.net - Powershell won't preserve the type cast when updating an object's property -

i have array of objects want sort on "device" property. challenge "device" property can ip or hostname. so, approach separate them array ips , name (strings).

the problem when cast device column net.ipaddress , save reverts string.

here doing:

$devicebyip = @() $devicebyhostname = @() foreach ($row in $data) {     try {         [net.ipaddress]$row.device = $row.device         $devicebyip += $row     } catch {         #[string]$row.device | out-null         $devicebyhostname += $row     } } 

when this: [net.ipaddress]$row.device = $row.device reverts string. if this: $devicebyip | %{$_.device.gettype().fullname}

i see device property of objects system.string.

what doing wrong here?

you didn't mention type of object $row is, appears $row native .net object device exposed system.string. if don't have access source code of $row type, can use select-object replace each $row object pscustomtype object has same properties:

$devicebyip = @() $devicebyhostname = @() foreach ($row in $data) {     try {         $row = $row | select-object *         [net.ipaddress]$row.device = $row.device         $devicebyip += $row     } catch {         $devicebyhostname += $row     } } 

and if didn't want rely on exception handling, little bit costlier, use tryparse method of system.net.ipaddress:

$devicebyip = @() $devicebyhostname = @() $ipaddress = $null foreach ($row in $data) {     $row = $row | select-object *     if ([net.ipaddress]::tryparse($row.device, [ref]$ipaddress)) {         $row.device = $ipaddress         $devicebyip += $row     } else {         $devicebyhostname += $row     } }