Parse PowerShell output in C#

Question

How can parse the output of powerShell console in C#?

PowerShell console output:

Name        : 0F06B9DF-9FC5-4AF7-AF92-890AAD415000
ElementName : Virtual Machine 1

Name        : 2B501DD8-46F5-45FE-ACCE-62030720A000
ElementName : Virtual Machine 2

In my C# code read the output line by line. I search the best way to convert the output to the

List<Dictionary<string, string>>

I tried

bool dataset = false;
Dictionary<string, string> data = new Dictionary<string, string>();
proc.Start();
while (!proc.StandardOutput.EndOfStream)
{
    // The line of Output
    string line = proc.StandardOutput.ReadLine();

    // If line is not empty save data in dictionary
    if(line.Length != 0)
    {
        dataset = true;
        string[] vals = line.Split(':');
        data.Add(vals[0], vals[1]);
    }
    // Else, save dictionary in list and reinit dictionary
    else
    {
        // Next object
        if (dataset)
        { 
            arr.Add(data);
            dataset = false;
            data = new Dictionary<string, string>();
        }
    }
}

You might want to show the command you're using to generate that output. — mason
– mason, Commented Jul 29, 2015 at 16:36
Why do you want a list of dictionaries, when it would be sufficient to just have a dictionary of strings? — Cheesebaron
– Cheesebaron, Commented Jul 29, 2015 at 16:36
How can i use a dictionary of strings in my case? PS: I added the code that i use. — Adrian Simionescu
– Adrian Simionescu, Commented Jul 29, 2015 at 16:52
What is the problem you've observed with the approach you're taking? In what way does it not work? — Jerry Federspiel
– Jerry Federspiel, Commented Jul 29, 2015 at 17:12

michalk · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-30 08:25:11Z

2

If the process finishes quickly and doesn't provide a lot of output, then it might be a good idea to wait for it to exit, and then read all of the standard output stream at once.

proc.WaitForExit((int)TimeSpan.FromSeconds(10).TotalMilliseconds);

var ret = new List<Dictionary<string, string>>();

// first split on double newline to separate VMs
string[] vms = proc.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd()
    .Split(new[] { string.Format("{0}{0}", Environment.NewLine) }, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);

foreach (var vm in vms)
{
    // then split on newline, to get each line in separate string
    var lines = vm.Split(new[] { Environment.NewLine }, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);

    // finally, split each line on ':' to fill in dictionary, then add it to list
    ret.Add(lines.Select(line => line.Split(':')).ToDictionary(a => a[0].Trim(), a => a[1].Trim()));
}

You'll probably also want to wrap it in try...catch in case the process output is not in the format you expect.

edited Jul 30, 2015 at 8:25

answered Jul 29, 2015 at 17:34

michalk

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2 Comments

Adrian Simionescu Over a year ago

I don't need a loop to adding the dictionary in list? I receive the error: An Item with the same key has already been added.

michalk Over a year ago

I edited my answer, it should now work for you, and output List<Dictionary<string, string>> with each VM being a separate Dictionary<string,string>. It is kind of ugly solution though - I recommend taking the path @n0rd suggested, and get Powershell output as an object if you can.

n0rd · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-29 20:36:55Z

2

Come on! C# and Powershell - both .Net languages. You can invoke Powershell scripts form C# and get output as objects. No need to parse anything:

    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        var rsc = RunspaceConfiguration.Create();
        var runSpace = RunspaceFactory.CreateRunspace(rsc);
        runSpace.Open();
        Runspace.DefaultRunspace = runSpace;
        var p = runSpace.CreatePipeline("Get-Process");

        var output = p.Invoke();

        foreach (var o in output)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("{0}", o.Properties["Name"].Value);
        }
    }

answered Jul 29, 2015 at 20:36

n0rd

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1 Comment

Adrian Simionescu Over a year ago

I can not do this. I forgot to say that run on server 2008 PowerShell v2.0. I don't have system.management.automation. I using this library : pshyperv.codeplex.com

Alien · Accepted Answer · 2018-09-02 06:32:07Z

0

  using (PowerShell PowerShellInstance = PowerShell.Create())
              {
                  // this script has a sleep in it to simulate a long running script
                  PowerShellInstance.AddScript("GET-VM");
                  //PowerShellInstance.AddCommand("Out-String");
                  // begin invoke execution on the pipeline

                  foreach (var o in PowerShellInstance.Invoke())
                  {
                      //Console.WriteLine(str);
                    Console.WriteLine("{0}", o.Properties["Name"].Value);
                    Console.WriteLine("{0}", o.Properties["Status"].Value);
                }
                  // do something else until execution has completed.
                  // this could be sleep/wait, or perhaps some other work

}

edited Sep 2, 2018 at 6:32

Alien

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answered Sep 2, 2018 at 6:19

Salah Abozakok

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