How to initialize an array of custom objects

Question

First, as this leads to my question, I\'ll start by noting that I\'ve worked with XML a fair bit in PowerShell, and like how I can read data from XML files, quickly, into ar

Answer 1

I had to create an array of a predefined type, and I successfully did as follows:

[System.Data.DataColumn[]]$myitems = ([System.Data.DataColumn]("col1"), 
                [System.Data.DataColumn]("col2"),  [System.Data.DataColumn]("col3"))

Answer 2

Use a "Here-String" and cast to XML.

[xml]$myxml = @"
<stuff>
 <item name="Joe" age="32">
  <info>something about him</info>
 </item>
 <item name="Sue" age="29">
  <info>something about her</info>
 </item>
 <item name="Cat" age="12">
  <info>something else</info>
 </item>
</stuff>
"@

[array]$myitems = $myxml.stuff.Item

$myitems

Answer 3

Here is a concise way to initialize an array of custom objects in PowerShell.

> $body = @( @{ Prop1="1"; Prop2="2"; Prop3="3" }, @{ Prop1="1"; Prop2="2"; Prop3="3" } )
> $body

Name                           Value
----                           -----
Prop2                          2
Prop1                          1
Prop3                          3
Prop2                          2
Prop1                          1
Prop3                          3