PowerShell ConvertFrom-CSV

PowerShell ConvertFrom-CSV

The purpose of this page is two-fold, to give working examples of ConvertFrom-CSV and to revive interest in the operating system’s built-in ‘WhoAmI’ command.

Topics for PowerShell’s ConvertFrom-CSV

• Introduction to ConvertFrom-CSV
• Example 1: Simple ConvertFrom-Csv
• Example 2: To Display the Groups Unearthed by WhoAmI
• Example 3: Display User Name for Processes

 ♣

Introduction to ConvertFrom-CSV

To see ConvertFrom-Csv in action let us create a file using notepad, or better still Excel.  In the test file create 3 rows of data with each item separated by the default delimiter, the comma, and then ‘Save as’ using a .txt or .csv extension. Here is an example:

Save the file; call it cars.csv.  Make a note of the full pathname, mine was
D: \PShell\cars.csv.

Alternatively, you could call it research.txt, it does not require a csv file extension.

Example 1: Simple ConvertFrom-Csv

The purpose of this preliminary script is simply to check the path to the file containing the list the cars.

Note 1: I am expecting the same output, in the same format, as the above example in the yellow box.

Now let us pipe the output into ConvertFrom-Csv:

Note 2: The neatest way to view this data is to employ Out-GridView to take care of the formatting.  Real-life examples have more rows than this test file, this is where Out-GridView’s ability to filter the data is valuable.

Example 2: To Display the Groups Unearthed by WhoAmI

To see the problem that ConvertFrom-Csv can solve, I suggest that you begin with these commands:

WhoAmI
WhoAmI /Groups
WhoAmI /Groups /FO CSV

Note 3: FO stands for Format, and not something rude!

Take this opportunity to learn about ConvertFrom-Csv’s parameters, append -header thus:

Alternatively, employ Out-GridView once more.

Guy Recommends:  SolarWinds’ Free Bulk Import Tool

Import users from a spreadsheet.  Just provide a list of the users with their fields in the top row, and save as .csv file.  Then launch this FREE utility and match your fields with AD’s attributes, click and import the users.

Optionally, you can provide the name of the OU where the new accounts will be born. Download your FREE bulk import tool.

Example 3: Display User Name for Processes

In this scenario we would like to see who is the owner of a particular process.  Such knowledge is useful in eliminating known processes when investigating malware.

Note 4: I cannot find a way of obtaining "User Name" information using plain Get-Process. 

Evaluate Free SolarWinds CSVDE Import Tool »

Further Research

We have employed the -Header parameter, but if you want to experiment with other parameters, for example alternative delimiters, then I recommend calling for PowerShell’s help:

Note 5: Help always surprises me, in this case I discovered the -UseCulture parameter to make my scripts more reliable when used in other countries.

Investigate similar PowerShell cmdlets

See also ConvertTo-Csv »

Summary of PowerShell’s ConvertFrom-Csv Cmdlet

Here we employ PowerShell’s ConvertFrom-Csv cmdlet to solve real problems, such as how to format WhoAmI /Groups, and how to list processes by User Name.

See more Microsoft PowerShell output tutorials:

• PShell Home   • Out-File   • Out-GridView   • ConvertTo-Csv   • ConvertTo-Html   • ConvertFrom-Csv

• Tee-Object   • Import-CSV   • Format-Table   • PowerShell Here-String  • ConvertFrom-JSON

• Export-CliXml   • Format-List   • Read-Host    • PowerShell Get-History   • -f format   • Pipe to file

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.