Select-String pattern quirk???

the -pattern in select string specifies the string or regular expression
that represents the matching criteria.

when i try to search for "$hay":

"$hay bla bla" | select-string -pattern "$hay"

it returns an error

Select-String : Cannot bind argument to parameter 'Pattern' because it is an
empty string.
At line:1 char:34
+ "$hay bla bla" | select-string <<<< "$hay"

when escaping the $ sign:

"$hay bla bla" | select-string -pattern "\$hay"

it returns an error

Select-String : parsing "\" - Illegal \ at end of pattern.
At line:1 char:34
+ "$hay bla bla" | select-string <<<< "\$hay"

just to be sure on regex pattern, i tried

"$hay bla bla" -match "$hay"

and it returns true without escaping the $ sign.

i guess the $ sign is the trouble maker. any suggestions?

--
$hay
http://scriptolog.blogspot.com

"$hay" <no@addre.ss> wrote in message
news:eff9Gm9OHHA.5000@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> "$hay bla bla" -match "$hay"
>
> and it returns true without escaping the $ sign.
>
> i guess the $ sign is the trouble maker. any suggestions?

Yep. Try this:

'$hay bla bla' | select-string -pattern '\$hay'

The single quotes turn off PoSh's variable expansion. Then you need to
escape the $ in the regex because that is the end-of-line marker.

--
Keith

Note that you have 2 ways of escaping here (PowerShell / backtick) and regex :
you can use single quotes or escape them (powerShell backtick )

examples :

PS H:\> '$hay bla bla' | select-string -pattern '$hay'
PS H:\> '$hay bla bla' | select-string -pattern '\$hay'

$hay bla bla


PS H:\> "`$hay bla bla" | select-string -pattern '\$hay'

$hay bla bla


PS H:\> "`$hay bla bla" | select-string -pattern "\`$hay"

$hay bla bla




"$hay" wrote:

> the -pattern in select string specifies the string or regular expression
> that represents the matching criteria.
>
> when i try to search for "$hay":
>
> "$hay bla bla" | select-string -pattern "$hay"
>
> it returns an error
>
> Select-String : Cannot bind argument to parameter 'Pattern' because it is an
> empty string.
> At line:1 char:34
> + "$hay bla bla" | select-string <<<< "$hay"
>
> when escaping the $ sign:
>
> "$hay bla bla" | select-string -pattern "\$hay"
>
> it returns an error
>
> Select-String : parsing "\" - Illegal \ at end of pattern.
> At line:1 char:34
> + "$hay bla bla" | select-string <<<< "\$hay"
>
> just to be sure on regex pattern, i tried
>
> "$hay bla bla" -match "$hay"
>
> and it returns true without escaping the $ sign.
>
> i guess the $ sign is the trouble maker. any suggestions?
>
> --
> $hay
> http://scriptolog.blogspot.com
>
>
>
>

Thanks Keith and Mow, this resolves everything

$hay
http://scriptolog.blogspot.com


"$hay" <no@addre.ss> wrote in message
news:eff9Gm9OHHA.5000@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> the -pattern in select string specifies the string or regular expression
> that represents the matching criteria.
>
> when i try to search for "$hay":
>
> "$hay bla bla" | select-string -pattern "$hay"
>
> it returns an error
>
> Select-String : Cannot bind argument to parameter 'Pattern' because it is
> an empty string.
> At line:1 char:34
> + "$hay bla bla" | select-string <<<< "$hay"
>
> when escaping the $ sign:
>
> "$hay bla bla" | select-string -pattern "\$hay"
>
> it returns an error
>
> Select-String : parsing "\" - Illegal \ at end of pattern.
> At line:1 char:34
> + "$hay bla bla" | select-string <<<< "\$hay"
>
> just to be sure on regex pattern, i tried
>
> "$hay bla bla" -match "$hay"
>
> and it returns true without escaping the $ sign.
>
> i guess the $ sign is the trouble maker. any suggestions?
>
> --
> $hay
> http://scriptolog.blogspot.com
>
>
>