Strange result from String.Split()

Question

Why does the following result in an array with 7 elements with 5 blank? I\'d expect only 2 elements. Where are the 5 blank elements coming from?

$a = \'OU=RA         


        

Answer 1

String.Split() is character oriented. It splits on O, U, = as three separate places.

Think of it as intending to be used for 1,2,3,4,5. If you had ,2,3,4, it would imply there were empty spaces at the start and end. If you had 1,2,,,5 it would imply two empty spaces in the middle.

You can see with something like:

PS C:\> $a = 'OU=RAH,OU=RAC'
PS C:\> $a.Split('RAH')
OU=


,OU=

C

The spaces are R_A_H and R_A. Split on the end of a string, it introduces blanks at the start/end.

PowerShell's -split operator is string oriented.

PS D:\t> $a = 'OU=RAH,OU=RAC'

PS D:\t> $a -split 'OU='

RAH,
RAC

You might do better to split on the comma, then replace out OU=, or vice versa, e.g.

PS D:\t> $a = 'OU=RAH,OU=RAC'

PS D:\t> $a.Replace('OU=','').Split(',')
RAH
RAC