Powershell sort array of strings by a specific character

Question

I am working with a powershell script that automates some long running deployment tasks.

I'm using

$scripts = Get-ChildItem -r -Path server-deploy | select -expand fullname

to get an array that looks like this

D:\BitBucket\CI\serverdeploy\builder\server-deploy\install-builder-10.ps1
D:\BitBucket\CI\serverdeploy\builder\server-deploy\install-builder-20.ps1
D:\BitBucket\CI\serverdeploy\builder\server-deploy\install-builder-30.ps1
D:\BitBucket\CI\serverdeploy\builder\server-deploy\install-builder-40.ps1
D:\BitBucket\CI\serverdeploy\builder\server-deploy\install-builder-50.ps1

I've left some 'holes' in there to add extra scripts if the requirements change on me. The scripts will always be named "install-someword-int.ps1" and ordering is determined by the int.

I know that Get-ChildItem has sorted them in the correct order, but i'd like to be able to create a function that can always order them so if I need to add a script for instance, install-builder-15.ps1, I know it will run after 10 and before 20. Being a good custodian, I don't inherently trust Get-ChildItem to ALWAYS return them in the correct order.

I'm looking for the proper way to sort $scripts, or use a for loop of some kind to iterate the array, but always in the correct order.

EDIT: @boxdog Using the files:

install-builder-10.ps1                                                                                                                 
install-builder-20.ps1                                                                                                                 
install-builder-30.ps1                                                                                                                 
install-builder-4.ps1                                                                                                                  
install-builder-5.ps1

if I run Sort-Object @{e={$_ -match ".*install-.*-(?<number>\d+).ps1"; $matches.number}} I see they are in the same order. I would expect

install-builder-4.ps1                                                                                                                  
install-builder-5.ps1 
install-builder-10.ps1                                                                                                                 
install-builder-20.ps1                                                                                                                 
install-builder-30.ps1

Lee_Dailey · Accepted Answer · 2018-10-25 18:54:57Z

4

here is yet another variant on the "sort by calculated value" idea. this casts the ending digits to [int] before sorting them. [grin]

$FakeFileList = @(
    [System.IO.FileInfo]'install-builder-10.ps1'
    [System.IO.FileInfo]'install-builder-20.ps1'
    [System.IO.FileInfo]'install-builder-30.ps1'
    [System.IO.FileInfo]'install-builder-4.ps1'
    [System.IO.FileInfo]'install-builder-5.ps1'
    )

$FakeFileList |
    Sort-Object {[int]$_.BaseName.Split('-')[-1]}

output ...

Mode                LastWriteTime         Length Name
----                -------------         ------ ----
darhsl       1600-12-31   6:00 PM                install-builder-4.ps1
darhsl       1600-12-31   6:00 PM                install-builder-5.ps1
darhsl       1600-12-31   6:00 PM                install-builder-10.ps1
darhsl       1600-12-31   6:00 PM                install-builder-20.ps1
darhsl       1600-12-31   6:00 PM                install-builder-30.ps1

answered Oct 25, 2018 at 18:54

Lee_Dailey

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4 Comments

Theo Over a year ago

You just beat me to it! (+1)

Lee_Dailey Over a year ago

@Theo - i started off trying to rename the files with proper zero-padding for the numbers. then i gave up and went the easier way ... [grin]

CarComp Over a year ago

Another fine solution. I wish I could select both as answers. this is cleaner.

Lee_Dailey Over a year ago

@CarComp - thank you! i enjoyed fiddling with it ... a nice problem that was fun to play with. [grin]

boxdog · Accepted Answer · 2018-10-25 18:42:37Z

3

If all you are interested in is sorting by the int at the end of the string, then you can sort them with Sort-Object like this:

$paths = "D:\BitBucket\CI\serverdeploy\builder\server-deploy\install-builder-30.ps1",
         "D:\BitBucket\CI\serverdeploy\builder\server-deploy\install-sortofbuilder-20.ps1",
         "D:\BitBucket\CI\serverdeploy\builder\server-deploy\install-builder-10.ps1",
         "D:\BitBucket\CI\serverdeploy\builder\server-deploy\install-builder-20.ps1",
         "D:\BitBucket\CI\serverdeploy\builder\server-deploy\install-builder-50.ps1",
         "D:\BitBucket\CI\serverdeploy\builder\server-deploy\install-notbuilder-10.ps1",
         "D:\BitBucket\CI\serverdeploy\builder\server-deploy\install-builder-15.ps1"

$paths | Sort-Object @{e={$_ -match ".*install-.*-(?<number>\d+).ps1" | Out-Null; [int]$matches.number}}

Which gives this output:

D:\BitBucket\CI\serverdeploy\builder\server-deploy\install-builder-10.ps1
D:\BitBucket\CI\serverdeploy\builder\server-deploy\install-notbuilder-10.ps1
D:\BitBucket\CI\serverdeploy\builder\server-deploy\install-builder-15.ps1
D:\BitBucket\CI\serverdeploy\builder\server-deploy\install-sortofbuilder-20.ps1
D:\BitBucket\CI\serverdeploy\builder\server-deploy\install-builder-20.ps1
D:\BitBucket\CI\serverdeploy\builder\server-deploy\install-builder-30.ps1
D:\BitBucket\CI\serverdeploy\builder\server-deploy\install-builder-50.ps1

edited Oct 25, 2018 at 18:42

answered Oct 25, 2018 at 18:24

boxdog

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5 Comments

CarComp Over a year ago

ok, so it sorts like this install-builder-10.ps1 install-builder-20.ps1 install-builder-30.ps1 install-builder-4.ps1 install-builder-5.ps1

user6811411 Over a year ago

To left pad the number with zeroes to a unique length use $paths | Sort-Object @{e={$_ -match ".*install-.*-(?<number>\d+).ps1"; $matches.number.PadLeft(20,'0')}}

boxdog Over a year ago

Oops! Not enough testing before posting. I've corrected my example and it should work properly now.

Ansgar Wiechers Over a year ago

sort {[int]($_ -replace '.*(\d+)\.ps1$', '$1')}?

boxdog Over a year ago

@CarComp Not to turn this political, but if there is any lesson to be learned from Brexit, it’s that you should always have the option to change your vote when better information come along. Feel free to deselect my answer; I won’t be upset ... honest 😉

SternK · Accepted Answer · 2024-02-08 19:53:00Z

0

You could sort an array of strings by 1st integer match like this.

$a =("__133____2_.ps1",
     "__13____12_.ps1",
     "__3____122_.ps1")

"`n=============SORTED AS NUMBERS by 1st occuring number"
$a | Sort-Object @{ e = {$_ -match ".*?(\d+).*?(\d+).*" Out-Null; [int]$matches[1]} }

For 2nd/lAST-match REPLACE:

> $matches\[1]    with ( $matches[2]   OR $matches.2 )

edited Feb 8, 2024 at 19:53

SternK

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answered Feb 6, 2024 at 12:03

ConfidentlyErrored

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