Change values in an array using foreach

Question

I have a CSV file I import, and I need to change the format of a column (backed_up_ts) to remove the original data in the column and replace it with the updated format.

The original data for each row in the column looks like this:

Tue Sep 13 07:46:26 MDT 2016

The first part of my code formats every row so that it can be compared to a date:

$csv = Import-Csv -Path "C:\Users\user\Desktop\NewReport.csv" | Select display_client_name, backed_up_ts
$csv = foreach ($budate in $csv.backed_up_ts) {
$budate = $budate.Substring(3)
$budate = $budate.Replace("MDT", "")
$budate = $budate.Replace("MST", "")
$budate = $budate.Split(" ")
$budate = $budate[1] + " " + $budate[2] + " " + $budate[5]
$budate = ($budate | Get-Date -Format d)

From here I need to take the updated format (in the $budate value) and replace the original data in the $csv.backed_up_ts array.

However, the value of $budate is only the last value of the object in the foreach loop (3/30/16).
The value of $csv.backed_up_ts remains in the array in its original format (Wednesday, August 30th, EST, 2016).

I need the original array $csv.backed_up_ts to be replaced by the coordinating values created by the $budate.

Thanks.

Kory Gill · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-15 22:08:17Z

2

Updated answer based on clarification of desired transformation of data.

Code

# demonstrate changing columnn data in csv input
$input = @"
header1, header2
value11, "Tue Sep 13 07:46:26 MDT 2016"
value21, "Tue Oct 19 07:46:26 MDT 2017"
"@

$csv = ConvertFrom-Csv $input

"original"
$csv

foreach ($item in $csv)
{
    # modify the header2 column in our csv input
    $parts = $item.header2.Split(' ')
    $newDate = $parts[1] + " " + $parts[2] + " " + $parts[5]
    $item.header2 = [DateTime]::Parse($newDate) | Get-Date -Format d
}

"new"
$csv

Output

original
header1 header2                     
------- -------                     
value11 Tue Sep 13 07:46:26 MDT 2016
value21 Tue Oct 19 07:46:26 MDT 2017
new
value11 9/13/2016                   
value21 10/19/2017

edited Sep 15, 2016 at 22:08

answered Sep 15, 2016 at 21:15

Kory Gill

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5 Comments

Justin Beagley Over a year ago

So - in trying it with your format, it's not accepting it. let me explain further. The original data in header 2 is "Wed Mar 30 10:03:45 MDT 2016" So in the foreach part - i need to get rid of a lot the data, before i can convert it to a date. foreach ($item in $csv.header2) {$item = $item.replace("MDT", "") This gets the data into a format that can be converted to a date. When i convert it to a date, i then try your code $item.header2 = $item.header2 -replace *, $item But that doesn't work.

Kory Gill Over a year ago

Can you update your question or add a comment with what you are trying to accomplish? Perhaps there is a better way. For a value in the format "Wed Mar 30 10:03:45 MDT 2016", what exactly do you want it changed to?

Justin Beagley Over a year ago

So your code would work - if the -replace parameter would accept a wildcard * - so it would remove everything in that object, and replace it entirely. Also, it can't be replaced by a static '2' - it is replaced by a dynamic variable.

Justin Beagley Over a year ago

Updated my question. Hopefully it's more understandable.

Kory Gill Over a year ago

Updated my answer. Hope this is helpful.

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