Playing Around with XML Files Using PowerShell Without Screwing them Up - Got-PowerShell 2.0? For example, let’s use a file we can all play with because it comes with PowerShell. Let’s use a help file from which cmdlet help is generated when you use the Get-Help cmdlet. The basic help files are located in the language dependent directory under the PowerShell home directory. In my case, I am using the US English system, so I’ll find the help files when I run the following command in my PowerShell session: dir $PShome\en-us\*.xml Which returns the following list of files for my system: Directory: C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\en-us Now, I’m going to pick the last file in the list, System.Management.Automation.dll-Help.xml Why that one?
We’ve found some files that we can look at together because these files come with PowerShell 2.0. Navigating XML Files with PowerShell (Using the Help File as an example) - Got-PowerShell 2.0? In the blog post called, Reading in the Help File with Get-Content (Part 2 of 2), I started the process of roaming around the PowerShell help file. I followed the process I'm going to talk through when I needed to build some quick scripts that checked all of our Windows Server help files to make sure we had completely filled out the required fields.
But before I could write scripts to automate the file verification, I first needed to know what I was looking to verify. So, in a sense, I’m more crawling through the file, than walking. What Am I Looking For? I can see the skeleton of the information I want from the help file when I run, get-help get-help –full and distill the titles of the sections. Rereading the PowerShell Help File (recap from last blog post) In the past blog post, I had made it down to the level where I could see an element known as command. Let’s go down one level to see what child nodes are inside the command XML node: (How did I know to look at the command node? Log Parser. What Can I Do With Windows PowerShell? - A Task-Based Guide to Windows PowerShell Cmdlets. Built-In Remoting in PowerShell - TechNet Articles - Home - TechNet Wiki. PowerShell.exe Console Help. Updated: May 19, 2011 Applies To: Windows PowerShell 2.0 Starts Windows PowerShell from the command line of another tool, such as Cmd.exe.
Syntax PowerShell[.exe] [-EncodedCommand <Base64EncodedCommand>] [-ExecutionPolicy <ExecutionPolicy>] [-InputFormat {Text | XML}] [-NoExit] [-NoLogo] [-NonInteractive] [-NoProfile] [-OutputFormat {Text | XML}] [-PSConsoleFile <file> | -Version <version>] [-Sta] [-WindowStyle <style>] [-File <filePath><args>] [-Command { - | <script-block> [-args <arg-array>] | <string> [<CommandParameters>] } ] PowerShell[.exe] -Help | -? Parameters -EncodedCommand Accepts a base-64-encoded string version of a command. -ExecutionPolicy Sets the default execution policy for the current session and saves it in the $env:PSExecutionPolicyPreference environment variable. -File Runs the specified script in the local scope ("dot-sourced"), so that the functions and variables that the script creates are available in the current session.
-InputFormat -NoExit -NoLogo -NonInteractive -Sta. Automating Active Directory Management with Windows PowerShell. Windows PowerShellAutomating Directory Management Don Jones One of the most unfortunate things about the first version of Windows PowerShell is its timing. The Windows PowerShell team was under a certain amount of pressure to ship the product (there was this little product called Exchange Server 2007 launching and that was depending on Windows PowerShell) and the Active Directory team had a lot on its hands at the time (another little product called Windows Server® 2008 was also in the works). So Windows PowerShell shipped with less than superior Active Directory® management capabilities. To be clear, Windows PowerShell® doesn't completely lack Active Directory features. The ADSI Way ADSI is similar to Windows® Management Instrumentation (WMI) in the way it works. On a very basic level, using ADSI in Windows PowerShell appears simple and straightforward.
$user = [ADSI]" $user.Get("Company") A Rich Ecosystem The Windows PowerShell Way. Set-PSDebug. Updated: April 21, 2010 Applies To: Windows PowerShell 2.0 Turns script debugging features on and off, sets the trace level, and toggles strict mode. Syntax Set-PSDebug [-Off] [<CommonParameters>] Set-PSDebug [-Step] [-Strict] [-Trace <int>] [<CommonParameters>] Description The Set-PSDebug cmdlet turns script debugging features on and off, sets the trace level, and toggles strict mode. When the Trace parameter is set to 1, each line of script is traced as it is executed. Parameters -Off Turns off all script debugging features. Note: A "Set-StrictMode -off" command disables the verification set by a "set-psdebug -strict" command. -Step Turns on script stepping. Note: Specifying the Step parameter automatically sets a Trace level of 1. -Strict Specifies that the interpreter should throw an exception if a variable is referenced before a value is assigned to the variable.
