When you have Objects in a format that you can’t read, or when you want to convert Objects to another format, or to switch from Celsius to Fahrenheit, you can use the Cmdlets from the Convert module from Andrew Pearce 🙂 In this small blog post, I will show you how you can use this great module!
- What does the Convert module do?
- How to install?
- Aliases/Functions
- ConvertFrom-Base64
- ConvertFrom-Base64ToByteArray
- ConvertFrom-Base64ToMemoryStream
- ConvertFrom-Base64ToString
- ConvertFrom-ByteArrayToBase64
- ConvertFrom-ByteArrayToMemoryStream
- ConvertFrom-Clixml
- ConvertFrom-CompressedByteArrayToString
- ConvertFrom-EscapedUrl
- ConvertFrom-MemoryStream
- ConvertFrom-MemoryStreamToBase64
- ConvertFrom-MemoryStreamToByteArray
- ConvertFrom-MemoryStreamToString
- ConvertFrom-MemoryStreamToSecureString
- ConvertFrom-StringToBase64
- ConvertFrom-StringToByteArray
- ConvertFrom-StringToCompressedByteArray
- ConvertFrom-StringToMemoryStream
- ConvertFrom-UnixTime
- ConvertTo-Base64
- ConvertTo-Celsius
- ConvertTo-Clixml
- ConvertTo-EscapedUrl
- ConvertTo-Fahrenheit
- ConvertTo-MemoryStream
- ConvertTo-String
- ConvertTo-TitleCase
- ConvertTo-UnixTime
- Get-Hash
- Get-UnixTime
- Wrapping up
What does the Convert module do?
“Convert is a PowerShell Module that simplifies object conversions by exposing common requirements as standard PowerShell Functions. For example, this module includes functions for converting to and from Base64 encoded strings, MemoryStream objects, or Clixml output.”
Source: https://github.com/austoonz/Convert
How to install?
It’s available from the PSGallery and can be installed by running:
Install-Module Convert -AllowClobber
Aliases/Functions
Below is an overview of the Cmdlets/Aliases/Functions and what you can do with them. I will show you the basic usage, but check out Andrew‘s excellent documentation site for more detailed information: https://convert.readthedocs.io/en/latest/.
ConvertFrom-Base64
This allows you to convert Base64-encoded strings to regular strings, for example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> 'UG93ZXJzaGVsbCBpcyBmdW4h' | ConvertFrom-Base64 -ToString Powershell is fun!
ConvertFrom-Base64ToByteArray
You can convert a Base64-encoded string to a Byte Array, for example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> ConvertFrom-Base64ToByteArray -String 'UG93ZXJzaGVsbCBpcyBmdW4h' 80 111 119 101 114 115 104 101 108 108 32 105 115 32 102 117 110 33
ConvertFrom-Base64ToMemoryStream
You can use this to convert from a Base64-encoded string to a Memory Stream (a class that provides a stream implementation for in-memory data, unlike traditional file-based streams, it allows developers to read from and write to memory as if it were a file), for example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> ConvertFrom-Base64ToMemoryStream -String 'UG93ZXJzaGVsbCBpcyBmdW4h' CanRead : True CanSeek : True CanWrite : True Capacity : 18 Length : 18 Position : 0 CanTimeout : False ReadTimeout : WriteTimeout :
ConvertFrom-Base64ToString
Unlike ConvertFrom-Base64, which has a few more options, this Cmdlet takes a Base64-encoded string and converts it to a regular string. For example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> 'UG93ZXJzaGVsbCBpcyBmdW4h' | ConvertFrom-Base64ToString Powershell is fun!
ConvertFrom-ByteArrayToBase64
This is the other way around from ConvertFrom-Base64ToByteArray, for example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> ConvertFrom-Base64StringToByteArray -String 'UG93ZXJzaGVsbCBpcyBmdW4h' | ConvertFrom-ByteArrayToBase64 UA== bw== dw== ZQ== cg== cw== aA== ZQ== bA== bA== IA== aQ== cw== IA== Zg== dQ== bg== IQ==
ConvertFrom-ByteArrayToMemoryStream
And you can also convert a Byte Array to a Memory Stream, for example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> $ByteArray=ConvertFrom-Base64ToByteArray -String 'UG93ZXJzaGVsbCBpcyBmdW4h' PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> ConvertFrom-ByteArrayToMemoryStream -ByteArray $ByteArray CanRead : True CanSeek : True CanWrite : True Capacity : 18 Length : 18 Position : 0 CanTimeout : False ReadTimeout : WriteTimeout :
ConvertFrom-Clixml
To convert a Clixml file, you can use this cmdlet like this, for example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> $xml = @" <Objs Version="1.1.0.1" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/powershell/2004/04"> <S>PowerShellIsFun</S> </Objs> "@ PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> convertFrom-Clixml -String $xml PowerShellIsFun
ConvertFrom-CompressedByteArrayToString
There are also Compressed Byte Arrays, which can be converted to a String, for example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> ConvertFrom-StringToCompressedByteArray -String 'PowerShell is fun!' 31 139 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 11 200 47 79 45 10 206 72 205 201 81 200 44 86 72 43 205 83 4 0 103 194 43 132 18 0 0 0 PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> ConvertFrom-StringToCompressedByteArray -String 'PowerShell is fun!' | ConvertFrom-CompressedByteArrayToString PowerShell is fun!
