title: Error "object name has bad syntax" when creating AD users from CSV
body: <p>I am working on importing users into AD in bulk and have a script:</p>
  
  <pre><code>Import-Module ActiveDirectory
  $path     = Split-Path -Parent $MyInvocation.MyCommand.Definition
  $newpath  = $path + "\import_users.csv"
  # Define variables
  $log      = $path + "\created_ActiveDirectory_users.log"
  $date     = Get-Date
  $i        = 0
  
  function createActiveDirectoryUsers {
    "Created the following Active Directory users (on " + $date + "): " | Out-File $log -Append
    "--------------------------------------------" | Out-File $log -Append
  
    Import-Csv $newpath | ForEach-Object { 
      $samAccount = $_.SamAccountName
      try {
        $exists = Get-ADUser -LDAPFilter "(sAMAccountName=$samAccount)"
      } catch { }
      if (!$exists) {
        $i++
        # Set all variables according to the table names in the Excel 
        # sheet / import CSV. The names can differ in every project, but 
        # if the names change, make sure to change it below as well.
        $setpass = ConvertTo-SecureString -AsPlainText $_.Password -Force
        New-ADUser -Name $_.DisplayName -SamAccountName $_.SamAccountName -GivenName $_.GivenName -Initials $_.Initials `
          -Surname $_.SN -DisplayName $_.DisplayName -Office $_.OfficeName `
          -Description $_.Description -EmailAddress $_.eMail `
          -StreetAddress $_.StreetAddress -City $_.L `
          -PostalCode $_.PostalCode -Country $_.CO -UserPrincipalName $_.UPN `
          -Company $_.Company -Department $_.Department -EmployeeID $_.ID `
          -OfficePhone $_.Phone -AccountPassword $setpass -Enabled $true -Path $_.OU
  
        $output  = $i.ToString() + ") Name: " + $_.CN + "  sAMAccountName: " 
        $output += $sam + "  Pass: " + $_.Password
        $output | Out-File $log -append
      } else {
        "SKIPPED - USER ALREADY EXISTS OR ERROR: " + $_.CN | Out-File $log -append
      }
    }
    "----------------------------------------" + "`n" | Out-File $log -append
  }
  
  createActiveDirectoryUsers
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>However when I try to import the CSV file, I am getting the following error:</p>
  
  <pre>
  New-ADUser : The object name has bad syntax
  At C:\temp\bulk_create_users.ps1:33 char:17
  +       New-ADUser &lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;  -Name $_.DisplayName -SamAccountName $_.SamAccountName -GivenName $_.GivenName -Initials $_.Initials `
      + CategoryInfo          : NotSpecified: (CN=Ranae Gentry...C=abbhq,DC=com":String) [New-ADUser], ADException
      + FullyQualifiedErrorId : The object name has bad syntax,Microsoft.ActiveDirectory.Management.Commands.NewADUser
  </pre>
  
  <p>Not exactly sure what syntax is wrong here.</p>