I'm new to PowerShell and am just trying to figure out how it works exactly.
So, how can I write this code:
Get-ChildItem C:\ | Sort-Object Length
as multi lined code? I tried this:
$child_items = Get-ChildItem C:\
Sort-Object $child_items Length
but it didn't work. I'm getting:
Sort-Object : A positional parameter cannot be found that accepts argument 'Length'.
Although the other answers are the right way to pass value using named parameter remember what get-help Sort-Object say:
When you use the InputObject parameter to submit a collection of items,
Sort-Object receives one object that represents the collection.
Because one object cannot be sorted, Sort-Object returns the entire collection unchanged.
You'll find that no sort operation will be done passing $child_items to -inputobject.
You always need to pass value with a pipe to -inputobject
You need to specify the -InputObject parameter. Without it, $child_items will bind to the first positional parameter, which is 'Property'
Sort-Object -InputObject $child_items Length
UPDATE
I'm not removing my answer cause there are comments attached to it. I was wrong, the results from Get-ChildItem are sorted by default and I concluded that passing the array to InputObject does the job. Clearly I was wrong, check @C.B answer.
Sort-Object? Remember it does not sort in place.This would work:
Get-ChildItem C:\ |
Sort-Object Length
Or for you example this would work too;
$child_items = Get-ChildItem C:\
$child_items | Sort-Object Length
You can also use the back tick as a line continuation character .
