In version 2 of PowerShell, you could create hashtables, but the order in which the data is stored in the hashtable is not necessarily the same order you input it in. Take this example:

    $hashTableV2 = @{a=1;b=2;c=3;d=4}  
    $hashTableV2 

Produces this output:

Name Value

---- -----

  c     3

  d     4

  a     1

  b     2

Version 3 of PowerShell now offers the ability to force the hashtable to hold the data in the same order it was created, using the new [ordered] tag.

    $hashTableV3 = [ordered]@{a=1;b=2;c=3;d=4}  
    $hashTableV3 

The new syntax produces this output:

Name Value

---- -----

  a     1

  b     2

  c     3

  d     4

Now if it’s important that your hashtable is in a specific order, you have the [ordered] to make that happen.

Warning: This post was created using PowerShell v3 BETA. Changes to the final version may alter the validity of this post.