Using "starts with" in powershell script instead of contains?

Question

In my current powershell script I have hash table with values. Am using this syntax

$x = $f.contains("$k")

but I figured recently that am having problems with this approach I was wondering if powershell has something that says "starts with," or related, that would search thru the hash table with "starts with" instead of contains

Example of the hash table:

"bio.txt" = "server1\datafiles\bio";
etc.......

EDIT Sample from comments

foreach ($key in $filehash.keys) { 
    $path = $filehash.get_Item($key)
    $filecount = 0
    foreach ($file in $FileArray) { 
        if ($file.LastWriteTime -lt($(GetDate).adddays(-1))) { 
            [string] $k = $key.ToLower()
            [string] $f = $file.name.ToLower() 
            if ($x = $f.contains("$k")) { } 
        }
    }
}

Are you searching for the keys or the values?

Musaab Al-Okaidi
– Musaab Al-Okaidi

2013-02-21 14:41:56 +00:00
Commented Feb 21, 2013 at 14:41 — Musaab Al-Okaidi
– Musaab Al-Okaidi, Commented Feb 21, 2013 at 14:41
the example that caused this problem was lets say I had

ainFowara
– ainFowara

2013-02-21 14:43:25 +00:00
Commented Feb 21, 2013 at 14:43 — ainFowara
– ainFowara, Commented Feb 21, 2013 at 14:43
"bio.txt" = "server1\datafiles\bio";

ainFowara
– ainFowara

2013-02-21 14:43:43 +00:00
Commented Feb 21, 2013 at 14:43 — ainFowara
– ainFowara, Commented Feb 21, 2013 at 14:43
"bio.csv" = "server1\datafiles\bio\csv";

ainFowara
– ainFowara

2013-02-21 14:44:23 +00:00
Commented Feb 21, 2013 at 14:44 — ainFowara
– ainFowara, Commented Feb 21, 2013 at 14:44
Use "Shift + return" for a new line

Musaab Al-Okaidi
– Musaab Al-Okaidi

2013-02-21 14:44:57 +00:00
Commented Feb 21, 2013 at 14:44 — Musaab Al-Okaidi
– Musaab Al-Okaidi, Commented Feb 21, 2013 at 14:44

Frode F. · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-21 15:15:53Z

6

Try using -like to check if a string starts with yourvalue. I rewrote your sample in the comments to use it:

$filehash.GetEnumerator() | foreach {
    #$_ is now current object from hashtable(like foreach)
    #$_.key is key and $_.value is path
    $filecount = 0
    foreach ($file in $FileArray) {
        if ( ($file.LastWriteTime -lt $((Get-Date).AddDays(-1))) -and ($file.name -like "$($_.Key)*") ) {
            #process file

        }
    }
}

edited Feb 21, 2013 at 15:15

answered Feb 21, 2013 at 14:54

Frode F.

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4 Comments

ainFowara Over a year ago

foreach ($key in $filehash.keys) { $path = $filehash.get_Item($key) $filecount = 0 foreach ($file in $FileArray) { if ($file.LastWriteTime -lt($(GetDate).adddays(-1))) { [string] $k = $key.ToLower() [string] $f = $file.name.ToLower() if ($x = $f.contains("$k")) { }

ainFowara Over a year ago

instead of using contains, am wondering if I can change it to starts with or something similar to it

Frode F. Over a year ago

Can't you just use: if ($f -like "$k*") { #process if filename starts with $k } ? See updated answer

ainFowara Over a year ago

if ($x = $f.StartsWith("$k")) this is what I was looking for ... thanks everyone :)

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