PowerShell Variable Contains Specific Numbers

Question

Scenario

When my variable (called $Numbers) contains 0, 1 and 2, it'll run anything under the first IF statement. If my variable contains 0, 1, 2 and 3, it'll run the other IF statement.

Issue

I can't seem to get this working since it continuously runs the first IF statement (due to still containing 0, 1 and 2) but never skips this if it doesn't contain the number 3.

Brief Code Example

If ($Numbers -contains "*0,*" -and "*1,*" -and "*2,*") {

    Write-Host = "Does not contain 3"

}

Elseif ($Numbers -contains "*0,*" -and "*1,*" -and "*2,*" -and "*3,*") {

    Write-Host "Contains 3"

}

Any guidance is appreciated.

if $Numbers is a collection, drop the wildcards. If $Numbers is a string, use match io contains. In both cases, as Maarten said, reverse the statement. — Lieven Keersmaekers
– Lieven Keersmaekers, Commented Sep 15, 2015 at 12:27
I would really like to see how $numbers is populate or the exact contents. — Matt
– Matt, Commented Sep 15, 2015 at 12:32

mjolinor · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-15 13:15:59Z

4

Your test syntax is wrong.

-Contains is going to look for exact matches, not wildcard matches, plus each -and condition must be a standalone test, e.g.

If ($Numbers -contains 0 -and $Numbers -contains 1 -and $Numbers -contains 2)

"1," or "2," by themselves are non-null strings and will always evaluate to $true, absent any kind of comparison operation being applied to them.

answered Sep 15, 2015 at 13:15

mjolinor

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Maarten Bodewes · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-15 12:23:49Z

3

Reverse the if statement, test for 0, 1, 2, 3 first, test for 0, 1, 2 in the Elseif. You should always test for the more specific situation first.

answered Sep 15, 2015 at 12:23

Maarten Bodewes

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