How to set a JSON file as a variable in Azure Pipeline and use it in subsequent task?

Question

I have a myJson.json that look like this:

{
  "FirewallGroupsToEnable": [
    "Remote Event Log Management",
    "Windows Remote Management",
    "Performance Logs and Alerts",
    "File and Printer Sharing",
    "Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)"
  ],
  "MemoryStartupBytes": "3GB"
}

I'd like to serialize it as a string and then set it as a variable to be used by other tasks. If there is a better way to use this file inside a pipeline please let me know.

I'm serializing it and setting it like this:

          - task: PowerShell@2
            inputs:
              targetType: 'inline'
              script: |

                  $Configs= Get-Content -Path $(Build.SourcesDirectory)\sources\myJson.json -Raw | ConvertFrom-Json
                  
                  Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=Configs]$Configs"

In the following task, I am running a PowerShell script.

          - task: PowerShell@2
            displayName: 'myTask'
            inputs:
              targetType: 'filePath'
              filePath: 'sources\myScript.ps1'
              pwsh: true

I'm using the variable in my script like this:

$env:Configs
[Configs]$envConfigs = ConvertFrom-Json -InputObject $env:Configs -ErrorAction Stop

The Configs is a class that is being imported at the top of the script like so Using module .\Configs.psm1. I know it's being read because if it wasn't the error would be about a missing type.

Configs.psm1

class Configs
{
    [string[]]$FirewallGroupsToEnable
    [string]$MemoryStartupBytes
}

This is what I get in the pipeline.

##[debug]Processed: ##vso[task.setvariable variable=Configs]@{FirewallGroupsToEnable=System.Object[]; MemoryStartupBytes=3GB}

@{FirewallGroupsToEnable=System.Object[]; MemoryStartupBytes=3GB}
Cannot convert the "@{FirewallGroupsToEnable=System.Object[]; MemoryStartupBytes=3GB}" value of type "System.String" to type "Configs".

I've always casted a deserialized JSON into custom types like this and it always worked. But right now there is something wrong!

I tried to remove ConvertFrom-Json while serializing the JSON (before setting it as a variable) but it doesn't serialize it right. It shows like this in the pipeline:

It looks like it's only getting the first curly braces!

So, how do I serialize a JSON regardless of its depth into the pipeline to be used in later tasks inside a script file?

Hi @jsnoobie, is the answer below to pass JSON data via a file helps you? If it helps, just a remind of accept an answer. — Suki Ji-MSFT
– Suki Ji-MSFT, Commented Nov 25, 2022 at 1:23

Suki Ji-MSFT · Accepted Answer · 2022-11-23 09:38:11Z

1

You could pass the json data via a file, here is my YAML snippet that can pass the full JSON content successfully in next task.

- task: PowerShell@2
  inputs:
    targetType: 'inline'
    script: |
      $Configs= Get-Content -Path $(Build.SourcesDirectory)\wit.json
      $Configs | Out-File Test.json

- task: PowerShell@2
  inputs:
    targetType: 'inline'
    script: |
      $Input = Get-Content Test.json
      Write-Host $Input

Here are similar ticket about pass Json variable for reference.

edited Nov 23, 2022 at 9:38

answered Nov 23, 2022 at 8:21

Suki Ji-MSFT

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1 Comment

noobie Over a year ago

This is not really the answer. But close. My solution is correct. However, I can't Write-Host multi-line variables even if they were strings. Hence, I had to ConvertFrom-Json and then ConvertTo-Json -Compress to get my string in one line.

noobie · Accepted Answer · 2022-11-28 04:10:25Z

1

As it turns out, you can't Write-Host multi-line variables even if they were strings due to the fact of PowerShell formatting. Hence, I had to ConvertFrom-Json and then ConvertTo-Json -Compress to get my string in one line.

$Configs= Get-Content -Path $(Build.SourcesDirectory)\sources\myJson.json -Raw | ConvertFrom-Json | ConvertTo-Json -Compress

answered Nov 28, 2022 at 4:10

noobie

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