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Export-Csv

  • Reference
Module:
Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility

Converts objects into a series of character-separated value (CSV) strings and saves the strings to a file.

Syntax

Export-Csv
      -InputObject <PSObject>
      [[-Path] <String>]
      [-LiteralPath <String>]
      [-Force]
      [-NoClobber]
      [-Encoding <Encoding>]
      [-Append]
      [[-Delimiter] <Char>]
      [-IncludeTypeInformation]
      [-NoTypeInformation]
      [-QuoteFields <String[]>]
      [-UseQuotes <QuoteKind>]
      [-WhatIf]
      [-Confirm]
      [<CommonParameters>]
Export-Csv
      -InputObject <PSObject>
      [[-Path] <String>]
      [-LiteralPath <String>]
      [-Force]
      [-NoClobber]
      [-Encoding <Encoding>]
      [-Append]
      [-UseCulture]
      [-IncludeTypeInformation]
      [-NoTypeInformation]
      [-QuoteFields <String[]>]
      [-UseQuotes <QuoteKind>]
      [-WhatIf]
      [-Confirm]
      [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Export-CSV cmdlet creates a CSV file of the objects that you submit. Each object is a row that includes a character-separated list of the object's property values. You can use the Export-CSV cmdlet to create spreadsheets and share data with programs that accept CSV files as input.

Do not format objects before sending them to the Export-CSV cmdlet. If Export-CSV receives formatted objects the CSV file contains the format properties rather than the object properties. To export only selected properties of an object, use the Select-Object cmdlet.

Examples

Example 1: Export process properties to a CSV file

This example selects Process objects with specific properties, exports the objects to a CSV file.

Get-Process -Name WmiPrvSE |
    Select-Object -Property BasePriority,Id,SessionId,WorkingSet |
    Export-Csv -Path .\WmiData.csv -NoTypeInformation
Import-Csv -Path .\WmiData.csv

BasePriority Id    SessionId WorkingSet
------------ --    --------- ----------
8            976   0         20267008
8            2292  0         36786176
8            3816  0         30351360
8            8604  0         15011840
8            10008 0         8830976
8            11764 0         14237696
8            54632 0         9502720

The Get-Process cmdlet gets the Process objects. The Name parameter filters the output to include only the WmiPrvSE process objects. The process objects are sent down the pipeline to the Select-Object cmdlet. Select-Object uses the Property parameter to select a subset of process object properties. The process objects are sent down the pipeline to the Export-Csv cmdlet. Export-Csv converts the process objects to a series of CSV strings. The Path parameter specifies that the WmiData.csv file is saved in the current directory. The NoTypeInformation parameter removes the #TYPE information header from the CSV output and is not required in PowerShell 6. The Import-Csv cmdlet uses the Path parameter to display the file located in the current directory.

Example 2: Export processes to a comma-delimited file

This example gets Process objects and exports the objects to a CSV file.

Get-Process | Export-Csv -Path .\Processes.csv -NoTypeInformation
Get-Content -Path .\Processes.csv

"Name","SI","Handles","VM","WS","PM","NPM","Path","Parent","Company","CPU","FileVersion", ...
"ApplicationFrameHost","4","511","2203597099008","35364864","21979136","30048", ...

The Get-Process cmdlet gets Process objects. The process objects are sent down the pipeline to the Export-Csv cmdlet. Export-Csv converts the process objects to a series of CSV strings. The Path parameter specifies that the Processes.csv file is saved in the current directory. The NoTypeInformation parameter removes the #TYPE information header from the CSV output and is not required in PowerShell 6. The Get-Content cmdlet uses the Path parameter to display the file located in the current directory.

Example 3: Export processes to a semicolon delimited file

This example gets Process objects and exports the objects to a file with a semicolon delimiter.

