Convert csv to a table in Powershell - json

Question

I have a csv in the format below that needs to be converted to json or a table so that I can parse it easily and use the values as arguments later in my code
Directory : \\foo\foofoo\nightly.188\share\name
Name : name.pst
Length : 271360
CreationTime : 6/4/2009 2:42:21 PM
LastWriteTime : 6/9/2011 8:58:50 AM
Directory : \\foo\foofoo\nightly.188\share\name
Name : name2.pst
Length : 71123968
CreationTime : 10/5/2010 2:41:56 PM
LastWriteTime : 8/1/2011 4:08:32 PM
I have tried using Format-List and Format-Table but does not help.
Any inputs would be appreciated.
I would like the output to be in a tabular structure as:
Directory Name Length CreationTime LastWriteTime
\foo\foofoo\nightly.188\share\name name.pst 271360 6/4/2009 2:42:21 PM 8/1/2011 4:08:32 PM
\foo\foofoo\nightly.188\share\name name2.pst 71123968 10/5/2010 2:41:56 PM 8/1/2011 4:08:32 PM

Answer 1

Format-List and Format-table convert your data into a form that's suitable for display on your console, or copying into a text file. This is useful for parsing, but not for passing the data on as arguments. If you just do an import like this:
Import-Csv myfile.csv
Powershell will do an implicit Format-Table or Format-List for you before putting it on your console.
If you want to use the contents as arguments, be aware that the contents of a csv file are transformed into an array of PSCustomObject. Each PSCustomObject has properties with the same name as a the field name provided in the header of the CSV file.
Import-Csv thefile.csv | % {
"The file $($_.name) contains:"
Get-Content $_.name
}

Answer 2

To view CSV data to the console as a table do the following
$sorceFile = "D:\temp\source.csv"
Import-Csv $sorceFile | Format-Table -AutoSize
You can also use the "Out-GridView" command if you want to view the data interactively
$sorceFile = "D:\temp\source.csv"
Import-Csv $sorceFile | Out-GridView
The following converts CSV data to Json data
$sorceFile = "D:\temp\source.csv"
$JsonData = Import-Csv $sorceFile | ConvertTo-Json
$JsonData
This however is just a string. If you are wanting to process the data further from the CSV file then do the following to save to a variable.
$sorceFile = "D:\temp\source.csv"
$CsvData= Import-Csv $sorceFile
# view formatted table in console
$CsvData | format-table
#example data query
$CsvData | Where-Object{$_.Name -eq 'name.pst'}
#example loop
foreach ($row in $CsvData) {
Write-Output "Name: $($row.name) CreationTime: $(get-date $row.CreationTime -Format 'dddd MM/dd/yyyy HH:mm K')"
}