Powershell: Add node to XML root

Question

I have this XML file:

<shows>
    <breaking.bad />
    <stranger.things />
</shows>

And i want to modify it using powershell so it will become:

<shows>
    <breaking.bad />
    <stranger.things />
</shows>
<movies>
</movies>

I tried this and it did not work:

$doc = [xml](get-content "c:\list.xml")
$movies = $doc.createelement("movies")
$doc.appendchild($movies)

There's an error saying: Exception calling "AppendChild" with "1" argument (s): "This document already has a 'DocumentElement' node." At line:3 char:1 + $doc.appendchild($movies)

Please provide an exact error message, and describe how your code is not working. — Jacob Colvin
– Jacob Colvin, Commented Apr 24, 2017 at 15:27

FoxDeploy · Accepted Answer · 2017-04-25 13:24:06Z

5

If you want to add another top level element, you need to add it to the container itself.

In order to make this work, I added a top level Document node, and then made Shows a child of that, like so.

[xml]$x = "
<document>
   <shows>
    <breaking.bad />
    <stranger.things />
  </shows>
</document>"

Then, I defined a new element just like you, by using the CreateElement method. Finally, I added it to the Document.

$newElement = $x.CreateElement("movies")
$x.document.AppendChild($newElement)

And the output:

$x.OuterXml
<document><shows><breaking.bad /><stranger.things /></shows><movies /></document>

edited Apr 25, 2017 at 13:24

answered Apr 24, 2017 at 17:39

FoxDeploy

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