book

Windows PowerShell 3.0 First Steps

Name: Windows PowerShell 3.0 First Steps
Author: Ed Wilson
ISBN: 9780735680999

by Ed Wilson

July 2013

Beginner

280 pages

7h 7m

English

Microsoft Press

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Dedication
Foreword
Introduction
System RequirementsHardware RequirementsSoftware RequirementsAcknowledgmentsSupport & Feedback ErrataWe Want to Hear from YouStay in Touch
1. Overview of Windows PowerShell 3.0
Understanding Windows PowerShellWorking with Windows PowerShellSecurity issues with Windows PowerShellRunning as a non-elevated userLaunching Windows PowerShell with administrator rightsUsing Windows PowerShell cmdletsThe most common verb: GetFinding process informationIdentifying installed Windows hotfixesGetting detailed service informationIdentifying installed network adaptersRetrieving detected network connection profilesGetting the current culture settingsFinding the current date and timeGenerating a random numberSupplying options for cmdletsUsing single parametersFinding specific types of hotfixesFinding specific processesGenerating random numbers in a rangeIntroduction to parameter setsGenerating a certain number of random numbersUsing command-line utilitiesWorking with Help optionsSummary
2. Using Windows PowerShell cmdlets
Understanding the basics of cmdletsCommon Windows PowerShell parametersUsing the Verbose parameter to provide additional informationUsing the ErrorAction parameter to hide errorsStarting the Windows PowerShell transcriptStopping and reviewing the Windows PowerShell transcriptSearching the Help topicsUsing the Get-Help cmdletPaging the Help outputUsing the Get-Help cmdlet to search for Windows PowerShell cmdletsUsing the About conceptual Help topicsUsing the Get-Command to find cmdletsUsing the Get-Member cmdletExploring property membersUsing the Show-Command cmdletSetting the Script Execution PolicyCreating a basic Windows PowerShell profileDetermining if a Windows PowerShell profile existsCreating a new Windows PowerShell profileSummary
3. Filtering, grouping, and sorting
Introduction to the pipelineSorting output from a cmdletGrouping output after sortingGrouping information without element dataFiltering output from one cmdletFiltering by dateFiltering to the leftFiltering output from one cmdlet before sortingSummary
4. Formatting output
Creating a tableChoosing specific properties in a specific orderControlling the way the table displaysCreating a listChoosing properties by nameChoosing properties by wildcardCreating a wide displayUsing the -AutoSize parameter to configure the outputCustomizing the Format-Wide outputCreating an output gridSorting output by using the column buttonsFiltering output by using the filter boxSummary
5. Storing output
Storing data in text filesRedirect and appendRedirect and overwriteControlling the text fileStoring data in .csv filesNo type informationUsing type informationStoring data in XMLThe problem with complex objectsUsing XML to store complex objectsSummary
6. Leveraging Windows PowerShell providers
Understanding Windows PowerShell providersUnderstanding the Alias providerUnderstanding the Certificate providerSearching for specific certificatesFinding expiring certificatesUnderstanding the Environment providerUnderstanding the File System providerUnderstanding the Function providerUnderstanding the Registry providerThe two registry drivesRetrieving registry valuesCreating new registry keysThe short way to create a new registry keySetting the default value for the keyUsing New-Item to create and assign a valueModifying the value of a registry property valueDealing with a missing registry property valueUnderstanding the Variable providerSummary
7. Using Windows PowerShell remoting
Using Windows PowerShell remotingClassic remotingConfiguring Windows PowerShell remotingRunning commandsRunning a single Windows PowerShell commandRunning a single command against multiple computersCreating a persisted connectionTroubleshooting Windows PowerShell remotingSummary

