Powershell: How to update specific character of attribute value of XML node

Question

I am new to exploring XML to Powershell.. I have here a sample XML that I need to edit the value.

Sample XML

<Configuration>
   <System>
      <Address link = "http://www.thispage.com" page = "first" />
      <Address link = "http://www.thispage.com" page = "second"/>
  </System>
</Configuration>

And here is my 'supposed to be result' when I edit the XML.

<Configuration>
   <System>
      <Address link = "https://www.thispage.com" page = "first" />
      <Address link = "https://www.thispage.com" page = "second"/>
  </System>
</Configuration>

I have tried this code:

$fileName = "C:\Project\XML-file\SampleXML.config"
$xmlContent = [xml](Get-Content $fileName)

$xmlContent | Select-Xml -XPath 'Configuration/system/Address' | ForEach-Object {$_.node.link -replace 'http','https'}
$xmlContent.save($fileName)

In this code, the value is not replaced, but file is being saved (No changes to the file).. But I can see in Powershell console that http is replaced with https

I also tried SetAttribute command, but it is replacing the whole value of link. Ex:

<Configuration>
   <System>
      <Address link = "https" page = "first" />
      <Address link = "https" page = "second"/>
  </System>
</Configuration>

Appreciate your inputs!

Theo · Accepted Answer · 2021-12-02 10:10:29Z

1

Your xml is not closed properly with </Configuration>.

To load an xml, it is better to use below method then using $xmlContent = [xml](Get-Content $fileName), because the .Load() method makes sure you get the file encoding right.

Try

$fileName = "C:\Project\XML-file\SampleXML.config"
$xmlContent = New-Object -TypeName 'System.Xml.XmlDocument'
$xmlContent.Load($fileName)

$xmlContent.DocumentElement.System.ChildNodes | ForEach-Object { $_.link = $_.link -replace '^http:', 'https:' }
# or
# $xmlContent.Configuration.System.Address | ForEach-Object { $_.link = $_.link -replace '^http:', 'https:' }
# or
# $xmlContent.SelectNodes('//Address') | ForEach-Object { $_.SetAttribute('link', ($_.GetAttribute('link') -replace '^http:', 'https:')) }

$xmlContent.Save($fileName)

edited Dec 2, 2021 at 10:10

answered Dec 2, 2021 at 9:58

Theo

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2 Comments

Mari yah Over a year ago

I have edited the closing of xml with correct </Configuration>. Thanks for the input, I have tried your advice, it works to me.

Theo Over a year ago

@Mariyah Thanks for letting me know. If you find my answer solved your problem, please mark it as'done' by clicking the large checkmark icon on the left. This will help others with a similar question finding it more easily.

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