[SOLVED] Is there a way to replace a YAML variable in a PowerShell replace script?

Is there a way to replace a YAML variable in a PowerShell replace script?

I am trying to take a variable from a variable group in Azure DevOps, enter it in to a PowerShell script that will change the value.

My variable group looks like:

The variable group name is = variableGroup, The only variable is = name: 'Alex'

dashboardTable.md (Trying to replace the string 'Alex')

My name is Alex.

azure-pipelines.yml

variables:
- group: variableGroup

- task: PowerShell@2
  inputs:
    targetType: 'inline'
    script: '(Get-Content ./dashboardTable.md).replace("$(name)", 'Bob') | Set-Content ''./dashboardTable.md'''

Is this not actually possible or is my syntax wrong?

Solution

You need to consistently escape the ' characters embedded in the overall '...' string as '':

variables:
- group: variableGroup

- task: PowerShell@2
  inputs:
    targetType: 'inline'
    script: '(Get-Content ./dashboardTable.md).replace(''$(name)'', ''Bob'') | Set-Content ./dashboardTable.md'

You can simplify the string by using "..." as the outer quoting, in which case no escaping is required for embedded ':

variables:
- group: variableGroup

- task: PowerShell@2
  inputs:
    targetType: 'inline'
    script: "(Get-Content ./dashboardTable.md).replace('$(name)', 'Bob') | Set-Content ./dashboardTable.md"

However, note that "..." strings in YAML interpret \ as the escape character, so if a PowerShell command enclosed in "..." contains instances of \, they must be doubled (\\).