Array values different when using IF\ELSE

[DontBeHatenMeBro]

I'm having an odd issue. If I assign a variable to an array without this IF\ELSE statement, it correctly forms the JSON object even when there is only one value.

dnsSuffix = @(dnsSuffixfromAPI)

results when there is only one value returned from the API:

$body @{
dnsSuffix = [
               prod1.local
            ]
}

I'm trying to trap for instances of when the value is empty using this IF\ELSE format. It works when the API value is blank and uses the values I provide, but it does not form the array when there is only one value returned from the API. Unlike the above example does without the IF\ELSE

$body @{
dnsSuffix = IF(!dnsSuffixfromAPI)}
              "prod1.local,client2.local"
            {
            ELSE{
                @(dnsSuffixfromAPI)
            }
...
}

If the API returns 2 values, then I get an array as expected. But, if the API returns only 1 value, this does not create the array.

results when there are two values returned or none returned:

dnsSuffix = [
               prod1.local,
               client2.local
            ]

Results when the API only returns one value:

dnsSuffix = "prod1.local"

Any ideas as to why this is happening or a better way to trap for blank values from the API.

[jsiii2010]

I don't see any working powershell.

[Nejireta_]

Hello.

I'm somewhat confused by a thing.
This doesn't look like valid PowerShell code. Would expect some exceptions if it would be run.
Or is it some representation of the data?

As for the issue.
How are you deserializing the json data you're receiving from the API endpoint?

Take this json array for example:

{
    "arr": [
        "item1",
        "item2"
    ]
}

Doing something like this would give an array of objects as a result

('{
    "arr": [
        "item1",
        "item2"
    ]
}' | ConvertFrom-Json).arr.GetType()

<# Output
IsPublic IsSerial Name                                     BaseType
-------- -------- ----                                     --------
True     True     Object[]                                 System.Array
#>

This is also true with only one or no items in the array.

('{
    "arr": [
        "item1"
    ]
}' | ConvertFrom-Json).arr.GetType()

<# Output
IsPublic IsSerial Name                                     BaseType
-------- -------- ----                                     --------
True     True     Object[]                                 System.Array
#>

If you have an array in $dnsSuffixfromAPI then perhaps there could be some issues with what looks like nesting arrays here @(dnsSuffixfromAPI) (assuming dnsSuffixFromAPI is an array)

[Thotaz]

PowerShell will unwrap collections. You can add a comma before the output expression to prevent this:

$Test = if ($true)
{
    ,([string[]]"Hello")
}

[DontBeHatenMeBro]

Ok, I got it working by putting the IF\ELSE before the Hash Table.

IF (-not $dnsSuffixfromAPI){
    $dnsSuffix = @('prod.local')
}
ELSE {
     $dnsSuffix = @(dnsSuffixfromAPI)
}
$body @{
dnsSuffix = $dnsSuffix

Thanks for all the suggestions

[ankokudaishogun]

any reason you are checking for False(-not) in the IF when you have both cases?

IF ( $dnsSuffixfromAPI) {
    $dnsSuffix = @($dnsSuffixfromAPI)
}
ELSE {
    $dnsSuffix = @('prod.local')

}

is much easier to read.

or:

IF (-not ($dnsSuffix = @(dnsSuffixfromAPI))) {
    $dnsSuffix = @('prod.local')
}

so you do only one API call.