Powershell Scripting Environments, Part I

Earlier this year, I said I would give some information regarding some of the many scripting tools you can use for creating Powershell scripts.  Here are just a couple of those tools that I currently use or have used in order to create my scripts:

 

1. PS Shell

This is equivalent to the Command Prompt.  When the shell is started, you will see PS C:\

 

 



           

  You can initialize variables within the shell.  Let's set the variable $messsage to 'This is a test'

 





We can see what is in the variable by running $message



The variable and contents are keep in memory and can be used with further cmdlets.

 

The drawback, for me, is that making changes involves either typing in a command again, or using the arrow keys to bring back a command you ran.  It may not be a problem if there are only a couple of lines to the script.  But, if you want to create a script with a lot of code, you going to want to use an integrated scripting tool.

 

 

2. Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE)

The ISE is provided by the Windows OS.  You can start the ISE by typing ISE in the Powershell shell

 

 

 

The ISE will appear

 

This environment allows you to create and run a script in the right panel.  When you run the script the output will appear in the left panel.

 

Here are a couple of tool bar items you should know how to use:

 Click this if you want to run the entire script.  The keyboard equivolent is F5

 

 

This allows you to run a specific line or group of lines in the script.  For example

By clicking on the

 

You will only run the $users line of the code.  You can then check what is in the $users variable by typing $users in the left panel.

 

 

 

 

This is equivolent to CLS, it clears the output panel.

 

I like using the ISE because a) it comes with Windows, and b) it allows you to create, update, and run individual lines of a script.

 

I hope you find this information helpful.  Next week, I will show you some popular free or pay tools that add some additional functionality to the scripting environment.