PowerShell Array String Conversion

How PowerShell Converts an Array into a String

The problem is getting the formatting right when you convert chunks of data into a single string.  The solution is an operator called -Join.

• PowerShell String Problem
• Solution to Array String Problem
• Controlling PowerShell Arrays with the $OFS Variable
• PowerShell Array Introduction
• The Array’s Big Brother: Hash Table

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PowerShell String Problem

Scenario, you want to create a single string from data stored in assorted database fields.

Problem 1) Each field on a separate line

Problem 2) DataRunsTogther

Solution to Array String Problem: -Join ‘ ‘

The -Join operator allows us to place a delimiter between the elements, in this instance the space – ‘ ‘ – makes sense because this what we normally place between words.

Note:  Observe the comma (,) between each field.

Note: The rhythm of the command is <String>, -Join, finally the delimiter.

Result: Success! We have combined 3 strings to make one string element.

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Further Information About PowerShell’s -Join Operator

PowerShell supports a comprehensive series of ‘about’ documents; -Join is an operator, the opposite of -Split see more thus:

Incidentally, PowerShell has a whole family of ‘about_xyz’ topics.

Controlling PowerShell Arrays with the $OFS Variable

$OFS is a special PowerShell variable, it’s full name says it all: Output Format Separator.

It works well with arrays if you prefer a different separator from a single space.  Here is an example of converting an array to a string, with a comma separator:

See more about Arrays in PowerShell »

Summary of PowerShell’s Array String Conversion

PowerShell supports the -Join operator, which is ideal for combining multiple strings into a single element, for example FirstName, Lastname – Full Name.

See more PowerShell examples for syntax advice

• PowerShell Syntax  • PowerShell Array  • PowerShell Array String Conversion  • Plist

• Get-Date  • PowerShell Quotes  • PowerShell variables  • RegEx  • PowerShell functions

• PowerShell Tutorials  • Conditional operators  • PowerShell Hashtable   • Windows PowerShell

Please email me if you have a better example script. Also please report any factual mistakes, grammatical errors or broken links, I will be happy to correct the fault.