Get-Process | Export-Csv -Path .\Processes.csv -Delimiter ';' -NoTypeInformation
Get-Content -Path .\Processes.csv

"Name";"SI";"Handles";"VM";"WS";"PM";"NPM";"Path";"Parent";"Company";"CPU";"FileVersion"; ...
"ApplicationFrameHost";"4";"509";"2203595321344";"34807808";"21770240";"29504"; ...

The Get-Process cmdlet gets Process objects. The process objects are sent down the pipeline to the Export-Csv cmdlet. Export-Csv converts the process objects to a series of CSV strings. The Path parameter specifies that the Processes.csv file is saved in the current directory. The Delimiter parameter specifies a semicolon to separate the string values. The NoTypeInformation parameter removes the #TYPE information header from the CSV output and is not required in PowerShell 6. The Get-Content cmdlet uses the Path parameter to display the file located in the current directory.

Example 4: Export processes using the current culture's list separator

This example gets Process objects and exports the objects to a file. The delimiter is the current culture's list separator.

(Get-Culture).TextInfo.ListSeparator
Get-Process | Export-Csv -Path .\Processes.csv -UseCulture -NoTypeInformation
Get-Content -Path .\Processes.csv

"Name","SI","Handles","VM","WS","PM","NPM","Path","Parent","Company","CPU","FileVersion", ...
"ApplicationFrameHost","4","511","2203597099008","35364864","21979136","30048", ...

The Get-Culture cmdlet uses the nested properties TextInfo and ListSeparator and displays the current culture's default list separator. The Get-Process cmdlet gets Process objects. The process objects are sent down the pipeline to the Export-Csv cmdlet. Export-Csv converts the process objects to a series of CSV strings. The Path parameter specifies that the Processes.csv file is saved in the current directory. The UseCulture parameter uses the current culture's default list separator as the delimiter. The NoTypeInformation parameter removes the #TYPE information header from the CSV output and is not required in PowerShell 6. The Get-Content cmdlet uses the Path parameter to display the file located in the current directory.

Example 5: Export processes with type information

This example explains how to include the #TYPE header information in a CSV file. The #TYPE header is the default in versions prior to PowerShell 6.0.

Get-Process | Export-Csv -Path .\Processes.csv -IncludeTypeInformation
Get-Content -Path .\Processes.csv

#TYPE System.Diagnostics.Process
"Name","SI","Handles","VM","WS","PM","NPM","Path","Company","CPU","FileVersion", ...
"ApplicationFrameHost","4","507","2203595001856","35139584","20934656","29504", ...

The Get-Process cmdlet gets Process objects. The process objects are sent down the pipeline to the Export-Csv cmdlet. Export-Csv converts the process objects to a series of CSV strings. The Path parameter specifies that the Processes.csv file is saved in the current directory. The IncludeTypeInformation includes the #TYPE information header in the CSV output. The Get-Content cmdlet uses the Path parameter to display the file located in the current directory.

Example 6: Export and append objects to a CSV file

This example describes how to export objects to a CSV file and use the Append parameter to add objects to an existing file.

$AppService = (Get-Service -DisplayName *Application* | Select-Object -Property DisplayName, Status)
$AppService | Export-Csv -Path .\Services.Csv -NoTypeInformation
Get-Content -Path .\Services.Csv
$WinService = (Get-Service -DisplayName *Windows* | Select-Object -Property DisplayName, Status)
$WinService | Export-Csv -Path .\Services.csv -NoTypeInformation -Append
Get-Content -Path .\Services.Csv

"DisplayName","Status"
"Application Layer Gateway Service","Stopped"
"Application Identity","Running"
"Windows Audio Endpoint Builder","Running"
"Windows Audio","Running"
"Windows Event Log","Running"

The Get-Service cmdlet gets service objects. The DisplayName parameter returns services that contain the word Application. The service objects are sent down the pipeline to the Select-Object cmdlet. Select-Object uses the Property parameter to specify the DisplayName and Status properties. The $AppService variable stores the objects.

