# PowerShell.exe Command-Line
# Executing a command
The -Command parameter is used to specify commands to be executed on launch. It supports multiple data inputs.
# -Command
You can specify commands to executed on launch as a string. Multiple semicolon ;-separated statements may be executed.
>PowerShell.exe -Command "(Get-Date).ToShortDateString()"
10.09.2016
>PowerShell.exe -Command "(Get-Date).ToShortDateString(); 'PowerShell is fun!'"
10.09.2016
PowerShell is fun!
# -Command { scriptblock }
The -Command parameter also supports a scriptblock input (one or multiple statements wrapped in braces { #code }. This only works when calling PowerShell.exe from another Windows PowerShell-session.
PS > powershell.exe -Command {
"This can be useful, sometimes..."
(Get-Date).ToShortDateString()
}
This can be useful, sometimes...
10.09.2016
# -Command - (standard input)
You can pass in commands from the standard input by using -Command -. The standard input can come from echo, reading a file, a legacy console application etc.
>echo "Hello World";"Greetings from PowerShell" | PowerShell.exe -NoProfile -Command -
Hello World
Greetings from PowerShell
# Executing a script file
You can specify a file to a ps1-script to execute it's content on launch using the -File parameter.
# Basic script
MyScript.ps1
(Get-Date).ToShortDateString()
"Hello World"
Output:
>PowerShell.exe -File Desktop\MyScript.ps1
10.09.2016
Hello World
# Using parameters and arguments
You can add parameters and/or arguments after filepath to use them in the script. Arguments will be used as values for undefined/available script-parameters, the rest will be available in the $args-array
MyScript.ps1
param($Name)
"Hello $Name! Today's date it $((Get-Date).ToShortDateString())"
"First arg: $($args[0])"
Output:
>PowerShell.exe -File Desktop\MyScript.ps1 -Name StackOverflow foo
Hello StackOverflow! Today's date it 10.09.2016
First arg: foo
# Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| -Help | -? |
| -File | Path to script-file that should be executed and arguments (optional) |
| -Command { - | |
| -EncodedCommand | Base64 encoded commands |
| -ExecutionPolicy | Sets the execution policy for this process only |
| -InputFormat { Text | XML} |
| -Mta | PowerShell 3.0+: Runs PowerShell in multi-threaded apartment (STA is default) |
| -Sta | PowerShell 2.0: Runs PowerShell in a single-threaded apartment (MTA is default) |
| -NoExit | Leaves PowerShell console running after executing the script/command |
| -NoLogo | Hides copyright-banner at launch |
| -NonInteractive | Hides console from user |
| -NoProfile | Avoid loading of PowerShell profiles for machine or user |
| -OutputFormat { Text | XML } |
| -PSConsoleFile | Loads a pre-created console file that configures the environment (created using Export-Console) |
| -Version | Specify a version of PowerShell to run. Mostly used with 2.0 |
| -WindowStyle |