> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.lithnet.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.lithnet.io/resource-management-powershell/v1.0/usage/cmdlet-reference/new-xpathexpression.md). # New-XPathExpression ### Description The `New-XPathExpression` cmdlet create an XPath expression that can be used in the following manners * As an input to the [Search-Resources](/resource-management-powershell/v1.0/usage/cmdlet-reference/search-resources.md#description) cmdlet * As an input to the [New-XPathQuery](/resource-management-powershell/v1.0/usage/cmdlet-reference/new-xpathquery.md) cmdlet * By using the ToString() method, you can generate an expression to use elsewhere in your script * When setting a resource attribute that expects a Filter type The cmdlet takes a query or group generated with the [New-XPathQuery ](/resource-management-powershell/v1.0/usage/cmdlet-reference/new-xpathquery.md)or [New-XPathQueryGroup](/resource-management-powershell/v1.0/usage/cmdlet-reference/new-xpathquerygroup.md) cmdlets and produces an XPath expression that can be used in the manners described above. For a full list of examples filters generated by the XPath cmdlets, see the [XPath expression examples](/resource-management-powershell/v1.0/help-and-support/xpath-expression-examples.md) page. ### Syntax ``` New-XpathExpression [-ObjectType] [-QueryObject] [[-DereferenceAttribute] ] [[-WrapFilterXml]] ``` ### Parameters **ObjectType** Required. The type of object to query. To search on all object types, use the value `*` **QueryObject** Required. The query or group generated using the [New-XPathQuery](/resource-management-powershell/v1.0/usage/cmdlet-reference/new-xpathquery.md) or [New-XPathQueryGroup](/resource-management-powershell/v1.0/usage/cmdlet-reference/new-xpathquerygroup.md) cmdlet **DereferenceAttribute** Optional. Specifies a reference-type attribute to query. See the example section for more information. **WrapFilterXml** Optional. Specifies that the resulting XPath expression should be wrapped in the filter XML element used when setting the `Filter` attribute on sets and groups. ### Examples #### Creating a basic expression ```powershell # Creates an expression that searches for users with the account name 'ryan' $query = New-XPathQuery -AttributeName "AccountName" -Operator Equals -Value "ryan" $expression = New-XPathExpression -ObjectType "Person" -QueryObject $query $expression.ToString() ``` This returns an expression containing the query ``` /Person[(AccountName = 'ryan')] ``` #### Passing the expression to the Search-Resources cmdlet The expression can be passed directly to the [Search-Resources](/resource-management-powershell/v1.0/usage/cmdlet-reference/search-resources.md) cmdlet to search for objects ```powershell # Creates an expression that searches for users with the account name 'ryan' $query = New-XPathQuery -AttributeName "AccountName" -Operator Equals -Value "ryan" $expression = New-XPathExpression -ObjectType "Person" -QueryObject $query Search-Resources $expression ``` #### Building an expression to dereference an object The expression builder supports dereferencing expressions, as supported by the [Resource Management Service](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ee652287.aspx). The following example finds the manager of a user with the account name 'ryan' ```powershell # Creates an expression that returns the manager of a user who has the account name 'ryan' $query = New-XPathQuery -AttributeName "AccountName" -Operator Equals -Value "ryan" $expression = New-XPathExpression -ObjectType "Person" -QueryObject $query -DereferenceAttribute "Manager" $expression.ToString() ``` This returns the following expression ``` /Person[(AccountName = 'ryan')]/Manager ``` You can also use a nested expression to find all users who have the person with the account name of 'ryan' as their manager ```powershell # Build an expression to find a user by its account name $query = New-XpathQuery -AttributeName "AccountName" -Operator Equals -Value "ryan" $expression = New-XpathExpression -ObjectType "Person" -Query $query # Build a query to find all users with a manager who has the account name 'ryan' $derefQuery = New-XpathQuery -AttributEName "Manager" -Operator Equals -Value $expression $derefExpression = New-XpathExpression Person $derefQuery $derefExpression.ToString() ``` This returns an expression containing the query ``` /Person[(Manager = /Person[(AccountName = 'ryan')])] ``` #### Building a filter expression When using the expression builder to create an value to use in a `Filter` attribute in a set or group, you can specify that the resulting expression should be wrapped in the XML filter element. ```powershell $query = New-XPathQuery -AttributeName "AccountName" -Operator Equals -Value "ryan" $expression = New-XPathExpression -ObjectType "Person" -QueryObject $query -WrapFilterXml $expression.ToString() ``` The resulting string is as follows ```xml /Person[(AccountName = 'ryan')] ``` --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. 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