Filter Objects returned by Get-ChildItem

Question

Hello there,
I had a look at the properties available for objects returned by Get-ChildItem command using:
PS C:\> Get-ChildItem | Get-Member
This command shows that objects returned by Get-ChildItem command possess properties
'Name, FullName, LastAccessTime etc...'
If I declare a variable to retrieve objects starting with 'Program':
PS C:\> $ChildItems_Program = Get-ChildItem -name 'Program*'
and check what is stored in $ChildItems_Program, it shows me two objects/items as shown below:
PS C:\> $ChildItems_Program
Program Files
Program Files (x86)
However if I try to access properties 'Name, FullName, LastAccessTime' from the first object saved in $ChildItems_Program
PS C:\> $ChildItems_Program[0] | Select -Property Name, FullName, LastAccessTime
Name FullName LastAccessTime
I can't see any results for above command- Shouldn't it return the properties of first object saved in $ChildItems_Program?
Can anyone please guide.
Thank you!
    

Answer 1

Hi,
Tommy is right, using -Name doesn't actually return the full object. When you use that parameter, you're getting back an array of names only. Here's how you can tell:
PS C:\> $ci_program = Get-ChildItem -Name 'Program*'
PS C:\> $ci_program.GetType()
IsPublic IsSerial Name BaseType
True True Object[] System.Array
PS C:\> $ci_program[0].GetType()
IsPublic IsSerial Name BaseType
True True String System.Object
PS C:\> $ci_program[0] | Get-Member -MemberType Property
TypeName: System.String
Name MemberType Definition
Length Property int Length {get;}
PS C:\> $ci_program
Program Files
Program Files (x86)
Here's what you should see if you get objects back from gci, using -Filter (I use -Path here):
PS C:\> $ci_program_object = Get-ChildItem -Path 'Program*'
PS C:\> $ci_program_object.GetType()
IsPublic IsSerial Name BaseType
True True Object[] System.Array
PS C:\> $ci_program_object[0].GetType()
IsPublic IsSerial Name BaseType
True True DirectoryInfo System.IO.FileSystemInfo
PS C:\> $ci_program_object[0] | Get-Member -MemberType Property
TypeName: System.IO.DirectoryInfo
Name MemberType Definition
Attributes Property System.IO.FileAttributes Attributes {get;set;}
CreationTime Property datetime CreationTime {get;set;}
CreationTimeUtc Property datetime CreationTimeUtc {get;set;}
Exists Property bool Exists {get;}
Extension Property string Extension {get;}
FullName Property string FullName {get;}
LastAccessTime Property datetime LastAccessTime {get;set;}
LastAccessTimeUtc Property datetime LastAccessTimeUtc {get;set;}
LastWriteTime Property datetime LastWriteTime {get;set;}
LastWriteTimeUtc Property datetime LastWriteTimeUtc {get;set;}
Name Property string Name {get;}
Parent Property System.IO.DirectoryInfo Parent {get;}
Root Property System.IO.DirectoryInfo Root {get;}
PS C:\> $ci_program_object
Directory: C:\
Mode LastWriteTime Length Name
d-r-- 1/26/2014 12:40 AM Program Files
d-r-- 3/28/2014 12:07 PM Program Files (x86)
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