Alternate value

PowerShell Help
1

Hello everybody,
In C#, exists a compact syntax to express a variable that can have a value or another, depending on the value of another variable.

For instance:
str = (a > b) ? "a greater than b" : "a not greater than b")

This will return in str either “a greater than b” or “a not greater than b”, depending on the comparison of a and b.

So, about this, I have two questions:

  • does this exist in PowerShell ?
  • how could I have asked this to Bing, without it answering me with an Excel function ?

Is this a code ?

2

Gloops,
Welcome to the forum. :wave:t3:

If I got you right you can use the ternary operator.

That’s a tricky question. But if Bing, Google or ChatGPT fail you can still ask humans … us … here … or StackOverflow or Reddit or … :wink: :man_shrugging:t3:

BTW: When you post code, sample data, console output or error messages please format it as code using the preformatted text button ( </> ). Simply place your cursor on an empty line, click the button and paste your code.

Thanks in advance

How to format code in PowerShell.org 1 <---- Click :point_up_2:t4: :wink:

( !! Sometimes the preformatted text button hides behind the settings gear symbol. :wink: )

3

Oh well, before asking my question I spent half an hour trying this, and then I realised that perhaps this was not a PowerShell syntax.

PowerShell underlines the question mark in red, and tells me that it is an unexpected token.

I presume that this is a question of version of PowerShell ?
I was using Windows PowerShell, 5.1.22621.2428.

Well, before posting, I took the time to read a notice that explained I had to type two ticks before and two ticks after a short text, or three ticks alone on a line before, and the same after, when it is a code of several lines.

Did I use the bad ticks?
Or read the bad notice?

4

I just corrected my question to use the button.
It seems it requires some habit to see the difference.

Pardon me to insist, I used the Stylus extension to change the background of the code.
I see the same background for the text I formatted with the button, and for the one I framed with ticks (either one or two before and after).
It means that in the source of the page it is framed by < code> tags.

5

Oooops, sorry, I forgot to mention that. Yes, it is a feature we don’t have in Windows PowerShell (version 5.1). If you need it you have to use PowerShell core
(version 7.x.x). :man_shrugging:t3:

If you want to post a small piece of code inside plain text you quote it with a single backtick on each side. If you want to post a code block you place 3 consecutive backticks on an emptly line before and after the code block. Or you simply use the button of the post editor (</>). If you’ve selected a whole line of text/code it will create a code block. And if you just selected some characters on a line of text it will make the code inline.

6

Oh, you mean in PowerShell 5 I have got to write a function?

function iif
{
    param(
        $cond,
        [string] $str1,
        [string] $str2
    )
    if($cond -eq $true)
    {
        return $str1;
    }
    else
    {
        return $str2;
    }
}

iif($false, "yes", "no")

Oh, the function did not receive its string arguments, did I commit a mistake?
And if I try to declare [bool] as the type of the first parameter, I have syntax errors.
If I put “yes” or “no” in the code of the function without taking care of the arguments then I have the results, but it was not the aim.

Well, it seems the message was received the first time.

7

If you’re limitted to version 5.1 and since the ternary operator is actually just a shortcut for an if - else statement why not just use an if -else? :man_shrugging:t3:

And BTW:

It might be just for testing but it is best practice to name functions in PowerShell like cmdlets.

That’s not how we call functions in PowerShell. :wink:

If you want to use positional parameters you would call it like this:

iif $false "yes"  "no"
8

Oh, that was it?
Thenk you.