How to combine a template with a CSV file in Powershell

Question

I want to combine a template that looks like this:

grant $privs 
   on $table 
   to $user;

With a CSV file that looks like this:

Answer 1

I have written a function, Expand-Csv, that does this. Here it is:

<#  This function is a table driven template tool. 

    It generates output from a template and
    a driver table.  The template file contains plain
    text and embedded variables.  The driver table 
    (in a csv file) has one column for each variable, 
    and one row for each expansion to be generated.

    12/12/2016

#>

function Expand-csv {
   [CmdletBinding()]
   Param(
      [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)]
      [string] $driver,
      [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)]
      [string] $template
   )
   Process
   {
      $pattern = (Get-Content $template) -join "`n"

      Import-Csv $driver | % {
         foreach ($p in $_.psobject.properties) {
            Set-variable -name $p.name -value $p.value
            }
         $ExecutionContext.InvokeCommand.ExpandString($pattern) 
      }
   }
}

In the case at hand, the call would look like this:

Expand-Csv grants.csv grants.tmplt > grants.sql

The output that would come to the console gets redirected to a file.

I've tried using this for generating scripts in Powershell itself, but a word of caution is in order. ExpandString does some of the same processing that Invoke-Command does, so you can get undesired consequences. I only use it for the simplest kind of PS code, like a series of calls to some external app.