PowerShell: Convert an object to a string

Question

We have Exchange Info Stores that begin with UsersA-B, UsersC-D, etc., and then some that are outside that naming convention.

$allIS = Get-MailboxDatabase |
             Where { $_.name -notlike "*Users*" } |
             Select Identity

I'll lookup a current user's info store, and then try to do a comparison on the $allIS array. If it matches, do some action.

When I output the value of $allIS[0] for instance, it returns @{Identity=MSCCR\CEO\CEO}.

I'd like to throw those converted strings into a different array, and then do the comparison. This would be to have a dynamic list of information stores to compare against. But maybe this isn't the best, most efficient way. What would be the best way to try to do this comparison, as right now I'm comparing apples to oranges here?

I did a Split-Path on the $allIS variable and was able to do a concatenation to do the string comparison. Probably not an elegant way to do it, but it works. — cluckinchicken
– cluckinchicken, Commented Jun 13, 2012 at 16:34
This $allIS | % {[string]$_.Identity} will convert all objects in the array to strings. Is that what you want? — Gebb
– Gebb, Commented Jun 13, 2012 at 16:40

Peter Mortensen · Accepted Answer · 2019-06-11 17:28:50Z

14

It is hard to tell if that could be optimized without seeing the second part...

But it's pretty easy to get a flat array of identities. Either use -ExpandProperty on select, or use foreach { $_.Identity } instead of select:

$allIS = Get-MailboxDatabase | ? { $_.name -notlike "*Users*" } | select -expand Identity
$allIS = Get-MailboxDatabase | ? { $_.Name -notlike '*Users*' | foreach { $_.Identity}

edited Jun 11, 2019 at 17:28

Peter Mortensen

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answered Jun 13, 2012 at 17:29

BartekB

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1 Comment

cluckinchicken Over a year ago

I swear I'd already tried both of those options before, but oh well, all good now. Thanks BartekB!

Community · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-20 09:12:55Z

1

The PowerShelly way

$isNames = @()
$allIS = Get-MailboxDatabase | 
    Where { $_.name -notlike "*Users*" } | 
    Select Identity | 
    %{ $isNames += $_.name }

It pipes the output to a foreach loop using % instead.

A more procedural way

$isNames = @()

foreach ($is in $allIS)
{
    $isNames += $is.identity
}

That gives you a simple array of only the names of the information stores, as strings instead of objects.

edited Jun 20, 2020 at 9:12

CommunityBot

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answered Jun 13, 2012 at 16:47

Formica

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Comments

ILMTitan · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-20 19:44:44Z

0

When you try to use "property dereference operator" '.' for a property that is not a member of the array class, it will dereference each element of the array instead.

$allIS = (Get-MailboxDatabase | ? { $_.name -notlike "*Users*" }).Identity

answered Jul 20, 2016 at 19:44

ILMTitan

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