The $AppService objects are sent down the pipeline to the Export-Csv cmdlet. Export-Csv converts the service objects to a series of CSV strings. The Path parameter specifies that the Services.csv file is saved in the current directory. The NoTypeInformation parameter removes the #TYPE information header from the CSV output and is not required in PowerShell 6. The Get-Content cmdlet uses the Path parameter to display the file located in the current directory.

The Get-Service and Select-Object cmdlets are repeated for services that contain the word Windows. The $WinService variable stores the service objects. The Export-Csv cmdlet uses the Append parameter to specify that the $WinService objects are added to the existing Services.csv file. The Get-Content cmdlet is repeated to display the updated file that includes the appended data.

Example 7: Format cmdlet within a pipeline creates unexpected results

This example shows why it is important not to use a format cmdlet within a pipeline. When unexpected output is received, troubleshoot the pipeline syntax.

Get-Date | Select-Object -Property DateTime, Day, DayOfWeek, DayOfYear |
 Export-Csv -Path .\DateTime.csv -NoTypeInformation
Get-Content -Path .\DateTime.csv

"DateTime","Day","DayOfWeek","DayOfYear"
"Wednesday, January 2, 2019 14:59:34","2","Wednesday","2"

Get-Date | Format-Table -Property DateTime, Day, DayOfWeek, DayOfYear |
 Export-Csv -Path .\FTDateTime.csv -NoTypeInformation
Get-Content -Path .\FTDateTime.csv

"ClassId2e4f51ef21dd47e99d3c952918aff9cd","pageHeaderEntry","pageFooterEntry","autosizeInfo", ...
"033ecb2bc07a4d43b5ef94ed5a35d280",,,,"Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.Internal.Format. ...
"9e210fe47d09416682b841769c78b8a3",,,,,
"27c87ef9bbda4f709f6b4002fa4af63c",,,,,
"4ec4f0187cb04f4cb6973460dfe252df",,,,,
"cf522b78d86c486691226b40aa69e95c",,,,,

The Get-Date cmdlet gets the DateTime object. The object is sent down the pipeline to the Select-Object cmdlet. Select-Object uses the Property parameter to select a subset of object properties. The object is sent down the pipeline to the Export-Csv cmdlet. Export-Csv converts the object to a CSV format. The Path parameter specifies that the DateTime.csv file is saved in the current directory. The NoTypeInformation parameter removes the #TYPE information header from the CSV output and is not required in PowerShell 6. The Get-Content cmdlet uses the Path parameter to display the CSV file located in the current directory.

When the Format-Table cmdlet is used within the pipeline to select properties unexpected results are received. Format-Table sends table format objects down the pipeline to the Export-Csv cmdlet rather than the DateTime object. Export-Csv converts the table format objects to a series of CSV strings. The Get-Content cmdlet displays the CSV file which contains the table format objects.

Example 8: Using the Force parameter to overwrite read-only files

This example creates an empty, read-only file and uses the Force parameter to update the file.

New-Item -Path .\ReadOnly.csv -ItemType File
Set-ItemProperty -Path .\ReadOnly.csv -Name IsReadOnly -Value $true
Get-Process | Export-Csv -Path .\ReadOnly.csv -NoTypeInformation

Export-Csv : Access to the path 'C:\ReadOnly.csv' is denied.
At line:1 char:15
+ Get-Process | Export-Csv -Path .\ReadOnly.csv -NoTypeInformation
+               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo          : OpenError: (:) [Export-Csv], UnauthorizedAccessException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : FileOpenFailure,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.ExportCsvCommand

Get-Process | Export-Csv -Path .\ReadOnly.csv -NoTypeInformation -Force
Get-Content -Path .\ReadOnly.csv

"Name";"SI";"Handles";"VM";"WS";"PM";"NPM";"Path";"Parent";"Company";"CPU";"FileVersion"; ...
"ApplicationFrameHost";"4";"509";"2203595321344";"34807808";"21770240";"29504"; ...

