Extract a table from plain text file using Powershell

Question

I'm new to Powershell and need help in extracting table data that is there in a plain text file.

The plain text file data is in the below format.(Tab Separated)

Header1 Header2 Header3

Val1 Val2 Val3

Now, I want to extract this data and populate the variables like below.

 $Header1 = "Val1"
 $Header2 = "Val2"
 $Header3 = "Val3"

Please help me with the right approach.

Have you considered using Import-Csv ? You may explain the actual task - not the approach you think you need to accomplish this task. ;-) — Olaf
– Olaf, Commented Apr 5, 2020 at 18:33
Hi Olaf, the source file is not a csv in fact. The actual task for me is just to populate the header variables like I've shown in the question. — srvts
– srvts, Commented Apr 5, 2020 at 18:50
Yes, it really is a csv file, only it uses tab instead of comma as the delimiter. Take a look at the delimiter parameter in Import-csv. — Walter Mitty
– Walter Mitty, Commented Apr 5, 2020 at 19:03
Thank you @WalterMitty, I wasn't aware of that, yeah you and Olaf were right. I just started learning PS and had a different idea. — srvts
– srvts, Commented Apr 6, 2020 at 2:29

Itchydon · Accepted Answer · 2020-04-05 19:42:27Z

4

Basically you need to import-csv and use the -delimeter parameter and specify a tab as shown below

PS C:\Temp> $g = import-csv textfilewithtabs.txt -Delimiter "`t"

PS C:\Temp> $g

header1 header2 header3
------- ------- -------
value1  value2  value3 


PS C:\Temp> $g | select header2

header2
-------
value2 

PS C:\Temp> $g.header1
value1

PS C:\Temp> $g.header2
value2

edited Apr 5, 2020 at 19:42

answered Apr 5, 2020 at 19:26

Itchydon

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1 Comment

srvts Over a year ago

Hi Itchydon, this worked like charm! Thank you very much! :)

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