PowerShell - need ini file for consecutive numbering - file

Question

I'm currently working on a script for automation. This script should have a global count variable that does not reset itself when the script is executed again. Therefore, I need a configuration file that stores this count variable and uses it when it is called up again. This counting variable is also dependent on an ID. There is therefore a count variable for each ID. The configuration file can be in XML or INI format. Can someone tell me how to create such a file the easiest way and how to add IDs or get the count variable? I dont think "csv-import/export" is the right way.
I've already tried this...
$results = #()
$details = #{
Key1 = $ID
Key2 = $count
Key3 = "sth"
Key4 = "sth"
Key5 = "sth"
}
$results += New-Object PSObject -Property $details
$results | export-csv -Path C:\Users\...\configure.txt -NoTypeInformation
Unfortunately, I can't get any further here, because it overwrites the previous entry every time the ID changes and I don't know how to add additional entries (if the ID already exists), update entries (count variable) and call this count variable to use it in Powershell.
Anybody got a suggestion?
Best Regards

Answer 1

You can use a hash table, Export-CliXml and Import-CliXml to save and load you ID counts to a XML file:
$xmlFilePath = 'idCounts.xml'
# If the XML file exists, it is loaded
if( Test-Path -Path $xmlFilePath -PathType Leaf )
{
$hashTable = Import-Clixml -Path $xmlFilePath
}
# Else a new hash table is initialized
else
{
$hashTable = #{}
}
# Set the count of ID '001' to 1
$hashTable['001'] = 1
# Increment the count of ID '002'
$hashTable['002'] += 1
# Save the hash table to the XML file
$hashTable | Export-Clixml -Path $xmlFilePath

Answer 2

Thank you for all the tips. In the end, I managed it myself in the following way:
if(!((import-csv "C:\Users\...\Desktop\ini.txt") | where-object {$_.Key1 -eq $ID}))
{
$results = #()
$details = #{
Key 1 = $ID
Key 2 = 1
Key 3 = "something"
Key 4 = "something"
Key 5 = "something"
Key 6 = "something"
}
$results += New-Object PSObject -Property $details
$results | export-csv -Path C:\Users\...\Desktop\ini.txt -append -NoTypeInformation
}
The system first checks whether there is an entry with the corresponding ID. If not, an object is created that has that ID. The count variable is set to 1 when it is newly created. The entry is attached to the file with "Export CSV".
$select = (import-csv "C:\Users\...\Desktop\ini.txt" | where{$_.Key1 -eq $ID})
[int]$global:number = [convert]::ToInt32($select.Key2)
To use the count variable, the configuration file is imported. I have set it to "global" because it has to operate over several functions.
($csv = Import-Csv "C:\Users\...\Desktop\ini.txt") | ForEach {
if ($_.Key1 -eq $ID) {
$_.Key2 = $global:number}
}
$csv | Export-Csv "C:\Users\...\Desktop\ini.txt" -NoTypeInformation
At the end, the count variable is updated and transferred back to the file with "Export CSV".
Nevertheless thank you for all the interesting suggestions!
Best Regards