How can I compare an object to an array with Powershell?

Question

I am working with two data sets. One is used to filter the other. The base dataset is a set of folders using a naming scheme like this:

003
003 rev 1
003 rev 2
004
005
etc...

I have a second set of numbers that signify which folders I want to pull from the first set. I import them using

$numSet = Import-Csv $csvLoc | Where {$_.ItemCategory -eq "CatagoryName"} | Select-Object -ExpandProperty "Folder ID"

and they looks something like this:

C:\>$numSet
003
005

So far this is exactly how I want it. Now what I want to do is, using the Get-ChildItem command, import the locations of the folders so that I can work with them.

# This is about how I believe I should go about this.
$folderLocationArray = Get-ChildItem -Path $sourceDir | Where {$numSet.Contains($_.Name)}

Because I need to check against an array the obvious choice would be -contains, except that doesn't allow me to use wildcards, and the rev # that comes after some of the file names means that those files don't show up. This is what happens:

C:\>$folderLocationArray
003
005

I have also tried -match and -like with the same results. Instead of an error, the script either sits and acts like it is running, or returns a blank like this:

C:\>script.ps1 #This is set up to output $folderLocationArray

C:>

I know that the basics are sound, because I can plug in a single number and it works, and even with an array as the input it still returns files, just not the ones with rev # in them.

I'm at a loss. How can I use Get-ChildItem and filter the array against an array?

Edit: To clarify.

I have have a list of numbers. I have a bunch of folders. Every folder starts with a number. Some share the same number. I want to know which folders match the list.

Im not sure what you are asking. Are you just trying to compare 2 arrays and find the same or unique? — ArcSet
– ArcSet, Commented Jun 22, 2018 at 19:29
I want filter the folder names by the numbers, so that only the folders that have the number in their name remain. — Hairy Dresden
– Hairy Dresden, Commented Jun 22, 2018 at 19:31
Clarification: If 003 is in the array, do you want the folders 003, 003 Rev 1 and 003 Rev 2 to be considered "hits"? — Jeff Zeitlin
– Jeff Zeitlin, Commented Jun 22, 2018 at 19:34
@JeffZeitlin That's right. All the folders will start with a number. I want only the folders that start with the numbers in the array that I create. — Hairy Dresden
– Hairy Dresden, Commented Jun 22, 2018 at 19:34

ArcSet · Accepted Answer · 2018-06-22 19:59:19Z

3

Filter Results based on array

@("001","002","023","006") | foreach{Get-ChildItem -Path $path -filter "$_*" -Recurse -Directory}

answered Jun 22, 2018 at 19:59

ArcSet

6,9401 gold badge23 silver badges36 bronze badges

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

Comments

lit · Accepted Answer · 2018-06-22 20:39:03Z

3

This will use a filter based on an item in the $numset array

$numset = @('003', '005')

foreach ($base in $numset) {
    Get-ChildItem -Directory -Recurse -Filter $($base + "*")
}

edited Jun 22, 2018 at 20:39

answered Jun 22, 2018 at 19:33

lit

16.5k11 gold badges79 silver badges146 bronze badges

2 Comments

Hairy Dresden Over a year ago

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get this one working, and the one ArcSet put forward has. I will still try this on Monday to double check, thanks!

lit Over a year ago

@HairyDresden - Ok. The two (2) solutions are basically the same. I added a -Recurse to this one which might be why it did not see the directories.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How can I compare an object to an array with Powershell?

2 Answers 2

Comments

2 Comments

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

Comments

2 Comments

Related