The New-Item cmdlet uses the Path and ItemType parameters to create the ReadOnly.csv file in the current directory. The Set-ItemProperty cmdlet uses the Name and Value parameters to change the file's IsReadOnly property to true. The Get-Process cmdlet gets Process objects. The process objects are sent down the pipeline to the Export-Csv cmdlet. Export-Csv converts the process objects to a series of CSV strings. The Path parameter specifies that the ReadOnly.csv file is saved in the current directory. The NoTypeInformation parameter removes the #TYPE information header from the CSV output and is not required in PowerShell 6. The output shows that the file is not written because access is denied.

The Force parameter is added to the Export-Csv cmdlet to force the export to write to the file. The Get-Content cmdlet uses the Path parameter to display the file located in the current directory.

Example 9: Using the Force parameter with Append

This example shows how to use the Force and Append parameters. When these parameters are combined, mismatched object properties can be written to a CSV file.

$Content = [PSCustomObject]@{Name = 'PowerShell'; Version = '7.0'}
$Content | Export-Csv -Path .\ParmFile.csv -NoTypeInformation
$AdditionalContent = [PSCustomObject]@{Name = 'Windows PowerShell'; Edition = 'Desktop'}
$AdditionalContent | Export-Csv -Path .\ParmFile.csv -NoTypeInformation -Append

Export-Csv : Cannot append CSV content to the following file: ParmFile.csv.
The appended object does not have a property that corresponds to the following column:
Version. To continue with mismatched properties, add the -Force parameter, and then retry
 the command.
At line:1 char:22
+ $AdditionalContent | Export-Csv -Path .\ParmFile.csv -NoTypeInformation -Append
+                      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo          : InvalidData: (Version:String) [Export-Csv], InvalidOperationException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : CannotAppendCsvWithMismatchedPropertyNames,Microsoft.PowerShell. ...

$AdditionalContent | Export-Csv -Path .\ParmFile.csv -NoTypeInformation -Append -Force
Import-Csv -Path .\ParmFile.csv

Name               Version
----               -------
PowerShell         7.0
Windows PowerShell

An expression creates the PSCustomObject with Name and Version properties. The values are stored in the $Content variable. The $Content variable is sent down the pipeline to the Export-Csv cmdlet. Export-Csv uses the Path parameter and saves the ParmFile.csv file in the current directory. The NoTypeInformation parameter removes the #TYPE information header from the CSV output and is not required in PowerShell 6.

Another expression creates a PSCustomObject with the Name and Edition properties. The values are stored in the $AdditionalContent variable. The $AdditionalContent variable is sent down the pipeline to the Export-Csv cmdlet. The Append parameter is used to add the data to the file. The append fails because there is a property name mismatch between Version and Edition.

The Export-Csv cmdlet Force parameter is used to force the export to write to the file. The Edition property is discarded. The Import-Csv cmdlet uses the Path parameter to display the file located in the current directory.

Example 10: Export to CSV with quotes around two columns

This example converts a DateTime object to a CSV string.

Get-Date | Export-Csv  -QuoteFields "DateTime","Date" -Path .\FTDateTime.csv
Get-Content -Path .\FTDateTime.csv

DisplayHint,"DateTime","Date",Day,DayOfWeek,DayOfYear,Hour,Kind,Millisecond,Minute,Month,Second,Ticks,TimeOfDay,Year
DateTime,"Thursday, August 22, 2019 11:27:34 AM","8/22/2019 12:00:00 AM",22,Thursday,234,11,Local,569,27,8,34,637020700545699784,11:27:34.5699784,2019

Example 11: Export to CSV with quotes only when needed

This example converts a DateTime object to a CSV string.

