15d1ddcb9eaeaea377667b8,
-          creationtime: 1477984205,
-          extension: ".ps1",
-          filename: small.ps1,
-          ishidden: False,
-          isdir: False,
-          islnk: False,
-          lastaccesstime: 1477984205,
-          lastwritetime: 1477984205,
-          owner: BUILTIN\Administrators,
-          path: "{{win_find_dir}}\\single\\small.ps1",
-          isreadonly: False,
-          isshared: False,
-          size: 1 }
-      matched: 1
-
-- name: assert actual == expected
+- name: assert filter files by size (less than) without byte specified
   assert:
-    that: 
-    - actual_without_byte == expected
-    - actual_with_byte == expected
+    that:
+    - not actual_without_byte is changed
+    - actual_without_byte.examined == 5
+    - actual_without_byte.matched == 1
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].attributes == 'Archive'
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].checksum == '86f7e437faa5a7fce15d1ddcb9eaeaea377667b8'
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].creationtime == 1477984205
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].exists == True
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].extension == '.ps1'
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].filename == 'small.ps1'
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].hlnk_targets == []
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].isarchive == True
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].isdir == False
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].ishidden == False
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].isjunction == False
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].islnk == False
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].isreadonly == False
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].isreg == True
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].isshared == False
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].lastaccesstime == 1477984205
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].lastwritetime == 1477984205
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].lnk_source == None
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].lnk_target == None
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].nlink == 1
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].owner == 'BUILTIN\\Administrators'
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].path == win_find_dir + '\\single\\small.ps1'
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].sharename == None
+    - actual_without_byte.files[0].size == 1
+    - actual_without_byte == actual_with_byte
 
 # For dates we cannot assert against expected as the times change, this is a poor mans attempt at testing
 - name: filter files by age without unit specified
@@ -528,7 +620,7 @@
   assert:
     that:
     - actual_md5_checksum.files[0].checksum == 'd1713d0f1d2e8fae230328d8fd59de01'
-  
+
 - name: get list of files with sha1 checksum
   win_find:
     paths: "{{win_find_dir}}\\single"
@@ -587,7 +679,7 @@
 - name: assert no checksum is returned
   assert:
     that:
-    - actual_no_checksum.files[0].checksum is undefined
+    - actual_no_checksum.files[0].checksum == None
 
 # https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/26158
 - name: get list of files in an empty nested directory
@@ -656,7 +748,8 @@
 - name: assert win_find only examined 2 files with under-privileged account
   assert:
     that:
-    - secure_result.examined == 2
-    - secure_result.matched == 2
+    - secure_result.examined == 3
+    - secure_result.matched == 3
     - secure_result.files[0].path == win_find_dir + "\secure-tests\open"
     - secure_result.files[1].path == win_find_dir + "\secure-tests\open\internal-folder"
+    - secure_result.files[2].path == win_find_dir + "\secure-tests\secure"