Can I create a custom PowerShell object with an array property?

Question

Warning: I am looking to do this in PowerShell v2 (sorry!).

I would like to have a custom object (possibly created as a custom type) that has an array property. I know how to make a custom object with "noteproperty" properties:

$person = new-object PSObject
$person | add-member -type NoteProperty -Name First -Value "Joe"
$person | add-member -type NoteProperty -Name Last -Value "Schmoe"
$person | add-member -type NoteProperty -Name Phone -Value "555-5555"

and I know how to make a custom object from a custom type:

Add-Type @"
  public struct PersonType {
    public string First;
    public string Last;
    public string Phone;
  }
"@

$person += New-Object PersonType -Property @{
      First = "Joe";
      Last = "Schmoe";
      Phone = "555-5555";
    }

How can I create a custom object with a type that includes an array property? Something like this hash table, but as an object:

$hash = @{
    First = "Joe"
    Last  = "Schmoe"
    Pets  = @("Fluffy","Spot","Stinky")
}

I'm pretty sure I can do this using [PSCustomObject]$hash in PowerShell v3, but I have a need to include v2.

Thanks.

New-Object PSObject -Property $hash

user4003407
– user4003407

2018-07-31 19:28:23 +00:00
Commented Jul 31, 2018 at 19:28 — user4003407
– user4003407, Commented Jul 31, 2018 at 19:28
Any reason for limiting yourself to v2?

Maximilian Burszley
– Maximilian Burszley

2018-07-31 21:44:33 +00:00
Commented Jul 31, 2018 at 21:44 — Maximilian Burszley
– Maximilian Burszley, Commented Jul 31, 2018 at 21:44

briantist · Accepted Answer · 2018-07-31 19:29:47Z

4

When you use Add-Member to add your note properties, the -Value can be an array.

$person | add-member -type NoteProperty -Name Pets -Value @("Fluffy","Spot","Stinky")

If you want to create the properties as a hashtable first, like your example, you can pass that right into New-Object as well:

$hash = @{
    First = "Joe"
    Last  = "Schmoe"
    Pets  = @("Fluffy","Spot","Stinky")
}

New-Object PSObject -Property $hash

Your PersonType example is really written in C#, as a string, which gets compiled on the fly, so the syntax will be the C# syntax for an array property:

Add-Type @"
  public struct PersonType {
    public string First;
    public string Last;
    public string Phone;
    public string[] Pets;
  }
"@

answered Jul 31, 2018 at 19:29

briantist

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1 Comment

Teknowledgist Over a year ago

Super! Thanks! (I swear I had tried the hash table option and got an error, but it's working now!)

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