Professional Windows® PowerShell

18.1. Handling Syntax Errors

Most people who write code introduce syntax errors from time to time. When you're learning a new language or switching frequently between languages, syntax errors can become frequent. Windows PowerShell gives you some support in interpreting the syntax errors you introduce but, as with many other languages, you can expect some error messages to be only marginally helpful at best.

Simple syntax errors, such as misspelling a cmdlet name, are easily dealt with. If you type:

write-hos "Hello world!"

instead of:

write-host "Hello world!"

you will receive an error message about the command not being recognized, as shown in Figure 18-1.

The term 'write-hos' is not recognized as a cmdlet, function, operable program, or
script file. Verify the term
  and try again.
At line:1 char:10
+ write-hos  <<<< "Hello world!"

Figure 18.1. Figure 18-1

You know you were trying to type a cmdlet name, so it's that part of the error message that you should focus on. The error message doesn't tell you what the correct cmdlet name is, but the error message points you in the right direction—taking a close look at the command you used. Similar issues arise if you mistype the name of a function or script.

At other times, you will receive the same error message but not due to the supposed failure to recognize a script as a script. The script file, Hello.ps1, shown below, is used in ...