Passing multiple variables to Export-CSV in Powershell

Question

Hey guys I'm having a Powershell 2.0 problem that is driving me crazy. My objective: Create a script that determines the size of the Documents folder along with the current user on the same row, but in two different fields in a csv file. I have tried the following scripts so far:

$startFolder= "C:\Users\$env:username\Documents"
$docinfo = Get-ChildItem $startFolder -recurse | Measure-Object -property length -sum |
$docinfo | Export-Csv -Path C:\MyDocSize\docsize.csv -Encoding ascii -NoTypeInformation

This script works and exports the folder size (sum), along with some columns that I don't need, "Average, Maximum, Minimum, and a property column that has "Length" as a value. Does anyone know how to just show the sum column and none of the other stuff? My main question is however, how do I pass "$env:username" into "$docinfo" and then get "$docinfo" to pass that into a CSV as an additional column and an additional value in the same row as the measurement value?

I tried this:

$startFolder= "C:\Users\$env:username\Documents"
$docinfo = Get-ChildItem $startFolder -recurse | Select-Object $env:username
$docinfo | Export-Csv -Path C:\MyDocSize\docsize.csv -Encoding ascii - NoTypeInformation

This will pass just the current username to the csv file, but without a column name, and then I can't figure out how to incorporate the measurement value with this. Also I'm not even sure why this will pass the username because if I take the "Get-ChildItem $startFolder -recurse" out it will stop working.

I've also tried this script:

$startFolder= "C:\Users\$env:username\Documents"
$docinfo = Get-ChildItem $startFolder -recurse | Measure-Object -property length -sum  
New-Object -TypeName PSCustomObject -Property @{
UserName = $env:username
DocFolderSize = $docinfo    
} | Export-Csv -Path C:\MyDocSize\docsize.csv -Encoding ascii -NoTypeInformation

This script will pass the username nicely with a column name of "UserName", however in the "DocFolderSize" column instead of the measurement values I get this string: Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.GenericMeasureInfo

Not sure what to do now or how to get around this, I would be really appreciative of any help! Thanks for reading.

Tim Ferrill · Accepted Answer · 2014-10-17 19:16:51Z

1

Give this a try"

Get-ChildItem $startFolder -Recurse | Measure-Object -property length -sum | Select Sum, @{Label="username";Expression={$env:username}}

The @{Label="username";Expression={$env:username}} will let you set a custom column header and value.

You can customize the Sum column using the same technique:

Get-ChildItem $startFolder -Recurse | Measure-Object -property length -sum | Select @{Label="FolderSize";Expression={$_.Sum}}, @{Label="username";Expression={$env:username}}

And if you want to show the folder size in MB:

Get-ChildItem $startFolder -Recurse | Measure-Object -property length -sum | Select @{Label="FolderSize";Expression={$_.Sum / 1MB}}, @{Label="username";Expression={$env:username}}

edited Oct 17, 2014 at 19:16

answered Oct 17, 2014 at 17:16

Tim Ferrill

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14 Comments

ZEM Over a year ago

Thank you! This works, however if I just select sum it exports to csv as "@{Sum=10915869}" how can I just get the number? Thank you so much for you help.

ZEM Over a year ago

never mind it only shows up like that when I try it with my object, "$startFolder= "C:\Users\$env:username\Documents" Get-ChildItem $startFolder -Recurse | Measure-Object -property length -sum | Select Sum, @{Label="username";Expression={$env:username}} | Export-Csv -Path C:\MyDocSize\info.csv\MyDocSize\info.csv -Encoding ascii -NoTypeInformation" This works perfectly and is much simpler than what I had. Thank you so, so much!

ZEM Over a year ago

One more question though, how do I customize the Sum column name? "Get-ChildItem $startFolder -Recurse | Measure-Object -property length -sum | @{Label="MyDocSize";Expression={Select Sum}}, @{Label="username";Expression={$env:username}} | Export-Csv -Path C:\MyDocSize\info.csv -Encoding ascii -NoTypeInformation" Throws a "Expressions are only allowed as the first element of a pipeline" error

Tim Ferrill Over a year ago

Added to the answer. That should meet your needs.

ZEM Over a year ago

If you are still looking at this, is there a way to change sum from bytes to MBs within that expression? You've already helped so much I hate to ask for more, but thanks if you can!

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