Can I convert comma-separated string back to AD value objects? - arrays

Question

So I'm trying to write a script that will generate an AD report based on parameters chosen by the user, and it's caused me a lot more headache than I expected. Here's an excerpt of what I'm trying to do:
#import the ActiveDirectory Module
Import-Module ActiveDirectory
#report parameter variables
$firstname = {givenname}
$lastname = {surname}
$displayname = {DisplayName}
$logonname = {sAMAccountName}
#set array initially to number of possible parameters
$inputarray = (0..3)
#display menu
cls
Write-Host "Please select the parameters you would like in your report:"
Write-Host "Enter q when finished"
Write-Host `n
Write-Host " 1) First Name"
Write-Host " 2) Last Name"
Write-Host " 3) Display Name"
Write-Host " 4) Logon Name"
Write-Host `n
#read in selections from user while input isn't Q, and not bigger than array
#bounds
for ($i=0; (($i -le 3) -and ($inputarray[$i] -ne 'q')); $i++){
$selection = ($i + 1)
$inputarray[$i] = Read-host "Enter report parameter $selection"
#exit loop for quit selection
if ($inputarray[$i] -eq 'q'){
break
}
switch ($inputarray[$i])
{
"1" { $result = $firstname }
"2" { $result = $lastname }
"3" { $result = $displayname }
"4" { $result = $logonname }
}
$inputarray[$i] = $result
}
$arraylen = $i
$test = ''
for ($x=0; $x -lt $arraylen; $x++){
if($x -lt ($arraylen -1)){
$test = ($test + $inputarray[$x] + ',')
}
else{
$test = ($test + $inputarray[$x])
}
}
Get-ADUser -searchbase "my targeted OU" -Properties * -Filter * |
Select-Object $test |
Export-Csv -Path "export path here.csv" -NoTypeInformation
I thought creating a string from the array with comma separated values would work the same as typing them in (like Select-Object givenname,surname,lastlogin) but that clearly isn't working. Any ideas how to change it back from a string value to individual objects, so maybe it will accept it?

Answer 1

1st problem: Statements such as $firstname = {givenname} assign a script block ({...}) to the variable, which is not your intent; instead, you're looking to assign property names as strings, e.g., $firstname = 'givenname'.
2nd problem: You're building variable $test as a string, whereas what you need to pass to Select-Object is an array of strings (property names), so you can just use $inputArray directly.