-Trace <int> Specifies the trace level: 0 - Turn script tracing off 1 - Trace script lines as they are executed Inputs and Outputs. Converting VBScript to Windows PowerShell. The Windows PowerShell Toolbox. Filter PowerShell Output with the Out-Gridview Cmdlet - Hey, Scripting Guy! Blog. Summary: The Scripting Wife learns how to filter output by using the Windows PowerShell Out-Gridview cmdlet. I am happily anticipating this weekend in Seattle. I leave for Seattle tomorrow evening. I will be participating in a portion of the MVP summit.
In addition, I will be teaching a Windows PowerShell class to a group of Microsoft engineers during the remainder of the week. This is my first flight for nearly two years…I just received flight clearance from my doctor. The permission to fly could not have come at a better time. I am looking forward to interacting with various Microsoft MVPs, as well as to teaching the class. I am sitting in my office listening to Etta James on my Zune HD, while I hang out on Twitter for a while. As an aside, Service Pack 1 for Windows 7 and for Windows Server 2008 R2 released to the web on Tuesday. This week the Scripting Wife has been learning about formatting output in preparation for the 2011 Scripting Games. “Are you still grumpy?” “Grumpy? “OK. Use PowerShell to Add Commands to the Windows Explorer Command Bar - Hey, Scripting Guy! Blog. Summary: Learn how to use Windows PowerShell to add commands to the Windows Explorer command bar in Windows 7 and Windows Vista.
Weekend Scripter Microsoft Scripting Guy, Ed Wilson, here. Did you ever have one of those times when a seemingly simple project suddenly morphed into a monster project? It seems that when I have a bit of extra time, I let the project get out of hand. If I am under a tight deadline, I follow a more straight line. I was asked to supply around a hundred scripts or so, and I did that. Then I thought about the different commands that could be added, and the different combinations that might be involved in registry locations, and I decided that a graphical script would be a better way to approach the problem. To make changes to the Hkey_Local_Machine registry hive, the Windows PowerShell ISE must be launched with administrator rights. As shown in the following image, when the Set-ExplorerCommandBar.ps1 script runs, a WinForm appears.
Proxy Functions: Spice Up Your PowerShell Core Cmdlets - Hey, Scripting Guy! Blog. Summary: Microsoft MVP, Shay Levy, shows how to use Windows PowerShell proxy functions to extend the capability of Windows PowerShell cmdlets. Hey, Scripting Guy! I need to be able to modify the behavior of existing Windows PowerShell cmdlets. Is this something that can be accomplished by using “normal” tools, or do I need to reverse engineer them by using Visual Studio? Hello LS, Microsoft Scripting Guy, Ed Wilson, here.
Today our guest blogger is Shay Levy. Here is a bit of information about Shay: Windows PowerShell MVP Blog: Follow Shay on Twitter: Download the PowerShell Community Toolbar: Have you ever had a thought like, “I wish that cmdlet had that parameter?” I have had several thoughts like that one, and with proxy functions, I was able to implement them on my system. PS > $xml = [xml](Get-Content -Path c:\test.xml) Wouldn't it be nice if the Get-Content Windows PowerShell cmdlet had an AsXml parameter? Windows PowerShell Tip: Working With Security Descriptors. Here’s a quick tip on working with Windows PowerShell.
These are published every week for as long as we can come up with new tips. If you have a tip you’d like us to share or a question about how to do something, let us know. Find more tips in the Windows PowerShell Tip of the Week archive. Working with Security Descriptors For many people, security descriptors have always represented the Holy Grail of system administration scripting: shrouded in mystery and mythology, security descriptors are the one thing that everyone dreams about yet never expects to see for themselves. That’s interesting, too, because it’s definitely not impossible to manage security descriptors using scripts. Well, the big deal is the fact that something that might be theoretically possible isn’t always very practical. $DogACL = get-acl c:\dog.txt set-acl -path C:\cat.txt -AclObject $DogACL You get the security descriptor off the file Dog.txt and then copy that security descriptor to Cat.txt.
Got that? See? About_Profiles. Security Descriptor Constants. This page lists security descriptor constants, including a brief description and the hexadecimal value of each constant. These constants are used when creating scripts that manage Active Directory security; because scripting languages do not have access to type libraries, you must define each constant before using it in a script.
For example, if you need to use the constant ADS_RIGHT_DELETE in a script, this line of code should appear somewhere near the beginning of that script: Const ADS_RIGHT_DELETE = &H10000 ADS_RIGHTS_ENUM (Access Mask) Contains a set of flags that specifies access privileges for the object. ADS_ACETYPE_ENUM (Ace Type) Contains a value that indicates the type of ACE. ADS_ACEFLAG_ENUM (Ace Flags) Contains a set of flags that specifies if other containers or objects can inherit the ACE.
ADS_FLAGTYPE_ENUM (Flags) A flag that indicates if the ACE has an object type or inherited object type. Security Extended Rights. Part 1: Extended Rights This is the first of a two-part series that will introduce you to using scripts to manage Active Directory Security. This document (Part 1) will discuss extended rights, and demonstrate how you can grant users permission to do such things as change or reset someone else’s password.
