Export-Csv array of objects Error " Object reference not set to an instance of an object."

Question

I am trying to make a powershell script that will read a text file split it by new lines then split each line by tabs and create an object then export the collection of objects into a csv file. I am using Export-Csv but it keeps erroring with the error about an Object Refrence not set.

this is the code that I am running that gives the error.

Filename is a parameter passed in to the script

This is my first time to really work with Powershell so please let me know if i am missing something simple.

$fileData = Get-Content -Row $filename
@(
  ForEach ($line in $fileData -Split "`n") {
    $values = $line -Split "\t"; @{
      ID             = $values[0]
      Acct           = $values[3]
      RootAcct       = $values[2]
      Term           = $values[4]
      Name           = $values[5]
      Code           = $values[6]
      Type           = $values[7]
      SIS            = $values[12]
  }
}
) | Export-Csv -Path ".\report.csv" -NoTypeInformatio

Answer 1

-Row should be -Raw and you need to use a PSCustomObject.

$fileName = ".\list.txt" 
$fileData = Get-Content -raw $fileName               #row should be raw 
@(
  ForEach ($line in ($fileData -Split "`n")) {
    $values = $line -Split "\t";
   [PSCustomObject]@{
      ID             = $values[0]
      Acct           = $values[3]
      RootAcct       = $values[2]
      Term           = $values[4]
      Name           = $values[5]
      Code           = $values[6]
      Type           = $values[7]
      SIS            = $values[12]
  }
}
) | Export-Csv -Path ".\report.csv" -NoTypeInformation
Get-Content .\report.csv

Answer 2

There's no need to slurp in the entire content of the file by using the "-Raw" switch on the Get-Content cmdlet only to then create an array by splitting that string. Just use Get-Content and receive the file contents one line at a time.

Also, by using that "foreach ($x in $y)" construct you've had to create an (another!) array to pipe the data to the Export-CSV.

Learn to use the pipeline to save yourself the contortions needed to get the results you want. The code's easier to read, too.

$fileName = ".\list.txt" 
Get-Content $fileName |
    ForEach-Object {
        $values = $_ -Split "\t";
        [PSCustomObject]@{
            ID       = $values[0]
            Acct     = $values[3]
            RootAcct = $values[2]
            Term     = $values[4]
            Name     = $values[5]
            Code     = $values[6]
            Type     = $values[7]
            SIS      = $values[12]
        }
    } | Export-Csv -Path ".\report.csv" -NoTypeInformation
Get-Content .\report.csv