Get-Date | Export-Csv  -UseQuotes AsNeeded -Path .\FTDateTime.csv
Get-Content -Path .\FTDateTime.csv

DisplayHint,DateTime,Date,Day,DayOfWeek,DayOfYear,Hour,Kind,Millisecond,Minute,Month,Second,Ticks,TimeOfDay,Year
DateTime,"Thursday, August 22, 2019 11:31:00 AM",8/22/2019 12:00:00 AM,22,Thursday,234,11,Local,713,31,8,0,637020702607132640,11:31:00.7132640,2019

Example 12: Convert hashtables to CSV

In PowerShell 7.2 and above, when you export hashtables to CSV, the keys of the first hashtable are serialized and used as headers in the csv file output.

$person1 = @{
    Name = 'John Smith'
    Number = 1
}

$person2 = @{
    Name = 'Jane Smith'
    Number = 1
}

$allPeople = $person1, $person2
$allPeople | Export-Csv -Path .\People.csv

Get-Content -Path .\People.csv

"Name","Number"
"John Smith","1"
"Jane Smith","2"

Example 13: Converting hashtables to CSV with additional properties

In PowerShell 7.2 and above, when you export a hashtable that has additional properties added with Add-Member or Select-Object the additional properties are also added as a header in the CSV file.

$allPeople | Add-Member -Name ExtraProp -Value 42 -MemberType NoteProperty
$allPeople | Export-Csv -Path .\People.csv

Get-Content -Path .\People.csv

"Name","Number","ExtraProp"
"John Smith","1","42"
"Jane Smith","2","42"

Each hashtable has a property named ExtraProp added by Add-Member and then exported to CSV. You can see ExtraProp is now a header in the CSV file output.

If an added property has the same name as a key from the hashtable, the key takes precedence and only the key is exported to CSV.

Parameters

-Append

Use this parameter so that Export-CSV adds CSV output to the end of the specified file. Without this parameter, Export-CSV replaces the file contents without warning.

This parameter was introduced in Windows PowerShell 3.0.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Confirm

Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:cf
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Delimiter

Specifies a delimiter to separate the property values. The default is a comma (,). Enter a character, such as a colon (:). To specify a semicolon (;), enclose it in quotation marks.

Type:Char
Position:1
Default value:comma (,)
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Encoding

Specifies the encoding for the exported CSV file. The default value is utf8NoBOM.

The acceptable values for this parameter are as follows:

  • ascii: Uses the encoding for the ASCII (7-bit) character set.
  • bigendianunicode: Encodes in UTF-16 format using the big-endian byte order.
  • bigendianutf32: Encodes in UTF-32 format using the big-endian byte order.
  • oem: Uses the default encoding for MS-DOS and console programs.
  • unicode: Encodes in UTF-16 format using the little-endian byte order.
  • utf7: Encodes in UTF-7 format.
  • utf8: Encodes in UTF-8 format.
  • utf8BOM: Encodes in UTF-8 format with Byte Order Mark (BOM)
  • utf8NoBOM: Encodes in UTF-8 format without Byte Order Mark (BOM)
  • utf32: Encodes in UTF-32 format.

Beginning with PowerShell 6.2, the Encoding parameter also allows numeric IDs of registered code pages (like -Encoding 1251) or string names of registered code pages (like -Encoding "windows-1251"). For more information, see the .NET documentation for Encoding.CodePage.

Note

UTF-7* is no longer recommended to use. As of PowerShell 7.1, a warning is written if you specify utf7 for the Encoding parameter.

Type:Encoding
Accepted values:ASCII, BigEndianUnicode, BigEndianUTF32, OEM, Unicode, UTF7, UTF8, UTF8BOM, UTF8NoBOM, UTF32
Position:Named
Default value:UTF8NoBOM
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Force

This parameter allows Export-Csv to overwrite files with the Read Only attribute.

When Force and Append parameters are combined, objects that contain mismatched properties can be written to a CSV file. Only the properties that match are written to the file. The mismatched properties are discarded.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-IncludeTypeInformation

When this parameter is used the first line of the CSV output contains #TYPE followed by the fully qualified name of the object type. For example, #TYPE System.Diagnostics.Process.