ConvertFrom-EscapedUrl
Sometimes you have URLs containing %, which you want to convert to a standard URL. Using ConvertFrom-EscapedUrl, you can, for example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> ConvertTo-EscapedUrl -Url 'https://powershellisfun.com' https%3A%2F%2Fpowershellisfun.com PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> ConvertFrom-EscapedUrl -Url 'https%3A%2F%2Fpowershellisfun.com' https://powershellisfun.com
ConvertFrom-MemoryStream
To convert a Memory Stream to a base64-encoded string, you can use ConvertFrom-MemoryStream. For Example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> 'PowerShell is fun!' | ConvertTo-MemoryStream | ConvertFrom-MemoryStream -ToString PowerShell is fun!
ConvertFrom-MemoryStreamToBase64
It is the same as above, but converts it straight to Base64. For example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> 'PowerShell is fun!' | ConvertTo-MemoryStream | ConvertFrom-MemoryStreamToBase64 UG93ZXJTaGVsbCBpcyBmdW4h
ConvertFrom-MemoryStreamToByteArray
This Cmdlet will convert a Memory Stream to a Byte Array, for example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> 'PowerShell is fun!' | ConvertTo-MemoryStream | ConvertFrom-MemoryStreamToByteArray 80 111 119 101 114 83 104 101 108 108 32 105 115 32 102 117 110 33
ConvertFrom-MemoryStreamToString
To convert a Memory Stream to a readable String, you can use ConvertFrom-MemoryStreamToString. For example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> 'PowerShell is fun!' | ConvertTo-MemoryStream | ConvertFrom-MemoryStreamToString PowerShell is fun!
ConvertFrom-MemoryStreamToSecureString
This Cmdlet will convert a Memory Stream to a Secure String, which you could use for a Credential. For example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> 'PowerShell is fun!' | ConvertTo-MemoryStream | ConvertFrom-MemoryStreamToSecureString System.Security.SecureString
ConvertFrom-StringToBase64
To convert a string to Base64 encoding, you can use this Cmdlet. For example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> 'PowerShell is fun!' | ConvertTo-Base64 UG93ZXJTaGVsbCBpcyBmdW4h
ConvertFrom-StringToByteArray
To convert a string to a Byte Array, you can use this Cmdlet. For example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> 'PowerShell is fun!' | ConvertFrom-StringToByteArray 80 111 119 101 114 83 104 101 108 108 32 105 115 32 102 117 110 33
ConvertFrom-StringToCompressedByteArray
You can use this to convert a string to a Compressed Byte Array, for example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> 'PowerShell is fun!' | ConvertFrom-StringToCompressedByteArray 31 139 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 11 200 47 79 45 10 206 72 205 201 81 200 44 86 72 43 205 83 4 0 103 194 43 132 18 0 0 0
ConvertFrom-StringToMemoryStream
To convert a string to a Memory Stream, you can use this Cmdlet. For example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> 'PowerShell is fun!' | ConvertFrom-StringToMemoryStream CanRead : True CanSeek : True CanWrite : True Capacity : 256 Length : 18 Position : 18 CanTimeout : False ReadTimeout : WriteTimeout :
ConvertFrom-UnixTime
I used to use websites for that, but this Cmdlet is easier 🙂 For example: (And sorry for the Dutch output 😉 )
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> (Get-date) | ConvertTo-UnixTime 1747961646 PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> (Get-date) | ConvertTo-UnixTime | ConvertFrom-UnixTime vrijdag 23 mei 2025 20:31:48
ConvertTo-Base64
Works the same as ConvertFrom-StringToBase64; it will convert the input to Base64 encoding. For example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> 'PowerShell is fun!' | Convertto-Base64 UG93ZXJTaGVsbCBpcyBmdW4h
ConvertTo-Celsius
This Cmdlet will allow you to convert to Celsius from Fahrenheit, for example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> ConvertTo-Celsius -Fahrenheit 90 32,22
ConvertTo-Clixml
This Cmdlet converts an object to CliXML, for example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> $string='PowerShell is fun!' PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> ConvertTo-Clixml -InputObject $string <Objs Version="1.1.0.1" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/powershell/2004/04"> <S>PowerShell is fun!</S> </Objs>
ConvertTo-EscapedUrl
This works the other way around, creating an escaped URL from a standard URL. For example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> ConvertTo-EscapedUrl -Url 'https://powershellisfun.com' https%3A%2F%2Fpowershellisfun.com
ConvertTo-Fahrenheit
Using this Cmdlet, you can convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius. For example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> ConvertTo-Fahrenheit -Celsius 31 87,8
ConvertTo-MemoryStream
This Cmdlet will convert an Object to a Memory Stream, for example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> ConvertTo-MemoryStream -String $string CanRead : True CanSeek : True CanWrite : True Capacity : 256 Length : 18 Position : 18 CanTimeout : False ReadTimeout : WriteTimeout :
ConvertTo-String
This Cmdlet will convert a Base64-encoded string to a string, for example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> 'UG93ZXJTaGVsbCBpcyBmdW4h' | ConvertTo-String PowerShell is fun!
