CODEWITHSUNDEEP
powershell
KlaymenDK
KlaymenDK

Reputation: 724

Store string variable in text file

I want to create a (blank) file, and optionally store a text message in it. This is my code for doing so:

$null = new-item "$filename" -type file
write-output ("Message: <<$message>>")
if ( -not ($message= "")) {
    Add-Content "$filename" "Message: <$message>"
}

The 1st line creates the file. This works. The 2nd line visually verifies that I do in fact supply a string (say, the proverbial "hello world"). The 3rd line evaluates to $true and does execute its nested block. But the 4th line stores a message saying: Message: <>.

I can't figure out the proper syntax for passing the actual value from $message. Help?

Upvotes: 1

Views: 150

Answers (1)

arco444
arco444

Reputation: 22831

You're using the wrong operator for comparing the $message value. See Get-Help about_comparison_operators.

By saying if ( -not ($message= "")), you actually set the value of $message to be an empty string.

Instead, use -eq, -ne or simply just test it:

# Option 1
if ( -not ($message -eq "")) {
    Add-Content "$filename" "Message: <$message>"
}
#Option 2
if ($message -ne "") {
    Add-Content "$filename" "Message: <$message>"
}
#Option 3
if ($message) {
    Add-Content "$filename" "Message: <$message>"
}

Upvotes: 3

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