How to output hash table query result into Out-GridView? - azure

Question

I wish to export a hashtable result into Out-GridView using the Powershell.
The purpose of the below script is to export the Azure VM tags to Out-GridView, it throws error like the below blank result:
Error on the console:
Out-GridView : Syntax error in PropertyPath 'Syntax error in Binding.Path '[ Product] ' ... '(Tag)'.'.
At line:46 char:19
+ $Output | Out-GridView #Export-Csv -Path c:\temp\1a.csv -appe ...
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : OperationStopped: (:) [Out-GridView], InvalidOperationException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : ManagementListInvocationException,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.OutGridViewCommand
This is the actual script which was executed under the Global Administrator role:
<#
.AUTHOR: https://stackoverflow.com/users/13390556/lukasz-g
#>
$Subscription = Get-AzSubscription | Out-GridView -Title 'Select subscription' -OutputMode 'Multiple'
# Initialise output array
$Output = #()
if ($Subscription) {
foreach ($item in $Subscription) {
$item | Select-AzSubscription
# Collect all the resources or resource groups (comment one of below)
$Resource = Get-AzResource
#$Resource = Get-AzResourceGroup
# Obtain a unique list of tags for these groups collectively
$UniqueTags = $Resource.Tags.GetEnumerator().Keys | Get-Unique -AsString | Sort-Object | Select-Object -Unique | Where-Object { $_ -notlike "hidden-*" }
# Loop through the resource groups
foreach ($ResourceGroup in $Resource) {
# Create a new ordered hashtable and add the normal properties first.
$RGHashtable = New-Object System.Collections.Specialized.OrderedDictionary
$RGHashtable.Add("Name", $ResourceGroup.ResourceGroupName)
$RGHashtable.Add("Location", $ResourceGroup.Location)
$RGHashtable.Add("Id", $ResourceGroup.ResourceId)
$RGHashtable.Add("ResourceType", $ResourceGroup.ResourceType)
# Loop through possible tags adding the property if there is one, adding it with a hyphen as it's value if it doesn't.
if ($ResourceGroup.Tags.Count -ne 0) {
$UniqueTags | Foreach-Object {
if ($ResourceGroup.Tags[$_]) {
$RGHashtable.Add("[$_] (Tag)", $ResourceGroup.Tags[$_])
}
else {
$RGHashtable.Add("[$_] (Tag)", "-")
}
}
}
else {
$UniqueTags | Foreach-Object { $RGHashtable.Add("[$_] (Tag)", "-") }
}
# Update the output array, adding the ordered hashtable we have created for the ResourceGroup details.
$Output += New-Object psobject -Property $RGHashtable
}
# Sent the final output to CSV
$Output | Out-GridView #Export-Csv -Path c:\temp\1a.csv -append -NoClobber -NoTypeInformation -Encoding UTF8 -Force
}
}

Answer 1

$RGHashtable.Add("[$_] (Tag)"
In above code, You are trying to add something like below :
In the output
Removed everthing and I tested with simple statements
$Output = #()
$RGHashtable = New-Object System.Collections.Specialized.OrderedDictionary
$RGHashtable.Add("[Testing] (Name)", "Temporary")
$Output += New-Object psobject -Property $RGHashtable
$Output | Out-GridView
I was provided with the same error.
After couple of testing, understood the error only occurs when there is a combination "[SomeString](SomeString)" --- [...](....) in the string.
The Out-GridView is trying to parse the "[<SomeString>](<SomeString>)" and hence the error.
You could try any 1 of the below combination in your code :
$RGHashtable.Add("[$_] [Tag]", $ResourceGroup.Tags[$_])
OR
$RGHashtable.Add("{$_} (Tag)", $ResourceGroup.Tags[$_])
OR
$RGHashtable.Add("[$_] [Tag]", $ResourceGroup.Tags[$_])
This should resolve your issue.
you will have change in 3 instances in your code if I am not wrong.