How to return an XML file from a function with a node?

Question

I have a simple XML

    10
    john
    
        pc24         


        

Answer 1

You can use a slightly smarter XPath to select your nodes, and then the InnerXml property to get the output string you're after:

PS> $xml = [xml] @"

  
    10
    john
    
      pc24
    
  
  
    12
    peter
    
      pc25
    
  

"@

PS> $xml.SelectNodes("bds/bd[servers/name = 'pc25']").InnerXml
12peterpc25

Note - bds/bd[servers/name = 'pc25'] means "find all the bds/bd nodes that have a child servers/name node with a value pc25".

You can then retro-fit this back into your function using your variable values in the XPath string as appropriate...