PowerShell in Depth
An administrator's guide
By three of the best writers in the PowerShell community.
PowerShell in Depth, Second Edition is now available. An eBook of this older edition is included at no additional cost when you buy the revised edition!
A limited number of pBook copies of this edition are still available. Please contact Manning Support to inquire about purchasing previous edition copies.
PowerShell in Depth is the kind of book you'll want open on your desk most of the time. With 40 short chapters, each focused on a specific area of PowerShell, you'll be able to find the answers you need quickly. Each chapter is concise and to-the-point, so you can spend less time reading and more time getting down to the business at hand. It was written by three seasoned PowerShell experts, and every technique has been thoroughly tested. With this book in hand, you'll be able to consistently and quickly produce production quality, maintainable scripts that will save you countless hours of time and effort.
Table of Contents takes you straight to the bookdetailed table of contents
preface
acknowledgments about this book about the authors about the cover illustration
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Part 1 PowerShell fundamentals
1. Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1. Who this book is for
1.2. What this book will teach you
1.3. What this book won’t teach you
1.4. Where we drew the line
1.5. Beyond PowerShell
1.6. Ready?
2. Chapter 2 PowerShell hosts
2.1. -bit vs. 64-bit, and administrator vs. not
2.2. The console
2.3. The PowerShell ISE
2.4. Command history buffer vs. PowerShell’s history
2.5. Transcripts
2.6. Summary
3. Chapter 3 Using the PowerShell help system
3.1. The help commands
3.2. Where’s the help?
3.3. Using the help
3.4. “About” help files
3.5. Provider help
3.6. Interpreting command help
3.7. Common parameters
3.8. Summary
4. Chapter 4 The basics of PowerShell syntax
4.1. Commands
4.2. Parameters
4.3. Typing trick: line continuation
4.4. Parenthetical commands and expressions
4.5. Script blocks
4.6. Summary
5. Chapter 5 Working with PSSnapins and modules
5.1. There’s only one shell
5.2. PSSnapins vs. modules
5.3. Loading, autoloading, and profiles
5.4. Using extensions
5.5. Command name conflicts
5.6. Managing module autoloading
5.7. Summary
6. Chapter 6 Operators
6.1. Logical and comparison operators
6.2. Arithmetic operators
6.3. Other operators
6.4. Summary
7. Chapter 7 Working with objects
7.1. Introduction to objects
7.2. Members: properties, methods, and events
7.3. Sorting objects
7.4. Selecting objects
7.5. Filtering objects
7.6. Grouping objects
7.7. Measuring objects
7.8. Enumerating objects
7.9. Importing, exporting, and converting objects
7.10. Comparing objects
7.11. Summary
8. Chapter 8 The PowerShell pipeline
8.1. How the pipeline works
8.2. Parameter binding ByValue
8.3. Pipeline binding ByPropertyName
8.4. Troubleshooting parameter binding
8.5. When parameter binding lets you down
8.6. The pipeline with external commands
8.7. Summary
9. Chapter 9 Formatting
9.1. The time to format
9.2. The formatting system
9.3. The Format cmdlets
9.4. Eliminating confusion and “gotchas”
9.5. Summary
Part 2 PowerShell management
10. Chapter 10 PowerShell Remoting
10.1. The many forms of remote control
10.2. Remoting overview
10.3. Using Remoting
10.4. PSSessions
10.5. Advanced session techniques
10.6. Creating a custom endpoint
10.7. Connecting to nondefault endpoints
10.8. Enabling the “second hop”
10.9. Setting up WinRM listeners
10.10. Other configuration scenarios
10.11. Implicit Remoting
10.12. Summary
11. Chapter 11 Background jobs and scheduling
11.1. Remoting-based jobs
11.2. WMI jobs
11.3. Scheduled jobs
11.4. Job processes
