Replace csv file header row with powershell

Question

Is it possible to import a csv file into powershell, replace the entire header row with a defined set of data then save to csv file out with a new name.

I need to be able to automate this task so it can be used by another software.

Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

Does it have to be PowerShell? It is certainly possible in PowerShell but might be even easier using Excel Macros or a scripting language like Perl or Python. — mkasberg
– mkasberg, Commented Jul 17, 2014 at 1:54
No, anything that can be completely automated can work. Just needs to be called by a scheduled task on a win 2012 server. — ShawnIT
– ShawnIT, Commented Jul 18, 2014 at 1:28

Matt · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-18 02:20:12Z

5

Sample file contents

1,b,4
8,j,7
8,k,9

To make your own header:

Import-Csv D:\Temp\txt.txt -Header "name","letter","value"

name                                                     letter                                                   value                                                  
----                                                     ------                                                   -----                                                  
1                                                        b                                                        4                                                      
8                                                        j                                                        7                                                      
8                                                        k                                                        9

To skip rows:

Import-Csv D:\Temp\txt.txt -Header "name","letter","value" | select -skip 1

name                                                     letter                                                   value                                                  
----                                                     ------                                                   -----                                                  
8                                                        j                                                        7                                                      
8                                                        k                                                        9

To tie it all up with an export:

$tempCSV = Import-Csv D:\Temp\txt.txt -Header "name","letter","value" | select -skip 1
$tempCSV | Export-CSV D:\Temp\txt.txt -NoTypeInformation

edited Jul 18, 2014 at 2:20

answered Jul 17, 2014 at 2:38

Matt

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2 Comments

ShawnIT Over a year ago

This line wont work for me $tempCSV | Export-CSV Export-Csv C:\CSVTest\txt.txt -NoTypeInformation

ShawnIT Over a year ago

I get this error Export-Csv : Cannot bind parameter 'Delimiter'. Cannot convert value "C:\CSVTest\txt.txt" to type "System.Char". Error: "String must be exactly one character long." At C:\CSVTest\Example.ps1:3 char:34 + $tempCSV | Export-CSV Export-Csv C:\CSVTest\txt.txt -NoTypeInformation + ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + CategoryInfo : InvalidArgument: (:) [Export-Csv], ParameterBindingException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CannotConvertArgumentNoMessage,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.ExportCsvCommand

Shagun Sharma Tamta · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-17 09:30:27Z

1

A simple way to handle this can be: $temp = Get-Content ~\<CSVFileName>.csv; $temp[0] = $temp[0].replace($temp[0], "<NewCommaSeperatedHeader>"); Set-Content -Path ~\<ModHeaderCSVFile>.csv -Value $temp;

answered Jul 17, 2014 at 9:30

Shagun Sharma Tamta

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