CSV file use in powershell with variables

spiceuser-ab41e · 2020-04-10T13:47:43.000Z

I am trying to move users from one OU to another OU using a simple powershell script. I want it to use both the first name and the last name from the csv file before it moves the user.

I have a csv file with a column for first name and last name. Can i add both columns to one variable? as in

Retrieve DN of User.

$User= ._Firstname, ._Lastname

If i have to define 2 variables how do i use it in an instance where I want it to move the ad object witht he identity flag? Can i add both variables there in this line?

Move-ADObject -Identity $UserDN , $UserLN

something like that? I need it to read both the first name and last name from the csv before it tries to move the user

Neally · 2020-04-10T13:58:35.000Z

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Neally · 2020-04-10T14:00:47.000Z

spiceuser-ab41e:

I have a csv file with a column for first name and last name. Can i add both columns to one variable? as in

Retrieve DN of User.

$User= ._Firstname, ._Lastname

Absolutely, yes. This assumes you litterally have 2 columns called ‘Firstname’ and ‘lastname’ in your CSV

$CSV = import-csv "c:\folder\file.csv"
foreach($line in $CSV){
    $user = "$($line.firstname),$($line.lastname)"
    $user
}

Neally · 2020-04-10T14:07:12.000Z

spiceuser-ab41e:

Can i add both variables there in this line?

Move-ADObject -Identity $UserDN , $UserLN

Yes, however DN stands for DistinguishedName and is not just ‘FirstName’,‘LastName’.
ALso the DistinguishedName includes the OU and the domain information.

It’s more than just first and last.

DistinguishedName : CN=FirstName LastName,CN=Users,DC=dersys,DC=com

So it would be better to combine ‘move-adobject’ and ‘get-aduser’

Move-adobject -Identity (Get-aduser -filter "givenname -eq '$($line.firstname)' -and surname -eq '$($line.lastname')") -TargetPath $TargetOU

jrp78 · 2020-04-10T14:07:39.000Z

Move-ADObject doesn’t support first name and last name I don’t believe. I think you’ll have to use Get-ADuser with a filter then pipe that to Move-ADObject.

You’re going to need a foreach loop as well once you’ve imported the CSV to a variable.

get-aduser -filter 'displayname -eq "$lastname, $firstname"' | move-adobject blah blah

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/addsadministration/move-adobject?view=win10-ps

-Identity

Specifies an Active Directory object by providing one of the following property values. The identifier in parentheses is the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) display name for the attribute. The acceptable values for this parameter are:

A distinguished name
A GUID (objectGUID)

supaplex-starwind · 2020-04-11T06:35:28.000Z

Here is an excellent guide that covers the proper approach of bulk manipulation of Active Directory users based on a CSV file https://www.hyper-v.io/creating-bulk-user-accounts-ad-via-powershell/ . It has careful explanations regarding each step and is very helpful in getting a bit more skills regarding this matter. I have it bookmarked for our IT trainees, and I hope it will help you as well.