11.5. Summary
12. Chapter 12 Working with credentials
12.1. About credentials
12.2. Using credentials
12.3. Crazy credentials ideas
12.4. Summary
13. Chapter 13 Regular expressions
13.1. Basic regular expression syntax
13.2. The –match operator
13.3. The select-string cmdlet
13.4. Switch statement
13.5. The REGEX object
13.6. Summary
14. Chapter 14 Working with HTML and XML data
14.1. Working with HTML
14.2. Working with XML
14.3. Summary
15. Chapter 15 PSDrives and PSProviders
15.1. Why use PSProviders?
15.2. What are PSProviders?
15.3. What are PSDrives?
15.4. Working with PSDrives
15.5. Transactional operations
15.6. Every drive is different
15.7. Summary
16. Chapter 16 Variables, arrays, hash tables, and scriptblocks
16.1. Variables
16.2. Built-in variables and the Variable: drive
16.3. Variable commands
16.4. Arrays
16.5. Hash tables and ordered hash tables
16.6. Scriptblocks
16.7. Summary
17. Chapter 17 PowerShell security
17.1. PowerShell security goals
17.2. PowerShell security mechanisms
17.3. Execution policy
17.4. The PowerShell security debate
17.5. Summary
18. Chapter 18 Advanced PowerShell syntax
18.1. Splatting
18.2. Defining default parameter values
18.3. Running external utilities
18.4. Expressions in quotes: $($cool)
18.5. Parentheticals as objects
18.6. Increase the format enumeration limit
18.7. Hash tables as objects
18.8. Summary
Part 3 PowerShell scripting and automation
19. Chapter 19 PowerShell’s scripting language
19.1. Defining conditions
19.2. Loops: For, Do, While, Until
19.3. ForEach
19.4. Break and Continue
19.5. If . . . ElseIf . . . Else
19.6. Switch
19.7. Mastering the punctuation
19.8. Summary
20. Chapter 20 Basic scripts and functions
20.1. Script or function?
20.2. Execution lifecycle and scope
20.3. Starting point: a command
20.4. Accepting input
20.5. Creating output
20.6. “Filtering” scripts
20.7. Moving to a function
20.8. Summary
21. Chapter 21 Creating objects for output
21.1. Why output objects?
21.2. Syntax for creating custom objects
21.3. Complex objects: collections as properties
21.4. Applying a type name to custom objects
21.5. So, why bother?
21.6. Summary
22. Chapter 22 Scope
22.1. Understanding scope
22.2. Observing scope in action
22.3. Dot sourcing
22.4. Manipulating cross-scope elements
22.5. Being private
22.6. Being strict
22.7. Summary
23. Chapter 23 PowerShell workflows
23.1. Workflow overview
23.2. Workflow basics
23.3. General workflow design strategy
23.4. Example workflow scenario
23.5. Writing the workflow
23.6. Workflows vs. functions
23.7. Specific workflow techniques
23.8. Running a workflow
23.9. A practical example
23.10. Invoke-AsWorkflow
23.11. PSWorkflowSession
23.12. Troubleshooting a workflow
23.13. Summary
24. Chapter 24 Advanced syntax for scripts and functions
24.1. Starting point
24.2. Advanced parameters
24.3. Variations on parameter inputs
24.4. Parameter aliases
24.5. Parameter validation
24.6. Parameter sets
24.7. WhatIf and Confirm parameters
24.8. Verbose output
24.9. Summary
25. Chapter 25 Script modules and manifest modules
25.1. Making a script module
25.2. Exporting module members
25.3. Making a module manifest
25.4. Creating dynamic modules
25.5. Summary
26. Chapter 26 Custom formatting views
26.1. Object type names
26.2. Getting view templates
26.3. Starting a view file
26.4. Adding view types
26.5. Importing view data
26.6. Using named views
26.7. Going further
26.8. Summary
27. Chapter 27 Custom type extensions
27.1. What are type extensions?
27.2. Creating and loading a type extension file
27.3. Making type extensions
27.4. A complete example
27.5. Updating type data dynamically
27.6. Get-TypeData
27.7. Remove-TypeData
27.8. Summary
28. Chapter 28 Data language and internationalization
