Convert Alphanumeric String to the NATO Phonetic Alphabet Equivalent

technet-convert_alphanumeric_string_to_the_NATO.ps1

<#
TechNet Contribution: Convert Alphanumeric String to the NATO Phonetic Alphabet Equivalent
Previous link: https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/Convert-Alphanumeric-8c1d6a79
Downloaded: 858 times (as of 05/21/2020)

There was a post in the TechNet Forum about needing a solution to convert a string into the NATO phonetic alphabet
equivalent (link). I really liked the project and quickly wrote out an advanced function in Windows PowerShell to
accompany the VBS solution that was also posted. Please let me know if there are any problems that need correcting.
The 1.3 version will speak the results, if the -Speak switch parameter is included when the function is run.

I feel confident that this will run on most, if not all, Windows Operating Systems even though it has only been tested
on Window 7 x64.

Tommy Maynard

Updated to version 1.3 on 2/24/2015

Updated to version 1.2 on 8/21/2014
#>

Function Convert-TMNatoAlphabet {
##### ** THIS SCRIPT IS PROVIDED WITHOUT WARRANTY, USE AT YOUR OWN RISK **

<#
.SYNOPSIS
    Converts an alphanumeric string into the NATO Phonetic Alphabet equivalent.

.DESCRIPTION
    The advanced function will convert an alphanumeric string into the NATO phonetic alphabet.
	
.PARAMETER String
    This is the default, required parameter. It is the string that the advanced function will convert.

.EXAMPLE
    Convert-TMNatoAlphabet -String '12abc3'
    This example will convert the string, 12abc3, to its NATO phonetic alphabet equivalent. It will return, "One Two Alpha Bravo Charlie Three."

.EXAMPLE
    Convert-TMNatoAlphabet -String '1p2h3-cc'
    This example will attempt to convert the string, 1p2h3-cc, to its NATO phonetic alphabet equivalent. Since it contains an invalid character (-), it will return, "String contained illegal character(s)."

.EXAMPLE
    Convert-TMNatoAlphabet '1ph3cc'
    This example will convert the string, 1ph3cc, to its NATO phonetic alphabet equivalent. It will return, "One Papa Hotel Three Charlie Charlie."

.EXAMPLE
    Convert-TMNatoAlphabet '1ph3cc' -Speak
    This example will convert the string, 1ph3cc, to its NATO phonetic alphabet equivalent. It will return, "One Papa Hotel Three Charlie Charlie." In addition, it will speak the results.

.NOTES
    NAME: Convert-TMNatoAlphabet
    AUTHOR: Tommy Maynard
    LASTEDIT: 08/21/2014
    VERSION 1.1
        -Changed seperate alpha and numeric hashes into one, alphanumeric hash (numbers are being stored as strings).
    VERSION 1.2
        -Edited the logic that handles the conversion (no need for If and nested If - Initial If handles a-z 0-9 check).
        -Added string cleanup inside If statement.
    VERSION 1.3
        -Added switch parameter to speak the results, as well.
#>

    [CmdletBinding()]
    Param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory=$True,Position=0)]
        [string]$String,

        [switch]$Speak
    )

    Begin {
        Write-Verbose -Message 'Creating alphanumeric hash table'
        $Hash = @{'A'=' Alpha ';'B'=' Bravo ';'C'=' Charlie ';'D'=' Delta ';'E'=' Echo ';'F'=' Foxtrot ';'G'=' Golf ';'H'=' Hotel ';'I'=' India ';'J'=' Juliet ';'K'=' Kilo ';'L'=' Lima ';'M'=' Mike ';'N'=' November ';'O'=' Oscar ';'P'=' Papa ';'Q'=' Quebec ';'R'=' Romeo ';'S'=' Sierra ';'T'=' Tango ';'U'=' Uniform ';'V'=' Victory ';'W'=' Whiskey ';'X'=' X-ray ';'Y'=' Yankee ';'Z'=' Zulu ';'0'=' Zero ';'1'=' One ';'2'=' Two ';'3'=' Three ';'4'=' Four ';'5'=' Five ';'6'=' Six ';'7'=' Seven ';'8'=' Eight ';'9'=' Nine '}
    
    } # End Begin

    Process {
        Write-Verbose -Message 'Checking string for illegal charcters'
        If ($String -match '^[a-zA-Z0-9]+$') {
            Write-Verbose -Message 'String does not have any illegal characters'
            $String = $String.ToUpper()

            Write-Verbose -Message 'Creating converted string'
            For ($i = 0; $i -le $String.Length; $i++) {
                [string]$Character = $String[$i]
                $NewString += $Hash.Get_Item($Character)
            }

            Write-Verbose -Message 'Cleaning up converted string'
            $NewString = ($NewString.Trim()).Replace('  ',' ')
            Write-Output $NewString

            If ($Speak) {
                Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Speech
                $Voice = New-Object -TypeName System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer
                $Voice.Speak($NewString)
            }

        } Else {
            Write-Output -Verbose 'String contained illegal character(s).'
        }
    } # End Process
} # End Function