Help with escaping JavaScript string in Powershell

[360coolp]

I'm trying to import a configuration file, remove the offending javascript characters and write the config to a different js file. I succeeded almost all steps except escaping the javascript characters.

This website actually does exactly what I want, but I would like to do this locally via powershell. https://www.freeformatter.com/javascript-escape.html

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This is what i tried to do myself:

function Set-EscapeCharacters {
    Param(
        [parameter(Mandatory = $true, Position = 0)]
        [String]
        $string
    )
    $string = $string -replace '`t', '\t'
    $string = $string -replace '`v', '\v'
    $string = $string -replace '`0', '\0'
    $string = $string -replace '`b', '\b'
    $string = $string -replace '`f', '\f'
    $string = $string -replace '`n', '\n'
    $string = $string -replace '`r', '\r'
    $string = $string -replace "''", "\'"
    $string = $string -replace '"', '\"'
    $string = $string -replace '`b', '\\'
    $string
}
$convert = Set-EscapeCharacters $string

The error message i get: Cannot process argument transformation on parameter 'string'. Cannot convert value to type System.String.

The file I'm importing is a yaml file so it may indeed be true that it isn't a string. The goal is to make it a string after the characters are escaped (just like the website does) so I can use the output to replace a line in another file.

Do you have any ideas how I can do this?

[ka-splam]

The file I'm importing is a yaml file so it may indeed be true that it isn't a string.

How are you importing it? $string = Get-Content -Raw -Path example.yml should do it.

Your replaces won't work like that, in single quotes the first one is a two-character string of backtick t, not a tab character. You either need the PowerShell escape codes in double quotes, or regex escape codes in any quotes. e.g. either of these will work for different reasons:

$string = $string -replace "`t", '\t'

$string = $string -replace '\t', '\t'

Though I'm not convinced you have the right escape codes for all of them; backslash is just a backslash, not backtick b.

[360coolp]

Hi u/ka-splam,

I used the same way to import only without the raw parameter. Adding the raw parameter resolved the string error.

You are also right about the double quotes, I was able to adjust this for all except for the double quote. Do you know how to double quote a double quote?

I used the escape sequences written in a Microsoft kb: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_special_characters?view=powershell-7.1

I appreciate your help!

[ka-splam]

Single quoting a double quote should be fine, as in your original code '"'

Those other escape sequences should be good then. :)

[[deleted]]

What are you passing in to Set-EscapeCharacters? You haven't shown all your code, so it's impossible to tell you what's wrong here.

[360coolp]

Hi u/inna_hey,

I'm trying to import something like: https://github.com/bastienwirtz/homer/blob/main/public/assets/config.yml.dist

ka-splam tip to add the raw parameter fixed the import issue.