28.1. Internationalization basics
28.2. Adding a data section
28.3. Storing translated strings
28.4. Testing localization
28.5. Summary
29. Chapter 29 Writing help
29.1. Comment-based help
29.2. Writing About topics
29.3. XML-based help
29.4. Summary
30. Chapter 30 Error handling techniques
30.1. About errors and exceptions
30.2. Using $ErrorActionPreference and –ErrorAction
30.3. Using –ErrorVariable
30.4. Using $Error
30.5. Trap constructs
30.6. Try…Catch…Finally constructs
30.7. Summary
31. Chapter 31 Debugging tools and techniques
31.1. Debugging: all about expectations
31.2. Write-Debug
31.3. Breakpoints
31.4. Using Set-PSDebug
31.5. Debugging in third-party editors
31.6. Summary
32. Chapter 32 Functions that work like cmdlets
32.1. Defining the task
32.2. Building the command
32.3. Parameterizing the pipeline
32.4. Adding professional features
32.5. Error handling
32.6. Making it a function and adding help
32.7. Creating a custom view
32.8. Creating a type extension
32.9. Making a module manifest
32.10. Summary
33. Chapter 33 Tips and tricks for creating reports
33.1. What not to do
33.2. Working with HTML fragments and files
33.3. Sending email
33.4. Summary
Part 4 Advanced PowerShell
34. Chapter 34 Working with the Component Object Model (COM)
34.1. Introduction to COM objects
34.2. Instantiating COM objects in PowerShell
34.3. Accessing and using COM objects’ members
34.4. PowerShell and COM examples
34.5. Summary
35. Chapter 35 Working with .NET Framework objects
35.1. Classes, instances, and members
35.2. NET Framework syntax in PowerShell
35.3. NET support in PowerShell
35.4. Accessing static members
35.5. Finding the right framework bits
35.6. Creating and working with instances
35.7. Summary
36. Chapter 36 Accessing databases
36.1. Native SQL vs. OLEDB
36.2. Connecting to data sources
36.3. Querying data
36.4. Adding, changing, and deleting data
36.5. Calling stored procedures
36.6. A module to make it easier
36.7. Summary
37. Chapter 37 Proxy functions
37.1. The purpose of proxy functions
37.2. How proxy functions work
37.3. Creating a basic proxy function
37.4. Adding a parameter
37.5. Removing a parameter
37.6. Turning it into a function
37.7. Summary
38. Chapter 38 Building a GUI
38.1. WinForms via PowerShell Studio
38.2. Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and ShowUI
38.3. WinForms vs. WPF
38.4. Ideas for leveraging a GUI tool
38.5. Summary
39. Chapter 39 WMI and CIM
39.1. What is WMI?
39.2. WMI cmdlets
39.3. CIM cmdlets
39.4. CIM sessions
39.5. “Cmdlets over objects”
39.6. Summary
40. Chapter 40 Best practices
40.1. PowerShell general best practices
40.2. PowerShell scripting best practices
40.3. PowerShell in the enterprise best practices
© 2014 Manning Publications Co.
About the Technology
PowerShell is part of nearly everything a Windows administrator touches, and the soon-to-be-released version 3 adds still more powerful features for you to learn and use. With PowerShell you can securely and efficiently automate almost every aspect of your Windows system and servers.
About the book
Organized into 40 concise chapters, PowerShell in Depth is the go-to reference for administrators working with Windows PowerShell. Every major shell technique, technology, and tactic is explained and demonstrated, providing a comprehensive reference to almost everything an admin would do in the shell. Written by three experienced authors and PowerShell MVPs, this is the PowerShell book you'll keep next to your monitor—not on your bookshelf!
This book requires basic familiarity with PowerShell.
A most wonderful Power-Shell administrators’ guide.
Hicks, Jones, and Siddaway come together to deliver the ultimate PowerShell resource.
I have many books on my shelf—this one will be on my desk!