Powershell: how to replace a value within format-table

Question

I want to shorten Directory with relative path:

$Dir = get-childitem C:\temp -recurse
$List = $Dir | where {$_.extension -eq ".txt"}
$List | format-table name, Directory -replace "C:\temp", ""

I get this error:

Format-Table : A parameter cannot be found that matches parameter name 'replace'.
At line:3 char:38
+ $List | format-table name, Directory -replace "C:\temp", ""
+                                      ~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : InvalidArgument: (:) [Format-Table], ParameterBindingException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : NamedParameterNotFound,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.FormatTableCommand

What's the right syntax ?

Bill_Stewart · Accepted Answer · 2018-08-29 16:31:08Z

4

You can use a calculated property. Example:

$List | Format-Table name,
  @{Name = "Directory"; $Expression = {$_.FullName -replace "C:\\temp", ""}}

A calculated property is simply a hashtable that dictates the content of the property. Calculated properties are available with formatting cmdlets that select properties and output a new custom object (e.g, Select-Object, Format-List, etc.).

(As an aside: The -replace operator uses a regular expression, so you would need to write C:\\temp instead of just C:\temp.)

If your goal is to output file system item directory names: Directory is not a property of all file system objects. Is this what you mean?

Get-ChildItem C:\Temp\*.txt -Recurse | Format-Table Name,
  @{Name = "Directory"; Expression = {$_.FullName -replace 'C:\\temp', ''}}

Note how this command takes advantage of the pipeline (no need for the intermediate $List or $Dir variables).

edited Aug 29, 2018 at 16:31

answered Aug 14, 2018 at 17:17

Bill_Stewart

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7 Comments

HAL9256 Over a year ago

I believe you need a double slash for the -replace regex to work.

user310291 Over a year ago

@Bill_Stewart I get this error: A null key is not allowed in a hash literal.

user310291 Over a year ago

@HAL9256 I added double slash but there seems there's already an error see my comment above

HAL9256 Over a year ago

I think it's not "Name" but "Label" see answer below

HAL9256 Over a year ago

Ah @Bill_Stewart You are right, I didn't know that it had that alias.

|

HAL9256 · Accepted Answer · 2018-08-14 17:25:05Z

2

To add to @Bill_Stewart's Answer.

$Dir = get-childitem C:\temp -recurse
$List = $Dir | where {$_.extension -eq ".txt"}
$List | format-table name, @{Label="Directory"; Expression={$_.Directory -replace "C:\\temp", ""}}

edited Aug 14, 2018 at 17:25

answered Aug 14, 2018 at 17:18

HAL9256

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4 Comments

user310291 Over a year ago

I still get this error: A null key is not allowed in a hash literal.

HAL9256 Over a year ago

When you run just $List | format-table name, Directory are there any "bad" Directory entries?

user310291 Over a year ago

I had some other filters, I recreate from scratch adding filters aftewards now it works :)

user310291 Over a year ago

I don't know to whom attribute right answer so I checked first one but you've been also helpfull so thanks.

user23868593 · Accepted Answer · 2024-03-28 14:35:16Z

1

I know this is old, but I came across this as I had a similar issue. I didn't see the final solution in here, so I fiddled with it and this is what I got to work. Had to replace double quotes with single quotes in the hash.

$Dir = get-childitem c:\temp -recurse
$List = $Dir | where {$_.extension -eq ".txt"}
$List | format-table name, @{Label='Directory'Expression={$_.Directory -replace 'C:\\temp', ''}}

edited Mar 28, 2024 at 14:35

answered Mar 28, 2024 at 14:31

user23868593

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