PowerShell -replace function

Question

I am trying to find and replace a strings in a file and then saving it to the original file in PowerShell.

I've tried doing

(Get-Content "C:\Users\anon\Desktop\test.txt") 
-replace 'apple', 'apple1'
-replace 'bear' , 'bear1' |
Out-File test1.txt
pause

However, I keep getting

-replace : The term '-replace' 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:\Users\Xing Chen\Desktop\test.ps1:2 char:1
+ -replace 'apple', 'apple1'
+ ~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : ObjectNotFound: (-replace:String) [], CommandNotFoundException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException

I've been able to use "abcd".replace() fine and according to the documentation -replace should work too.

If you put the -replace operator in a new line without escaping the line break PowerShell will interpret (Get-Content "C:\Users\anon\Desktop\test.txt") as a complete statement and -replace 'apple', 'apple1' as another statement (with a command it doesn't recognize. Put the -replace operations on the same line as Get-Content and the problem will disappear. — Ansgar Wiechers
– Ansgar Wiechers, Commented Dec 14, 2017 at 17:40
@AnsgarWiechers - Propose this as an answer; it will solve the querent's issue. — Jeff Zeitlin
– Jeff Zeitlin, Commented Dec 14, 2017 at 17:54
@JeffZeitlin I consider this a case of "simple typographic error" and voted to close. — Ansgar Wiechers
– Ansgar Wiechers, Commented Dec 14, 2017 at 18:40

Maximilian Burszley · Accepted Answer · 2017-12-14 18:36:51Z

1

There is nothing in your code to represent the line continuations and the interpreter is not seeing the -replace operators as part of the same command. You have two options to resolve this: escaping the newlines or putting the commands on the same line.

@(Get-Content "C:\Users\anon\Desktop\test.txt") -replace 'apple','apple1' -replace 'bear','bear1' |
    Out-File -FilePath test1.txt
Pause

OR

@(Get-Content "C:\Users\anon\Desktop\test.txt") `
-replace 'apple','apple1' `
-replace 'bear','bear1' |
    Out-File -FilePath test1.txt
Pause

answered Dec 14, 2017 at 18:36

Maximilian Burszley

19.9k7 gold badges39 silver badges68 bronze badges

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

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

PowerShell -replace function

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related