How to use an array variable as an argument in a powershell if statement

Question

As a part of a script for modifying a CSV, I am checking against a column subCatDesc to determine a Team based on predetermined values stored in an array.

$grocerySubTeams = "Grocery","Frozen","Bulk","Dairy"

function identifyTeam() {
foreach ($row in $csv) {
    if ($row.subCatDesc -contains $grocerySubTeams) {
        $row.team = "Grocery"
    }
  }
}

When running the script with this the Team column remains empty. However if I explicitly spell out what I want like below, it works.

function identifyTeam() {
foreach ($row in $csv) {
    if (($row.subCatDesc -like "Grocery") -or ($row.subCatDesc -like "Frozen") -or ($row.subCatDesc -like "Bulk") -or ($row.subCatDesc -like "Dairy")) {
        $row.team = "Grocery"
    }
  }
}

I've tried different comparison operators against the array instead of -contains, but none work.

Are you trying to compare one item to more than one, or more than one to one? — Maximilian Burszley
– Maximilian Burszley, Commented Aug 10, 2017 at 17:45
So the column subCatDesc can be either Grocery, Bulk, Frozen, or Dairy. If it matches any of those 4 items then the column Team should be set to Grocery. Does that clarify it for you? — BryceJenkins
– BryceJenkins, Commented Aug 10, 2017 at 17:49
@BryceJenkins Get-Help about_Comparison_Operators -ShowWindow. -in is for one-to-many, and -contains is its inverse — Maximilian Burszley
– Maximilian Burszley, Commented Aug 10, 2017 at 17:58

iRon · Accepted Answer · 2017-08-10 17:53:02Z

1

It is the other way around:

  $grocerySubTeams -contains $row.subCatDesc

answered Aug 10, 2017 at 17:53

iRon

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1 Comment

BryceJenkins Over a year ago

Actually just switching the comparison operator from -contains to -in like Mark Wragg suggested solved it, as I am comparing the values of $row.subCatDesc to the pre-defined array of $grocerySubTeams.

BryceJenkins · Accepted Answer · 2017-08-10 19:32:48Z

0

The answer given by Mark Wragg in the initial comments of switching the comparison operator to -in resolved the behavior I was seeing.

if ($row.subCatDesc -in $grocerySubTeams) {

is the proper syntax for comparing the single value of the cell to the many items of the array.

answered Aug 10, 2017 at 19:32

BryceJenkins

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