Part 2 discusses Active Directory property sets, and show you can delegate the ability to read and write predefined user attributes (for example, a set of attributes revolving around user logon). Note that this article assumes that you have a basic understanding of security descriptors, particularly discretionary access control lists (DACLs) and access control entries (ACEs). Part 1: Granting Extended Rights Whenever people try to explain what Active Directory is (or isn’t), they invariably use the analogy, “Active Directory is like a phone book.” Of course, an equally valid analogy would be to say that “Active Directory is like the file system.” Security descriptor dialog box Note. Register-ObjectEvent. Subscribes to the events that are generated by a Microsoft .NET Framework object.
Syntax Register-ObjectEvent [-InputObject] <psobject> [-EventName] <string> [[-SourceIdentifier] <string>] [[-Action] <scriptblock>] [-Forward] [-MessageData <psobject>] [-SupportEvent] [<CommonParameters>] Description The Register-ObjectEvent cmdlet subscribes to events that are generated by .NET Framework objects on the local computer or on a remote computer. When the subscribed event is raised, it is added to the event queue in your session. To get events in the event queue, use the Get-Event cmdlet. You can use the parameters of Register-ObjectEvent to specify property values of the events that can help you to identify the event in the queue. When you subscribe to an event, an event subcriber is added to your session.
Parameters -Action <scriptblock> Specifies commands to handle the events. When you specify an action, Register-ObjectEvent returns an event job object that represents that action. -Forward Notes. Part 2: Working with Property Sets. Part 2: Working with Property Sets In Part 1 of our two-part series, Luke Skywalker destroyed the Death Star, the Empire was defeated, and – oh, wait. Sorry. In our trilogy something far more exciting occurred: in Part 1, we showed you how you could use extended rights to help delegate control over Active Directory. (If that doesn’t sound more exciting than destroying the Death Star, well, maybe you should read Part 1 before passing judgment.
Note. We began this series by looking at extended rights simply because two of those rights – the right to change a user’s password and the right to reset a user’s password – are two of the most-common Active Directory scripting requests we Scripting Guys receive. But what’s the alternative? Of course, while that might sound good at first it does get a bit scarier the more you think about it. Relax: this is what property sets are for. Part 2: Working with Property Sets Property sets represent a collection of related attributes. Note. Security Allrights. This page lists all the extended rights available for delegation in Active Directory.
These rights have been categorized according to the object (such as the user account object) that the right applies to; each listing includes the extended right name, a brief description, and the object GUID required when writing a script to delegate that right. addressBookContainer Object Container for holding members of an address book view. Open-Address-Book Extended right checked when opening address book object for address book views. Object GUID: {a1990816-4298-11d1-ade2-00c04fd8d5cd} computer Object This class represents a computer account in the domain. Allowed-To-Authenticate The control access right controls who can authenticate to a particular machine or service. Receive-As Exchange right: allows receiving mail as a given mailbox. Send-As Exchange right: allows sending mail as the mailbox. User-Change-Password Permits changing password on user account. Configuration Object dMD Object. Use VBscript to Create, Write, and Modify XML files. Hey, Scripting Guy! The Games Are Afoot!
Oh, and Some XML, Too The Microsoft Scripting Guys You know, any time people talk about the legends of the sporting world, the same names inevitably come up: Babe Ruth. Pele. Muhammad Ali. Ha, that's funny, you ... oh, you're serious? And here's the really cool part: can you realistically hope to become a soccer legend like Pele? Note: In theory, you might be able to become the next Babe Ruth, too. Take it easy; we'll tell you how you can become the next ScooterK or MrRat (and maybe even the next Bizzy or H2Data).
The Scripting Games (February 15th through March 3rd) are fun and challenging. The Games (did we mention they run from February 15th through March 3rd?) February 15th through March 3rd. What's that? Exactly one year ago (wow, has it really been that long?) To begin with, we create an instance of the Microsoft.XMLDOM object. Figure 2 Our target: a simple XML file Set objRoot = _ xmlDoc.createElement("ITChecklist") xmlDoc.appendChild objRoot. PowerShell Scriptomatic. Quick Guide to PowerShell v2 Remoting with PSSession - TechNet Articles - Home - TechNet Wiki. Hey, Scripting Guy!: Chasing Cars… and XML. Enable and Use Remote Commands in Windows PowerShell. Windows PowerShell Cmdlets. Create a Transcript of What You Do in Windows PowerShell. Explore New Cmdlets for Debugging in Windows PowerShell 2.0.
Work Remotely with Windows PowerShell without using Remoting or WinRM. Windows PowerShell Cmdlet Help Topics. Scripting with Windows PowerShell.
Overview of Cmdlets Available in Windows PowerShell.