string array inside object array in PowerShell

Question

I'm trying to call a function from a C# DLL via PowerShell. It requires an object array as parameter and I need to pass strings inside it, but I don't know how.

What I need to do:

C# version:

printCustom(new object[] {new string[] {"hello", "its", "working"}});

I need to call this function from powershell but how to pass the parameters?

printCustom([object[]]@(//now?//));

Is printCustom a static or instance method?

Mathias R. Jessen
– Mathias R. Jessen

2022-03-16 10:59:24 +00:00
Commented Mar 16, 2022 at 10:59 — Mathias R. Jessen
– Mathias R. Jessen, Commented Mar 16, 2022 at 10:59
printCustom is static

root823746374
– root823746374

2022-03-16 10:59:52 +00:00
Commented Mar 16, 2022 at 10:59 — root823746374
– root823746374, Commented Mar 16, 2022 at 10:59

Mathias R. Jessen · Accepted Answer · 2022-03-16 11:18:55Z

3

Use the unary array operator , to wrap an enumerable type in an array - this will prevent PowerShell from unraveling the string-array when you then construct the array that'll actually get passed to the method:

[TargetType]::printCustom(@(,'hello its working'.Split()))

Let's test it:

# Generate test function that takes an array and expects it to contain string arrays

Add-Type @'
using System;

public class TestPrintCustom
{
  public static void printCustom(object[] args)
  {
    foreach(var arg in args){
      foreach(string s in (string[])arg){
        Console.WriteLine(s);
      }
    }
  }
}
'@

[TestPrintCustom]::printCustom(@(,"hello its working".Split()))

Which, as expected, prints:

hello
its
working

edited Mar 16, 2022 at 11:18

answered Mar 16, 2022 at 11:02

Mathias R. Jessen

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7 Comments

root823746374 Over a year ago

well, thats kinda strange, im trying your way but apparently the functions doesnt get called anymore, without errors..

Mathias R. Jessen Over a year ago

@root823746374 Can you perhaps update your question with the definition of the printCustom method?

root823746374 Over a year ago

Ok so, i found a way to make it working. The solution was to add [object[]] before your array creation. So: ([object[]]@(,'hello its working'.Split()))

root823746374 Over a year ago

Just to know, if i would like to pass the strings without using a single string and then split() how should i do it?

Mathias R. Jessen Over a year ago

@root823746374 sure, it just gets a bit messy/unreadable: [TestPrintCustom]::printCustom(@(,[string[]]@('a','b','c')))

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