Hi All,
I have 2 variables $a and $b, both are set of arrays, but $a has values of 3 column data let’s say name, id, salary, and $b just 1 array of data.
Now, I want to run a command to find out whether $a contains $b and if it contains i want to know the ID of the matching Name, how is that possible?
Thanks,
Niru
Did you try to search for it? 
Please read the help completely including the examples to learn how to use it.
Compare-Object works for a different usecase, like differential comparison, but in my usecase, the requirement was basically to trigger an action if, name of $a matches $b, so Compare-Object does not actually do the job for me in this use-case.
I posted the same question here: Comparing 2 variables that has got set of arrays as it's values - Microsoft Q&A
And i utilised this logic for my use-case, it simply works.
You wrote …
And for this task you can use Compare-Object. With the parameters -IncludeEqual, -ExcludeDifferent and -PassThru you can get the list of Elements contained in both input arrays. 
Okay, now i get it, maybe i need to think of how can i process the outputs i receive using this cmdlet, for ex: compare-object -referenceObject $a -differenceObject $b -includeEqual ?
Your description is very abstract. You may make it more specific. Can you share some sample input data (sanitized from sensitive infromation and formatted as code)?
Ok, here it is,
$a=
USER_ID EMP_ID LEVEL
user1 50 IN1
user2 51 IN2
user3. 52 IN3
user1
user10
user3
So, all i want to do is, get the level of user whose user_id from $b matches user_id in $a.
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 <---- Click 
$a = @'
USER_ID,EMP_ID,LEVEL
user1,50,IN1
user2,51,IN2
user3,52,IN3
'@ |
ConvertFrom-Csv
$b = @'
User_ID
user1
user10
user3
'@ |
ConvertFrom-Csv
Compare-Object -ReferenceObject $a -DifferenceObject $b -Property USER_ID -IncludeEqual -ExcludeDifferent -PassThru
And the output looks like this:
USER_ID EMP_ID LEVEL SideIndicator
------- ------ ----- -------------
user1 50 IN1 ==
user3 52 IN3 ==
And then maybe i can pass the output onto the variable and then use it for further actioning?
Ex:
$matches = Compare-Object -ReferenceObject $a -DifferenceObject $b -Property USER_ID -IncludeEqual -ExcludeDifferent -PassThru
foreach($match in $matches){Write-Host " Identical userid "$match.USER_ID"has the level of "$match.LEVEL
}
$Matches is a built in variable of PowerShell and should not be used by you for something else.
Just out of curiousity … what’s the advantage of your output over the plain table? If you don’t want the EMP_ID and the SideIndicator you use a Select-Object
$a = @'
USER_ID,EMP_ID,LEVEL
user1,50,IN1
user2,51,IN2
user3,52,IN3
'@ |
ConvertFrom-Csv
$b = @'
User_ID
user1
user10
user3
'@ |
ConvertFrom-Csv
$CompareObjectSplat = @{
ReferenceObject = $a
DifferenceObject = $b
Property = 'USER_ID'
IncludeEqual = $true
ExcludeDifferent = $true
PassThru = $true
}
$CompareResultList =
Compare-Object @CompareObjectSplat
$CompareResultList |
Select-Object -Property 'USER_ID', 'LEVEL'
That was to identify userids of one level and then move it to respective OUs, the values of $a was being obtained from an API call to an application.
No. Was I meant was - why do you need a loop adding prosa to the output? That’s just unnecessary in my opinion.
So, the need here is to move only the matching userids of $b in $a to a different OU based on their LEVEL, so i am running an if else condition after the compare-object cmdlet, like if($a.level -like “IN1”){MOve user}
Ah … I see … you don’t need a loop though.
$CompareResultList |
Where-Object -Property 'LEVEL' -EQ -Value 'IN3'
… for example …
Yes, that greatly works, thanks for all the guidance and efforts, i really love this forum!!