Powershell – A Task-Based Guide to Windows PowerShell Cmdlets

Source: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/scriptcenter/dd772285.aspx

 

A Task-Based Guide to Windows PowerShell Cmdlets

Cmdlets are the heart-and-soul of Windows PowerShell, Microsoft’s latest command shell/scripting language. This series provides a task-based introduction to Windows PowerShell cmdlets: Rather than focusing on the individual cmdlets themselves, the emphasis is on the tasks you can carry out using those cmdlets. These tasks include everything from reading and writing text files to managing event logs to sorting and filtering data.

As is so often the case with Windows PowerShell, the code snippets found in these articles can either be included within a Windows PowerShell script or typed directly into the Windows PowerShell console.

Dates and Times These tasks include such things as retrieving the current date and time, and performing date arithmetic. Change a Computer’s Date and Time List Date and Time Information Perform Date Arithmetic Files and Folders These tasks include such things as creating, renaming, copying, and deleting files and folders. Copy Files or Folders Create a New File or Folder Delete a File or Folder (Or Other Objects) Move a File or Folder Rename a File or Folder Replicate (and Extend) the DIR Command Retrieve a Specific Item Verify the Existence of a File or Folder Help and Information These tasks include such things as listing Windows PowerShell version information and using the Get-Member cmdlet to retrieve property and method information for an object. Get Help List All the Windows PowerShell Cmdlets List Windows PowerShell Version Information List the Properties and Methods of a Command or Object List Your Installed Windows PowerShell Providers Saving and Importing Data These tasks include such things as reading and writing to text files as well as saving data in HTML or XML format. Append Data to a Text File Check for the Existence of a String Value Display and Save Data With One Command Erase the Contents of a File Output as HTML Read a Text File Read in a Comma-Separated Values File Read in an XML File Save Data as a Comma-Separated Values File Save Data as an XML File Save Data Directly to a Text File Save Data to a Text File Scripting Techniques These techniques include such things as sorting data, filtering data, and prompting a user to enter information. Arrange Data Into Groups Calculate Basic Statistics Compare Two Objects or Text Files Display Data as a List Display Data in Multiple Columns Filter Returned Data List the Unique Members of a Collection List the Values in a Registry Key Loop Through a Collection of Objects Pause a Windows PowerShell Script Print Returned Data Prompt a User to Enter Information Select Only Specified Properties of an Object Sort Returned Data View Data One Screen at a Time Write a Warning Message to the Console Window Write Messages to the Console Window

Security and Security Descriptors These tasks include such things as configuring the Windows PowerShell script execution policy and retrieving the digital signature or security descriptor from a file or folder. Change the Windows PowerShell Script Execution Policy List the Windows PowerShell Script Execution Policy Retrieve Digital Signatures Retrieve the Security Descriptor for an Object System Administration Tasks These tasks include such things as starting and stopping services, retrieving data using WMI, and managing event logs and event log events. List Service Information Manage Event Logs and Event Log Events Modify the Properties of a Service Pause a Running Service Resume a Paused Service Retrieve Data Using WMI Retrieve Process Information Stop a Running Service Start a Stopped Service Stop and Restart a Service Terminate a Process Windows PowerShell Aliases These tasks include such things as retrieving and remapping existing aliases as well as creating new aliases. Create a New Windows PowerShell Alias Import Saved Windows PowerShell Aliases List All Your Windows PowerShell Aliases Remap an Existing Windows PowerShell Alias Save Windows PowerShell Aliases Windows PowerShell Sessions These tasks include such things as retrieving the Windows PowerShell history and re-invoking a command contained within that history. Restore a Previously-Saved Windows PowerShell History List Language and Locale Information List the Current Windows PowerShell History Re-run a Previous Command Restore a Previously-Saved Windows PowerShell History Scripts and Applications These tasks include such things as running scripts and/or applications as well as measuring how long it takes a Windows PowerShell task to complete. Open a File or Run a Program Run a Windows PowerShell Script Time How Long it Takes a Script or Command to Run