Is there a way to use the out-file command and load data into a csv file so when opened into excel it shows data in multiple colums.

Example. Loop with three variables($a, $b, and $c). each time through the loop, the variables are loaded with different data. at the end of each loop, there is an out-file (with append) command that writes to a CSV and puts $a in column A, $b in column b, and $c in column c.

Is this possible?

Have you tried this?

Get-Help Export-Csv

You can use Export-CSV as Rich points out, but to also answer your question about Out-File, below is an example of how you can use it to accomplish your goal.

"{0}`t{1}`t{2}" -f "ColumnA","ColumnB","ColumnC" | Out-File -FilePath "file.csv"
1..10 | ForEach {
    "{0}`t{1}`t{2}" -f $_,($_+1),($_+2) | Out-File -FilePath "file.csv" -Append
}

you can't append with export-csv, at least, not as far as I can see. so i wouldn't be able to use it in the loop.

You can append to a .csv with Dmitry's function:

http://dmitrysotnikov.wordpress.com/2010/01/19/export-csv-append/

You can also try my method on http://unlockpowershell.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/powershell-export-csv-with-no-header/

Karl

You can append to a .csv with Dmitry's function:

http://dmitrysotnikov.wordpress.com/2010/01/19/export-csv-append/

You can also try my method on http://unlockpowershell.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/powershell-export-csv-with-no-header/

you can't append with export-csv, at least, not as far as I can see. so i wouldn't be able to use it in the loop.

take a look here also Chris

http://www.lucd.info/2010/05/29/beyond-export-csv-export-xls/

I know this is really old but I found this page when I was searching for a similar solution and here is what I found:

To make sure the data gets in separate columns when you try to open it in excel, make sure you use the parameter "-encoding ascii" for the out-file part of the script

so it would look something like

"format your 3 variables as required here" | convertto-csv -notypeinformation | select skip 1 | out-file -encoding ascii -append $filename

I know this is really old but I found this page when I was searching for a similar solution and here is what I found:

To make sure the data gets in separate columns when you try to open it in excel, make sure you use the parameter "-encoding ascii" for the out-file part of the script

so it would look something like

"format your 3 variables as required here" | convertto-csv -notypeinformation | select skip 1 | out-file -encoding ascii -append $filename

Just use Export-Csv. It has an -Encoding parameter and the default is already ascii.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh849932%28v=wps.620%29.aspx

I know this is really old but I found this page when I was searching for a similar solution and here is what I found:

To make sure the data gets in separate columns when you try to open it in excel, make sure you use the parameter "-encoding ascii" for the out-file part of the script

so it would look something like

"format your 3 variables as required here" | convertto-csv -notypeinformation | select skip 1 | out-file -encoding ascii -append $filename