This parameter was introduced in PowerShell 6.0.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:ITI
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-InputObject

Specifies the objects to export as CSV strings. Enter a variable that contains the objects or type a command or expression that gets the objects. You can also pipe objects to Export-CSV.

Type:PSObject
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-LiteralPath

Specifies the path to the CSV output file. Unlike Path, the value of the LiteralPath parameter is used exactly as it is typed. No characters are interpreted as wildcards. If the path includes escape characters, use single quotation marks. Single quotation marks tell PowerShell not to interpret any characters as escape sequences.

Type:String
Aliases:PSPath, LP
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-NoClobber

Use this parameter so that Export-CSV does not overwrite an existing file. By default, if the file exists in the specified path, Export-CSV overwrites the file without warning.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:NoOverwrite
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-NoTypeInformation

Removes the #TYPE information header from the output. This parameter became the default in PowerShell 6.0 and is included for backwards compatibility.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:NTI
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Path

A required parameter that specifies the location to save the CSV output file.

Type:String
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-QuoteFields

Specifies the names of the columns that should be quoted. When this parameter is used, only the specified columns are quoted. This parameter was added in PowerShell 7.0.

Type:String[]
Aliases:QF
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-UseCulture

Uses the list separator for the current culture as the item delimiter. To find the list separator for a culture, use the following command: (Get-Culture).TextInfo.ListSeparator.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-UseQuotes

Specifies when quotes are used in the CSV files. Possible values are:

  • Never - don't quote anything
  • Always - quote everything (default behavior)
  • AsNeeded - only quote fields that contain a delimiter character, double-quote, or newline character

This parameter was added in PowerShell 7.0.

Type:Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.BaseCsvWritingCommand+QuoteKind
Aliases:UQ
Position:Named
Default value:Always
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-WhatIf

Prevents the cmdlet from being processed or making changes. The output shows what would happen if the cmdlet were run.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:wi
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

Inputs

PSObject

You can pipe any object with an Extended Type System (ETS) adapter to this cmdlet.

Outputs

None

This cmdlet returns no output.

Notes

PowerShell includes the following aliases for Export-Csv:

  • All platforms:
    • epcsv

The Export-CSV cmdlet converts the objects that you submit into a series of CSV strings and saves them in the specified text file. You can use Export-CSV -IncludeTypeInformation to save objects in a CSV file and then use the Import-Csv cmdlet to create objects from the text in the CSV file.

In the CSV file, each object is represented by a character-separated list of the property values of the object. The property values are converted to strings using the ToString() method. The strings are represented by the property value name. Export-CSV -IncludeTypeInformation does not export the methods of the object.

The CSV strings are output as follows:

  • If IncludeTypeInformation is used, the first string contains the #TYPE information header followed by the object type's fully qualified name. For example, #TYPE System.Diagnostics.Process.
  • If IncludeTypeInformation is not used the first string includes the column headers. The headers contain the first object's property names as a character-separated list.
  • The remaining strings contain character-separated lists of each object's property values.

Beginning with PowerShell 6.0 the default behavior of Export-CSV is to not include the #TYPE information in the CSV and NoTypeInformation is implied. IncludeTypeInformation can be used to include the #TYPE Information and emulate the default behavior of Export-CSV prior to PowerShell 6.0.

When you submit multiple objects to Export-CSV, Export-CSV organizes the file based on the properties of the first object that you submit. If the remaining objects do not have one of the specified properties, the property value of that object is null, as represented by two consecutive commas. If the remaining objects have additional properties, those property values are not included in the file.

You can use the Import-Csv cmdlet to recreate objects from the CSV strings in the files. The resulting objects are CSV versions of the original objects that consist of string representations of the property values and no methods.

The ConvertTo-Csv and ConvertFrom-Csv cmdlets convert objects to CSV strings and from CSV strings. Export-CSV is the same as ConvertTo-CSV, except that it saves the CSV strings in a file.