Changing a variable based on output

Question

Good Afternoon, Just want to start by saying I am totally new with PS, and am really sorry if my approach to this is long winded or inaccurate.

I have a list of computernames that declared as individual Variables that my colleagues have provided me :

$Jon = "Abc1234"
$Mike = "Abc6789"

another 10 hostnames

I then ask the user if they want to send the files to another PC :

$Targetuser = Read-Host 'Who would you like to send it to?'

What I would like is the output from the above to change to the hostname, but I am unsure of how to do this. Essentially, if the output was Mike, to change the $targetuser variable to $Abc6789

Thanks in advance

Hashtable seems pretty good for the task at hand :)

Santiago Squarzon
– Santiago Squarzon

2021-05-25 13:41:59 +00:00
Commented May 25, 2021 at 13:41 — Santiago Squarzon
– Santiago Squarzon, Commented May 25, 2021 at 13:41

Mathias R. Jessen · Accepted Answer · 2021-05-25 13:58:36Z

1

Dynamically named variables is almost always a bad idea. Instead, use a dictionary type, like a hashtable:

# Define user->host dictionary
$Hostnames = @{
  Jon  = "Abc1234"
  Mike = "Abc6789"
}

# Ask user for target user
$TargetUser = Read-Host 'Who would you like to send it to?'

# Keep asking until the enter an actual user name
while(-not $Hostnames.ContainsKey($TargetUser)){
  Write-Host "No hostname found for user '${targetUser}'!"
  Write-Host "Choose one of:"
  Write-Host ($Hostnames.Keys -join "`n")
  $TargetUser = Read-Host 'Who would you like to send it to?'
} 

# Get the associated hostname
$TargetHost = $Hostnames[$TargetUser]

# copy file to $TargetHost

answered May 25, 2021 at 13:58

Mathias R. Jessen

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3 Comments

Christopher Retford Over a year ago

Thank you so much, that is amazing! That has solved my issue. Honestly, wish I could buy you a beer!

Mathias R. Jessen Over a year ago

@ChristopherRetford Maybe you'll get the chance one day ^_^ For now, all I ask is you consider marking my answer "accepted" by clicking the checkmark on the left :-)

Christopher Retford Over a year ago

It's the least I can do friend. Thank you again so much. I am very grateful. Honestly PS has opened my world up with the things it can do and I am learning so so much from people like yourselves!

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