SGP201512.ps1

$list = @' 
1 Partridge in a pear tree 
2 Turtle Doves 
3 French Hens 
4 Calling Birds 
5 Golden Rings 
6 Geese a laying 
7 Swans a swimming 
8 Maids a milking 
9 Ladies dancing 
10 Lords a leaping 
11 Pipers piping 
12 Drummers drumming 
'@ 

## Sort by length 
$list -split "`n" | Sort-Object Length

## Sort by Length without count
$list -split "`n" | Sort-Object { ($_-replace '^\d+\s').Length }

## Custom object 
$list -split "`n" | ForEach-Object { 
	if ($_ -match '^(\d+)\s+(.*)') {
		[PSCustomObject]@{
			Count = $matches[1]
			Item = $matches[2]
		}
	}
} 

## Bird-related items from CustomObjects
$list -split "`n" | ForEach-Object { 
	if ($_ -match '^(\d+)\s+(.*)') {
		[PSCustomObject]@{
			Count = $matches[1]
			Item = $matches[2]
		}
	}
} |
	Where-Object { $_.Item -match 'Partridge|Dove|Hen|Bird|Geese|Swan' } |
	Measure-Object -Sum -Property Count |
	Select-Object -ExpandProperty Sum


## Total count 
$list -split "`n" | ForEach-Object { 
	if ($_ -match '^(\d+)\s+(.*)') {
		[PSCustomObject]@{
			Count = $matches[1]
			Item = $matches[2]
		}
	}
} |
	Measure-Object -Sum -Property Count |
	Select-Object -ExpandProperty Sum

## Total count bonus
$list -split "`n" | ForEach-Object { 
	if ($_ -match '^(\d+)\s+(.*)') {
		[PSCustomObject]@{
			Count = $matches[1]
			Item = $matches[2]
		}
	}
} |
	Foreach-Object -Begin {
			$total, $sum = 0, 0
		} -Process {
			$sum = $sum + $_.Count
			$total += $sum
		} -End {
			$total
		}