using array within foreach statement powershell

Question

I have an array containing folders I need to run a command on application for each of the folder, so I am using foreach command. However within the argument list, I need to specify path to each folder separately, so let's say I have 4 folders (Folder1, Folder2, Folder3, Folder4) and within foreach script block I need to Start-Process with -Argumentlist containing several application commands and a name of a folder. Same action for each folder respectively.

The problem I am having is running ArgumentList for each folder with different folder from the same array. I've been trying to be clear but let me know if this is still not understandable enough.

What I've been trying to figure out, these are pretty much my notes:

$folders=Get-ChildItem C:\AppFolder
$argum="-appcommand /path/$folders"

foreach ($folder in $folders) {
    Start-Process -FilePath 'C:\Program Files\App1\run.exe' -ArgumentList $argum
}

I can't write separate line for each folder because these will vary on each computer and I need a completely automated solution.

I know it's confusing so I'll try to rewrite this step by step what I want to achieve. I need to automate this:

For every folder stored in $folders=Folder1,Folder2,Folder3,Folder4

For Folder1: Start-Process -FilePath 'C:\Program Files\App1\run.exe' -ArgumentList '-appcommand /path/Folder1' (Note: -appcommand /path/ is a constant)

For Folder2: Start-Process -FilePath 'C:\Program Files\App1\run.exe' -ArgumentList '-appcommand /path/Folder2'

For Folder3: Start-Process -FilePath 'C:\Program Files\App1\run.exe' -ArgumentList '-appcommand /path/Folder3'

For Folder 4: Start-Process -FilePath 'C:\Program Files\App1\run.exe' -ArgumentList '-appcommand /path/Folder4'

EDIT: I have managed to work this around using new combined variables and then run them using Invoke-Expression. Below is what I did in a nutshell.

$items=Get-ChildItem C:\AppFolder -Directory | select -ExpandProperty Name
$argum="Start-Process -FilePath 'C:\Program Files\App1\run.exe' -ArgumentList '-appcommand ""/Path/"

foreach ($item in $items) {

    $Tasks=$argum+$item+"""'"
    Invoke-Expression $Tasks
}

I know it's a duct tape solution but in the end it works. Thank you good people for your input!

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 14 '19 at 11:52

0

I'm not sure if I got your problem right.

But try like that:

$folders=Get-ChildItem C:\AppFolder    
foreach ($folder in $folders) {
    Start-Process -FilePath 'C:\Program Files\App1\run.exe' -ArgumentList "-appcommand $($Folder.FullName)"
}

answered Mar 14 '19 at 11:52

guiwhatsthat

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Thanks but that didn't work. I think I already tried that too. Let me be more specific. I need to run a command for each folder like this: Start-Process -FilePath 'C:\Program Files\App1\run.exe' -ArgumentLis "-appcommand /path/Folder1" then Start-Process -FilePath 'C:\Program Files\App1\run.exe' -ArgumentLis "-appcommand /path/Folder2" and so on. Hope that clears the situation. – shepmarine Mar 14 '19 at 12:07
@shepmarine I'm confused.. What then do you mean with `/path/Folder1`, `/path/Folder2` etc? P.S. use `$folders = Get-ChildItem C:\AppFolder -Directory` if you want to return only folders. – Theo Mar 14 '19 at 12:35
@Theo I've edited the post, hope it's more understandable now. – shepmarine Mar 14 '19 at 13:01
Then Join-Path is your friend – Theo Mar 14 '19 at 13:58
try `"-appcommand /path/$($Folder.BaseName)"` instead of `"-appcommand $($Folder.FullName)"` – guiwhatsthat Mar 14 '19 at 14:18

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 14 '19 at 15:34

EDIT: I have managed to work this around using new combined variables and then run them using Invoke-Expression. Below is what I did in a nutshell.

$items=Get-ChildItem C:\AppFolder -Directory | select -ExpandProperty Name
$argum="Start-Process -FilePath 'C:\Program Files\App1\run.exe' -ArgumentList '-appcommand ""/Path/"

foreach ($item in $items) {

    $Tasks=$argum+$item+"""'"
    Invoke-Expression $Tasks
}

I know it's a duct tape solution but in the end it works. Thank you good people for your input!

using array within foreach statement powershell

2 Answers2