How do I use Import-CSV and what are all the Parameters associated with it.

import-csv 2011.csv | foreach {New-mailbox -name $_.name -userprincipalname $_.userprincipalname -lastname $_.lname -initials $_.mi -firstname $_.fname  -alias $_.alias -displayname $_.display -org $_.grad-year -Password (ConvertTo-SecureString $_.Password -asplaintext -force) -resetpasswordonnextlogon $false -database "Mailbox Database 1736540864"}
save-as-2011.csv.xlsx

this might help:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/exchangesvrgeneral/thread/348284f4-d81e-4597-a380-76c45c43fa9a

I need to see how to use Set-Contact  with import-csv

what is the attributes that you want to set on for the contact?

Phone, Department, Fax, Title

then create CSV file as below
Contact,Phone, Department, Fax,Title

so that the first line is after the header is like the below line
email@comp.com,0020161234567,IT,01234567,"IT Manager"


then use the below cmdlet
import-csv Contacts.csv | foreach {Set-Contact -Identity $_.contact -Phone $_.phone -Department $_.department -Fax $_.fax  -Title $_.title }

Is this to done separately or can I use the following below?

import-csv 2011.csv | foreach {New-mailbox -name $_.name -userprincipalname $_.userprincipalname -lastname $_.lname -initials $_.mi -firstname $_.fname  -alias $_.alias -displayname $_.display -org $_.grad-year -Password (ConvertTo-SecureString $_.Password -asplaintext -force) -resetpasswordonnextlogon $true -database "Mailbox Database 1736540864" | Set-Contact -Identity $_.contact -Phone $_.phone -Department $_.department -Fax $_.fax  -Title $_.title}

the first part of the command "foreach {New-mailbox - .....etc" i used to create mailbox


and the second part of the command "| Set-Contact -Identity...... " is used to modify existing contact

you can't pipeline the commands the way u use as there are no relation between both

specify what do u need to exactly, create new mailboxes or modify existing contacts

Is the -Identity $_.contact  in Set-Contact equivalent to -userprincipalname $_.userprincipalname of New-mailbox? Other wise how does it know which contact to update?

Simply put.

Import-CSV reads a CSV file.

$Variable = Import-CSV "test.csv"

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Will make it easier to manage and understand.

You've stored the entire table from test.csv in a variable and can access the information in it from powershell by calling the $CSV variable.

$Variable

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and you will see the entire content of the CSV file.

the foreach-loop simply goes through each row or object from the previous command that you specify.

$_.Contact in a foreach loop is the value of the column "Contact" on the current Row. The part behind the "$_." is the value of the header for that column in your CSV-table.