8. Using WMI
Understanding the WMI ModelWorking with objects and namespacesListing WMI providersWorking with WMI classesQuerying WMI: The basicsTell me everything about everythingTell me selected things about everythingTell me everything about some thingsTell me selected things about some thingsSummary
9. Using CIM
Using CIM cmdlets to explore WMI classesUsing the classname parameterFinding WMI class methodsFiltering classes by qualifierRetrieving WMI instancesReducing returned properties and instancesCleaning up output from the commandWorking with associationsSummary
10. Using the Windows PowerShell ISE
Running the Windows PowerShell ISENavigating the Windows PowerShell ISEWorking with the Script paneTab expansion and IntellisenseWorking with Windows PowerShell ISE snippetsUsing Windows PowerShell ISE snippets to create codeCreating new Windows PowerShell ISE snippetsRemoving user-defined Windows PowerShell ISE snippetsSummary
11. Using Windows PowerShell scripts
Why write Windows PowerShell scripts?Scripting fundamentalsRunning Windows PowerShell scriptsEnabling Windows PowerShell scripting supportTransitioning from command line to scriptRunning Windows PowerShell scriptsUnderstanding variables and constantsUsing variablesUsing the While statementConstructing the While statementUnderstanding expanding stringsUnderstanding literal stringsA practical example of using the While statementUsing special features of Windows PowerShellUsing the Do…While statementUsing the range operatorOperating over an arrayCasting to ASCII valuesUsing the Do…Until statementUsing the Windows PowerShell Do…Loop statementThe Do…While and Do…Until statements always run onceThe While statement is used to prevent unwanted executionUsing the For statementCreating a For…LoopUsing the ForEach statementUsing the ForEach statement from the Windows PowerShell consoleExiting the ForEach statement earlyUsing the Break statementUsing the Exit statementUsing the If statementUsing assignment and comparison operatorsEvaluating multiple conditionsUsing the Switch statementUsing the basic Switch statementDefining the Default conditionUnderstanding matchingEvaluating an arrayControlling matching behaviorSummary
12. Working with functions
Understanding functionsUsing a type constraintUsing multiple input parametersUsing functions to encapsulate business logicUsing functions to provide ease of modificationSummary
13. Debugging scripts
Understanding debugging in Windows PowerShellDebugging the scriptSetting breakpointsSetting a breakpoint on a line numberSetting a breakpoint on a variableSetting a breakpoint on a commandResponding to breakpointsListing breakpointsEnabling and disabling breakpointsDeleting breakpointsSummary
14. Handling errors
Handling missing parametersCreating a default value for the parameterDetecting the missing value and assigning it in the scriptAssigning the value in the Param statementMaking the parameter mandatoryLimiting choicesUsing PromptForChoice to limit selectionsUsing Test-Connection to identify accessible computersUsing the contains operator to examine contents of an arrayHandling missing rightsAttempting and failingChecking for rights and exiting gracefullyUsing Try/Catch/FinallySummary
A. Windows PowerShell FAQ
B. Windows PowerShell 3.0 coding conventions
General script constructionInclude functions in the script that uses the functionsUse full cmdlet names and full parameter namesUnderstanding the use of aliasesIf you must use an alias, use only canonical aliases in a scriptAlways use the Description property when creating an aliasUse Get-Item to convert path strings to rich typesGeneral script readabilityFormatting your codeWorking with functionsCreating template filesWriting your own functionsVariables, constants, and naming
Index
About the Author
Copyright

Content preview from Windows PowerShell 3.0 First Steps

Introduction

Gary said nearly everything I wanted to include in the Introduction. I designed this book for the complete beginner, and you should therefore read the book from beginning to end. If you want a more reference oriented book, you should check out my PowerShell Best Practices books, or even PowerShell 3.0 Step by Step. Actually, the Step by Step book is not really a reference, but a hands-on learning guide. It is, ideally, the book you graduate to once you have completed this one. For your daily dose of PowerShell, you should check out my Hey Scripting Guy blog at www.ScriptingGuys.com/blog. I post new content there twice a day.

System Requirements

Hardware Requirements

Your computer should meet the following minimum hardware requirements: ...

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Windows PowerShell 3.0 First Steps

by Ed Wilson

Introduction