PowerShell script to name file using user input

Question

Using PowerShell. Trying to label a filename using a variable that the user enters.

function foo
{ $name = Read-Host -Prompt "Get name"
...
....
}

foo | Out-file -FilePath c:\temp\$name.log

result is a file is made but its just c:\temp\.log. How can I use input to the $name to name the file?

The file should always go to C:\temp ? What happens if the file with the same name already exists in the destination ? — Santiago Squarzon
– Santiago Squarzon, Commented Aug 29, 2022 at 21:06
I guess your answer is here stackoverflow.com/questions/32448174/… or pretty close to it — Santiago Squarzon
– Santiago Squarzon, Commented Aug 29, 2022 at 21:12
any directory, i label the file as a different week by input. — Rogelio
– Rogelio, Commented Aug 29, 2022 at 21:18

mklement0 · Accepted Answer · 2022-08-29 22:12:29Z

1

Creating a variable inside a function creates a local variable and therefore doesn't make it visible to the caller.
- There are ways to create a variable in the parent scope, but such techniques are best avoided in the interest of encapsulation.
Thus, if you want the caller to act on the value of $name, output its value from the function, or output the user response directly, as shown below.

# Define a function that prompts the user for a name
# *and outputs it* - no strict need for a variable.
function foo { Read-Host -Prompt "Get name" }

# Now use an expandable string ("...") with a subexpression ($(...))
# to call the function and embed its output in the string.
# Note that this either creates a new empty file or
# truncates an existing file.
Out-File -FilePath "c:\temp\$(foo).log"

edited Aug 29, 2022 at 22:12

answered Aug 29, 2022 at 22:07

mklement0

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