Inserting string into command

PowerShell Help
1

Hello, why doesnt something like this work?

$query = "$_.passwordneverexpires -eq $true"

(Get-ADUser -filter * -Properties PasswordNeverExpires,passwordlastset,lastlogontimestamp | ?{$_.enabled -eq $true} | select name,PasswordNeverExpires,passwordlastset,@{name = 'LastLogon';Expression = ({get-date $_.lastlogontimestamp -UFormat '%D %R'})} | Where-Object {$query)})

I see that when put in "'s it shows the command, and runs if i were to copy paste, but it just display all results, not the pipeline item in $query?

And how can i get it to execute?

2

Strings aren’t automatically processed as code - they’re strings. Even in double quotes with a subexpression, the result is a string, not the $True/$False that Where-Object needs to see.

$query = {$_.passwordneverexpires -eq $true}

Defines a script block, which is code. You could probably pass that directly to the Where-Object parameter…

Where-Object $query

You could possibly also use the call operator (Call operator - Run - PowerShell - SS64.com) to “invoke” the string, although that’s kind of a poor practice in terms of readability.

I’ll also note that in this specific example, you’re probably not in an efficient model. You’ve already got a Where-Object clause; just do all your filtering there. And, it might be worth writing an -LdapFilter instead, for Get-ADUser, so you could do all your filtering right on the DC.

3

Thanks Don, I really appreciate the advice!

I was able to get it after using an ‘invoke-expression’ cmdlet and minor altering, but you make good points on using the ldapfilter, i’ll look into it.

Thanks again!