CODEWITHSUNDEEP
powershellfor-loopparameter-passing
user3351901
user3351901

Reputation: 107

Powershell accessing multiple parameters in a for loop

Hi I am very new to powershell and I am writing a script that accepts multiple parameters. These parameters are being accessed in a for loop inside the file. It looks something like this

$numOfArgs = args.Length
for ($i=3; $i -le $numOfArgs; $i++)
{


   write-host "folder: $args[$i]"
   # does something with the arguments

}

However, the output gives me all the parameters as a whole instead of just one parameter specified in the array as an array element? Can someone tell me where is the mistake here? Thanks!

Upvotes: 2

Views: 12686

Answers (2)

Micky Balladelli
Micky Balladelli

Reputation: 9991

EDIT: Thanks Duncan to point this out, missing a $ in a variable.

Try this:

$numOfArgs = $args.Length
for ($i=3; $i -lt $numOfArgs; $i++)
{
   write-host "folder: $($args[$i])"
   # does something with the arguments
}

When placing a variable in a string, the variable is evaluated, not the entire expression. So by surrounding it with $() Powershell will evaluate the whole expression.

In other words, only $args was evaluated instead of $args[$i]

Upvotes: 4

silicontrip
silicontrip

Reputation: 1026

The preferred Powershell way is to use a bind parameter, like this;

param(
  [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][string[]]$Paths
)

# not sure why we're skipping some elements
$Paths | foreach-object { write-host "folder: $_" }

Which you can specify an array or arguments, like this;

.\myScript.ps1 -Paths c:\,c:\Users\,'c:\Program Files\'

This way it will work with -argument TAB completion and will even give you a brief usage using the get-help cmdlet.

get-help .\myscript.ps1
myScript.ps1 [-Paths] <string[]> [<CommonParameters>]

Upvotes: 1

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