ConvertFrom-StringData values stored in variable - hashtable

Question

I'm new to Powershell and I'm putting together a script that will populate all variables from data stored in a Excel file. Basically to create numerous VMs.
This works fine apart from where i have a variable with multiple name/value pairs which powershell needs to be a hashtable.
As each VM will need multiple tags applying, i have a column in excel called Tags.
The data in the field would look something like: "Top = Red `n Bottom = Blue".
I'm struggling to use ConvertFrom-StringData to create the hashtable however for these tags.
If i run:
ConvertFrom-StringData $exceldata.Tags
I end up with something like:
Name Value
---- -----
Top Red `n bottom = blue
I need help please with formatting the excel field correctly so ConvertFrom-StringData properly creates the hashtable. Or a better way of achieving this.
Thanks.

Answer 1

Sorted it, formatted the excel field as: Dept=it;env=prod;owner=Me
Then ran the following commands. No ConvertFrom-StringData required.
$artifacts = Import-Excel -Path "C:\temp\Artifacts.xlsx" -WorkSheetname "VM"
foreach ($artifact in $artifacts) {
$inputkeyvalues = $artifact.Tags
# Create hashtable
$tags = #{}
# Split input string into pairs
$inputkeyvalues.Split(';') |ForEach-Object {
# Split each pair into key and value
$key,$value = $_.Split('=')
# Populate $tags
$tags[$key] = $value
}
}