Question

Reading XML from a file into a variable can be done like this:

[xml]$x = Get-Content myxml.xml

But why not:

$x = [xml]Get-Content myxml.xml

Which gives:

Unexpected token 'Get-Content' in expression or statement.
At line:1 char:20
+ $x=[xml]get-content <<<<  myxml.xml
    + CategoryInfo          : ParserError: (get-content:String) [], ParentContainsErrorRecordException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : UnexpectedToken

That is, why is the cast operation done on the left-hand side of the equals sign? Typically in programming languages the casting is done on the right-hand side like (say) in Java:

a = (String)myobject;

Answer 1

$x = [xml](Get-Content myxml.xml)