ConvertTo-TitleCase
This Cmdlet will convert a String to Title case. For example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> 'powerShell is fun!' | ConvertTo-TitleCase Powershell Is Fun!
ConvertTo-UnixTime
This Cmdlet will convert time to Unix Time. For example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> Get-Date | ConvertTo-UnixTime 1747961577
Get-Hash
This Cmdlet retrieves a string’s hash and supports the MD5, SHA1, SHA256, SHA384, and SHA512 algorithms. For example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> Get-Hash -String 'PowerShell is fun' -Algorithm SHA512 DC5894F6BC96D4303812A807A5FC196508F75EE5D1F8AAE0F72467564BDEB920DC65C64938AD65F1465F5B8D3D61970EBA542CD9F72A1F9860EB153462EB1DF6
Get-UnixTime
To display the current time in Unix Time, you can use the Get-UnixTime Cmdlet without conversion. For example:
PS C:\Users\HarmVeenstra> Get-UnixTime 1747954462
Wrapping up
And that were all the options that you get from the Convert module, great stuff and so much easier than using websites to convert back and forth 🙂 Have a lovely weekend!
As directed, I entered ‘Install-Module Convert’, replied ‘Y’, and received this message (in red):
Untrusted repository
You are installing the modules from an untrusted repository. If you trust this repository, change its
InstallationPolicy value by running the Set-PSRepository cmdlet. Are you sure you want to install the modules from
‘PSGallery’?
[Y] Yes [A] Yes to All [N] No [L] No to All [S] Suspend [?] Help (default is “N”): y
PackageManagement\Install-Package : The following commands are already available on this system:’Get-Hash’. This
module ‘Convert’ may override the existing commands. If you still want to install this module ‘Convert’, use
-AllowClobber parameter.
At C:\Program Files\WindowsPowerShell\Modules\PowerShellGet\1.0.0.1\PSModule.psm1:1809 char:21
+ … $null = PackageManagement\Install-Package @PSBoundParameters
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : InvalidOperation: (Microsoft.Power….InstallPackage:InstallPackage) [Install-Package],
Exception
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandAlreadyAvailable,Validate-ModuleCommandAlreadyAvailable,Microsoft.PowerShell.Pack
ageManagement.Cmdlets.InstallPackage
My question is, should I use the ‘-AllowClobber’ parameter?
Thanks,
Dan
Ah, yes 🙂 That Cmdlet/Function seems to be already present in one of your installed modules, that’s why it’s displaying the error.
How do I find the module it is installed in? When I issue this command:
PS C:\Windows\system32> ‘DRB’ | ConvertFrom-StringToByteArray
I receive this error:
ConvertFrom-StringToByteArray : The term ‘ConvertFrom-StringToByteArray’ is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet,
function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the
path is correct and try again.
At line:1 char:9
+ ‘DRB’ | ConvertFrom-StringToByteArray
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : ObjectNotFound: (ConvertFrom-StringToByteArray:String) [], CommandNotFoundException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException
So my question is, what additional path must I now supply so the CONVERT command can be found?
Thanks,
Dan
In your first comment, the error stated “The following commands are already available on this system:’Get-Hash’. ” If you run Get-Command Get-Hash, it should tell you the modules that the Cmdlet is a part of.
These are my results when I run ‘Get-Command Get-Hash’:
PS C:\Windows\system32> Get-Command Get-Hash
Get-Command : The term ‘Get-Hash’ is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable
program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
At line:1 char:1
+ Get-Command Get-Hash
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : ObjectNotFound: (Get-Hash:String) [Get-Command], CommandNotFoundException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.GetCommandCommand
PS C:\Windows\system32>
That’s strange, it should report where it was listed. But no worries, you can use Install-Module Convert -AllowClobber (updated that chapter in the blog post, too) and it should just work after that.
Thanks, Harm!
It’s now working after installing with the ‘-AllowClobber’ parameter.
Dan
I just hope -AllowClobber didn’t “clobber over” something I might need?!
Dan
You can also specify Convert\Get-Hash to make it specific what module you want to use for a cmdlet
Cool!
And I see where they have an extensive HELP as well.