Powershell - Import Column from CSV and remove Weird Array Formatting

Question

Currently I'm importing a csv file with just one Column named "Name", and I have all the data within the column currently comma separated. When I run the below code example, and then write the out-put I have a weird formatting issue going on which I hope you guys would be able to help. So I could just loop through each name within the array with clean data. Thanks!

$Name = Import-Csv C:\Users\example\documents\testObjects.csv

Here's an example of what the output looks like if I run it through a foreach loop.

foreach ($s in $Name)
{
write-host $s
}

@{Name=abc000100,}
@{Name=def0001000,}

I was hoping for help on how to separate it out so when it run through the foreach loop, it just includes only the name, and not the @{Name=,}. Thank you!

Steven · Accepted Answer · 2021-08-19 18:00:36Z

1

The problem is a CSV file is an object representation. Granted it's generally a flat object but nevertheless an object. The properties of a given object are the column header and the value is the cell value, so to speak.

So, in this case you outputting the whole object, which PowerShell displays in Object/Hash notation. You haven't posted a sample of the CSV file itself, but it sounds like you need just the value of the name property. The following samples would demonstrate how to access it.

$Name = 
Import-Csv C:\Users\example\documents\testObjects.csv |
Select-Object -ExpandProperty Name

This should result in a flat array with the property values.

Alternatively you can unroll the property like:

$Name = (Import-Csv C:\Users\example\documents\testObjects.csv).Name

Keeping with your example, and for further demonstration purposes:

$Name = Import-Csv C:\Users\example\documents\testObjects.csv

foreach ($s in $Name)
{
    write-host $s.Name
}

answered Aug 19, 2021 at 18:00

Steven

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1 Comment

Melon Man Over a year ago

Thank you so much Steven, it's been a while since I've worked with CSV files and I truly appreciate your help. This is exactly what I was looking for!

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