Powershell Console & ISE

Overview:

The following section goes over the Powershell Console and introduction to the Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE).

PowerShell Console vs. Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE)

PowerShell Console:

• A command-line interface where you can run PowerShell commands and scripts interactively.

• Best for quick tasks and one-off commands.

• Limited in terms of script editing and debugging capabilities.

Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE):

• A graphical host application for PowerShell that provides an environment for writing, running, and debugging scripts.

• Features include syntax highlighting, multiline editing, and a script pane for creating and testing scripts.

• Ideal for writing, testing, and debugging longer scripts.

How to Open:

• PowerShell Console:

  • Windows: Search for "PowerShell" in the Start menu.

  • macOS/Linux: Open your terminal and type pwsh.

• PowerShell ISE (Windows only):

  • Search for "Windows PowerShell ISE" in the Start menu.

Configuring the PowerShell Environment

Changing the Execution Policy:

• PowerShell’s execution policy determines the conditions under which PowerShell loads configuration files and runs scripts.

• To check the current execution policy:

  Get-ExecutionPolicy

• To set the execution policy to allow running scripts:

  Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

  (This allows scripts downloaded from the internet to run if they are signed by a trusted publisher.)

Customizing the Console:

• You can customize the appearance and behavior of the PowerShell console.

• To change properties such as font, colors, and layout:

  • Right-click the title bar of the PowerShell console window.

  • Select "Properties" and adjust settings as desired.

Using Aliases:

• Aliases are shortcuts for cmdlets and can make your work faster.

• To list all aliases:

  Get-Alias

• To create a new alias:

  Set-Alias -Name ll -Value Get-ChildItem

Understanding Profiles

What is a PowerShell Profile?

• A PowerShell profile is a script that runs when PowerShell starts. It can be used to customize your environment.

• There are different types of profiles, including user-specific and host-specific profiles.

Profile Locations:

• To view all profile paths:

  $PROFILE | Format-List -Property *

Creating and Editing a Profile:

• To create a profile if it doesn’t exist:

  if (!(Test-Path -Path $PROFILE)) {
      New-Item -Type File -Path $PROFILE -Force
  }

• To open and edit your profile:

  notepad $PROFILE

• Add customizations, such as aliases or functions, to your profile. For example:

  # Add an alias
  Set-Alias -Name ll -Value Get-ChildItem
  
  # Add a custom function
  function Show-DateTime {
      Get-Date
  }