Trying to import csv string value, with variable within string? [duplicate]

Question

I'm a bit stuck trying to use param values in a string, imported from within a CSV.

I've tried a few methods, and can't seem to enumerate the parameter within the string.

First of all I have a csv text file:

Name,Value
XcomEnemyWithin,C:\Users\karee\OneDrive\Documents\my games\XCOM - Enemy Within
Valheim,C:\Users\${env:UserName}\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim

And I have a script that runs to import this CSV and backup the dir:

$backup_list = Import-Csv C:\backup_list.txt | Sort-Object -Property Name
foreach ($backup_job in $backup_list.GetEnumerator()) {
    $this_job_name = $($backup_job.Name)
    $this_job_dir = $($backup_job.Value)

    Copy-Item -Path "$this_job_dir\" -Destination "C:\mybackups\$this_job_name" -Force -Recurse
}

The first job runs fine but the second job fails every time because the "Value" string used for the directory path, includes the "${env:UserName}" value within the string, but I am struggling with how I can enumerate that value for use with "Copy-Item".

Is there somewhere I can enumerate this string in this workflow that makes sense?

Thanks.

Edit: apparently this question has been flagged as duplicate, but I searched for a long time (nearly an hour) for a solution, apparently the solution answer is "Evaluate a string" which completely honestly is not something that comes up in searching unless you know exactly what you're looking for, and if you know what you're looking for, I think you're likely not searching for it. In my opinion, my question is valid and in good faith that I genuinely searched for nearly an hour but did not search for "evaluate" or "expand". I hope my question would help people who may not be fully-experienced developers. Thanks.

What do you want to replace${env:UserName} with? If with $this_job_name, I guess you can do it like this: $this_job_dir = $backup_job.Value -replace '\${env:UserName}', $this_job_name — Milos Stojanovic
– Milos Stojanovic, Commented Feb 19, 2024 at 9:23

Theo · Accepted Answer · 2024-02-19 09:27:09Z

2

To expand a variable inside a string, you can use the $ExecutionContext.InvokeCommand.ExpandString() method.

In your case, read the destination path as

$this_job_dir = $ExecutionContext.InvokeCommand.ExpandString($backup_job.Value)

answered Feb 19, 2024 at 9:27

Theo

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