trying to parse output file with powershell

Question

I have a script that monitors a specific process and I have a working script that outputs it as such;

0   0   0

I am using this script to try to cut everything after the first "0" using this script

Get-Content –path c:\batchjobs\location\test.txt | Trim(Char[8,60]) > c:\batchjobs\location\test1.txt

the powershell ise keeps erroring out, here's the output, from that:

PS C:\batchjobs\location> C:\batchjobs\location\TestTrim.ps1
The term 'Trim' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, 
or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
At C:\batchjobs\location\TestTrim.ps1:2 char:58
+ Get-Content –path c:\batchjobs\location\test.txt | Trim <<<< (Char[8,60]) > c:\batchjobs\location\test1.txt
    + CategoryInfo          : ObjectNotFound: (Trim:String) [], CommandNotFoundException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException

any help would be greatly appreciated

MatthewG · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-03 19:58:06Z

3

Methods such as Trim and SubString require an object to operate on, you are not telling the script which object you mean. In the context you will want to indicate $_ for the result object. Also, Get-Content will return all the lines of the file, iterate over them using For-Each a.k.a %.

Get-Content -path c:\batchjobs\location\test.txt | % { $_.Substring(0,7).Trim(); } > c:\batchjobs\location\test1.txt

edited Feb 3, 2015 at 19:58

answered Feb 3, 2015 at 19:14

MatthewG

9,3732 gold badges28 silver badges29 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

3 Comments

MatthewG Over a year ago

I wasn't sure what you meant by Char[8,60] so I just put Substring(8,1) which will only output the 8th character of the line. If you have other intention perhaps you can modify this to your liking or let me know what you intended.

user2616677 Over a year ago

Oh sorry the Char[8,60] was my attempt to delete everything from the 8th character of the line on, all I need is the first 7 characters, does this help

MatthewG Over a year ago

Sure, just use Substring(0,7) - I'll update my example. Hope it helps.

campbell.rw · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-03 22:20:09Z

0

Assuming your files are of a size such that you won't start getting out of memory errors using get-content, then this approach is fine. If you want the first 8 chars of a huge file (maybe 1GB in size?), then the following approach might be a little more flexible:

$stream = [System.IO.StreamReader]"C:\Users\Ryan\Desktop\test.csv"
$i=0

#read characters until we get to 8 or end of the stream. won't load the while file into memory
$output = while(($i -lt 8) -and (!$stream.EndOfStream)){ [char]$stream.Read(); $i++ }
$stream.close()

answered Feb 3, 2015 at 22:20

campbell.rw

1,38612 silver badges22 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

trying to parse output file with powershell

2 Answers 2

3 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

3 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related