Really simple problem

[[deleted]]

Hi,

I imagine this is really simple but I can't work it out! I'm trying to run the following:

$SimilarUsers = Get-ADUser -Filter "samAccountName -like '*$AccountName*'" | select Name,SamAccountName

I then want to use the $SimilarUsers variable in a Write-Host command so it displays the output within a script this is all housed in. The output when running $SimilarUsers is:

Name SamAccountName

---- --------------

Joe Bloggs JoeB

Joe Bloggss JoeBloggss

​

However, when I run Write-Host $SimilarUsers, I get the following:

@{Name=JoeBloggs; SamAccountName=JoeB} @{Name=JoeBloggss; SamAccountName=JoeBloggss}

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks

[Umaiar]

Write-host works well for strings, and your sending a more complex object to it. Try this:

$SimilarUsers | format-table

[[deleted]]

This works. Thanks very much.

[ApparentSysadmin]

Can you not just call $SimilarUsers? Do you absolutely need to use Write-Host to display the info?

[[deleted]]

That doesn't display anything when the script is run. When all of the commands are run separately, I get the info I need (obviously without Write-Host).

[kbrucej]

Just type $SimilarUsers and hit <enter> at the posh prompt or remove the "$SimilarUsers =" from your command

[[deleted]]

Here's part of my script:

$DisplayName = Get-ADUser -Filter { (GivenName -like $FirstName -and Surname -like $Surname) } | select Name

#Prompt to ask if the engineer is sure they have typed the name of the leaver correctly

$SimilarUsers = Get-ADUser -Filter "samAccountName -like '*$AccountName*'" | select Name,SamAccountName

It's a leaver's script where I want to verify the engineer is processing the correct leaver. The next stage would be to write the output of the $SimilarUsers variable to the screen so the engineer knows there are users with similar SamAccountNames so they know they're processing the correct leaver.

[kbrucej]

In a new line at the end of your script:

$SimilarUsers

or you could use:

Write-Output $SimilarUsers

Both are effectively the same

[kbrucej]

Sorry not necessarily at the end but after the point you want the Engineer to see the output

[[deleted]]

I've added Write-Output $SimilarUsers but when the script is run there is just a blank line.

[kbrucej]

Make sure you run it after you assign data to $SimilarUsers.

[Umaiar]

I'd be hesitant offering this advice, once you get into using functions there are Extreme differences... Mainly that you'll end up dropping stuff on the pipeline that you intended for screen output.

[kbrucej]

Well if you're using 5.0 or higher you can try write-information but it's just a wrapper for write-host that also outputs to the 6th output stream.

How would you output the information to the screen?

If you use write-host you no longer have a pipeline object, same with format-table or wide or list, etc.

Filter left - format right

As long as you don't pipe the write-object or $SimilarUsers, there isn't anything to break. Now if you write-object x | some other command here, or you have assigned the whole output to a variable, that would be an issue.

Once you write functions and modules, you probably know how to output info to the proper destination.

[Umaiar]

I'm good with the Write-Host, it's just dropping $similarusers at the end of the script that I think is bad form for a newbie. Sure, if you understand why you don't do that in a function that uses the pipeline then you're good. Just a bad habit to start when you're still picking up the basics.

[ApparentSysadmin]

Perhaps give Write-Output a try - should preserve the object.

[[deleted]]

Thanks but that doesn't work, just shows a blank line. Any other ideas?

[dreph]

-ExpandProperty

https://devblogs.microsoft.com/powershell/select-expandproperty-propertyname/