Powershell - How to split a string based on characters? - powershell

Question

I have a list of pdf filenames that need to be parsed and ultimately sent to a sql table, with the parse out pieces each in their own column. How would I split based on a dash '-' and ultimately get it into a table.
What cmdlets would you start with to split on a character? I need to split based on the dash '-'.
Thanks for the help.
Example File Names:
tester-2458-full_contact_snapshot-20200115_1188.pdf
tester-2458-limited_contact_snapshot-20200119_9330.pdf
Desired Results:

Answer 1

There is also a -split operator.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_split
basic example:
if you have file names in $FilePaths array.
foreach($filepath in $FilePaths)
{
$parts = $filepath -split '-';
[pscustomobject]#{"User" = $parts[0]; "AppID" = $parts[1]; "FileType" = $parts[2]; "FilePath"=$filepath }
}

Answer 2

Use $variable.split('-') which will return a string array with a length equal to however many elements are produced by the split operation.

Answer 3

yet another way is to use regex & named capture groups. [grin]
what it does ...
creates a set of file name strings to work with
when ready to use real data, remove the entire #region/#endregion block and use either (Get-ChildItem).Name or another method that gives you plain strings.
iterates thru the collection of file name strings
uses $Null = to suppress the False/True output of the -match call
does a regex match with named capture groups
uses the $Match automatic variable to plug the captured values into the desired properties of a [PSCustomObject]
sends that PSCO out to the $Results collection
displays that on screen
sends it to a CSV for later use
the code ...
#region >>> fake reading in a list of file names
# in real life, use (Get-ChildItem).Name
$InStuff = #'
tester-2458-full_contact_snapshot-20200115_1188.pdf
tester-2458-limited_contact_snapshot-20200119_9330.pdf
'# -split [System.Environment]::NewLine
#endregion >>> fake reading in a list of file names
$Results = foreach ($IS_Item in $InStuff)
{
$Null = $IS_Item -match '^(?<User>.+)-(?<AppId>.+)-(?<FileType>.+)-(?<Date>.+)\.pdf$'
[PSCustomObject]#{
User = $Matches.User
AppId = $Matches.AppId
FileType = $Matches.FileType
Date = $Matches.Date
FileName = $IS_Item
}
}
# display on screen
$Results
# send to CSV file
$Results |
Export-Csv -LiteralPath "$env:TEMP\JM1_-_FileReport.csv" -NoTypeInformation
output to screen ...
User : tester
AppId : 2458
FileType : full_contact_snapshot
Date : 20200115_1188
FileName : tester-2458-full_contact_snapshot-20200115_1188.pdf
User : tester
AppId : 2458
FileType : limited_contact_snapshot
Date : 20200119_9330
FileName : tester-2458-limited_contact_snapshot-20200119_9330.pdf
content of the C:\Temp\JM1_-_FileReport.csv file ...
"User","AppId","FileType","Date","FileName"
"tester","2458","full_contact_snapshot","20200115_1188","tester-2458-full_contact_snapshot-20200115_1188.pdf"
"tester","2458","limited_contact_snapshot","20200119_9330","tester-2458-limited_contact_snapshot-20200119_9330.pdf"