How to to Convert PSObject to Stream output or DataTable using C# Powershell System.Management.Automation

Question

I need to convert PowerShell PSObject to stream in a sameway the way PowerShell does. PowerShell also provides the output on standard stream in generic way.

eg $PSVersionTable only outputs 2 column ( Name, Value ) and not the whole Hashtable. So, I want each PSObject to process in a same standard way the way PowerShell does under the hood. Furthermore, I want to convert that to DataTable. I know, there are other links illustrating this problem, but they are operating on all properties of PSObject. Somehow, PowerShell doing this stuff out of the box.

Do I need to convert PSObject to other type?

Examples

PowerShell script outputs $PSVersionTable as

PSVersion      5.1.17134.228
PSEdition      Desktop
PSCompatibleVersions           {1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0...}

$host or Get-Host outputs as

Get-WebApplication outputs

Name             Application pool   Protocols    Physical Path                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
----             ----------------   ---------    -------------                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
IisHostedServer  DefaultAppPool     http        C:\TestDirectory\Src\IisHostedServer

Get-ChildItem -Path "C:\\TestDirectory\\TestSubDir\\Studio" :

Mode                LastWriteTime         Length Name
----                -------------         ------ ----
d-----       29.06.2018     11:54                TestFileDir
d-----       24.07.2018     16:37                TestSites
-a----       13.08.2018     11:53            343 TestXml.xml

Similarly there could be other reference or custom types.

I want to get these outputs in a same way in C# and need to show them either as String or DataTable. Is there any conversion available from PSObject to stream or something which returns above output in completely generic way?

while I am dealing with following method in C#:

var outputCollection = new PSDataCollection<PSObject>();

outputCollection.DataAdded += OnOutputDataAdded;
powerShell.Invoke(null, outputCollection);

private void OnOutputDataAdded(object sender, DataAddedEventArgs e)
{
    var records = (PSDataCollection<PSObject>) sender;
    var data = records[e.Index];
    var outputTable = ConverToLogableDataStream(data);
}
private void ConverToLogableDataStream(PSObject)
{
    ...
    ...
}

Answer 1

This question is quite old but have a look at ConvertTo-Json and work it into a data table or class of your choice from there (worked for me)

eg. Powershell: Get-Host | ConvertTo-Json

C#: JsonConvert.DeserializeObject< List < classname > > (PSObject)