Reverse foreach XML nodes in PowerShell

Question

I'm adding related elements (Parent-Child) through an XML file using the following:

[xml]$fileXml = Get-Content 'c:\example.xml'

$fileXml.Elements | % {
  MyAdd-Function $_
}

When deleting these elements, how do I make sure it iterates in the reverse order? I've tried this and it doesn't work:

[xml]$fileXml = Get-Content 'c:\example.xml'

[Array]::Reverse($fileXml.Elements) | % {
  MyRemove-Function $_
}

I'm thinking about turning $fileXml.Elements into an actual array and then reversing, but I was wondering if there's an easier way.

Frode F. · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-08 22:05:16Z

1

Your approach sounds good to me, but considering that Reverse() doesn't return an array, you would have to split Reverse() and Foreach-Object.

PS > [array]::Reverse.OverloadDefinitions
static void Reverse(array array)

I'm not sure where you got the Elements-property from, but here's a PoC:

PS > $xml = [xml]@"
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<root>
<note>
<to>User1</to>
</note>
<note>
<to>User2</to>
</note>
</root>
"@

#Store the elements in an array 
PS > $a = $xml.root.note
PS > $a | % { $_.to }

User1
User2

#Reverse
PS > [array]::Reverse($a)
PS > $a | % { $_.to }

User2
User1

edited Mar 8, 2016 at 22:05

answered Mar 8, 2016 at 21:55

Frode F.

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1 Comment

Katie Over a year ago

Awesome! That worked! I guess I need to store it into a variable first c:

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