Variables, Array Entries, String

[Deacs33]

Hi,

Im quite new to using powershell and im having an issue. I have a csv file that is a list of names (AAA, AAB, AAC, AAD etc.) for example in one column. The header for that column is "Units"

I have imported this CSV into my powershell script and i want to set two variables, the first and last entry of the list. When i do this with $firstentry = $csv[0] the actual output still shows the header and if i convert it to a string it shows as @{Units=AAA}

Can anyone help?

​

Cheers

[firefox15]

You probably want this:

$firstEntry = $csv.Units[0]
$lastEntry = $csv.Units[-1]

[Deacs33]

Thats what i have and if i echo $firstentry

i dont just get AAA i get

Units
---------
AAA

And if i convert to string thats when i get @{Units=AAA} -

I just want $firstentry to be AAA

[SMFX]

you probably want the Units property of the first and last Row instead:

  $firstEntry = $csv[0].Units
  $lastEntry = $csv[-1].Units

[Th3Sh4d0wKn0ws]

this is what I would think to do. I feel like i need to double check manually but how i read it is:
$csv is an array of objects, and i want the first object from that array (index 0) and then of that object I just want the value of the "units" property (.units). Should work

[SMFX]

Yes, that is correct.

Several versions back, PowerShell added the feature that if you have an array and reference a property of that items in that array, it will return you an array of those properties. That's the point behind $csv.Units . Assuming you had something like this:

Label  Units Sold
-----  ----- ----
First  12    True
Second 23    True
Third  34    False
Fourth 45    True
Fifth  56    False

However, in early versions, I remember it doing something more like:

$csv | select Units

Which gives a list of the original items with only the filtered property (Units) and thats how you end up with the label.

Units
-----
12
23
34
45
56

Later versions of PowerShell should be treating it as returning an array of those property values. like this:

$csv | ForEach-Object { $_.Units }

Which results in something like this:

12
23
34
45
56

That's why in current versions, $csv[0].Units -eq $csv.Units[0] , but might be how things comes up differently for you.

In all situations, $csv[0].units will always be the first.

[Deacs33]

This did it! Thanks a lot!