PowerShell

Various PowerShell functions and scripts. These are published as WFTools on the PowerShell Gallery (thanks to @psrdrgz for the idea!)

Instructions

These files contain functions. For example, Invoke-Sqlcmd2.ps1 contains the Invoke-Sqlcmd2 function.

    # PowerShell 5, or PackageManagement available?
    Install-Module WFTools -Force
    Import-Module WFTools
    Get-Command -Module WFTools
    Get-Help ConvertTo-FlatObject -Full

    # Alternatively:
    # Download and unblock the file(s).
    # Dot source the file(s) as appropriate.
    . "\\Path\To\Invoke-Sqlcmd2"

    # Use the functions
    Get-Help Invoke-Sqlcmd2 -Full
    Invoke-Sqlcmd2 -ServerInstance MyServer\MyInstance -Query "SELECT ServerName, VCNumCPU FROM tblServerInfo" -As PSObject -Credential $cred | ?{$_.VCNumCPU -gt 8}

Note: Using Import-Module to load these functions will break certain scenarios for Invoke-Parallel's variable import (details) - dot source the function if you need this.

Invoke-Sqlcmd2

I'm a fan of Invoke-Sqlcmd2. Props to Chad Miller and the other contributors for a fantastic function. I've added a few features with much help from others:

• Added pipeline support, with the option to append a ServerInstance column to keep track of your results:
  • 
• Added the option to pass in a PSCredential instead of a plaintext password
  • 
• Added PSObject output type to allow comparisons without odd [System.DBNull]::Value behavior:
  • Previously, many PowerShell comparisons resulted in errors:
    • 
  • With PSObject output, comparisons behave as expected:
    • 
  • Previously, testing for nonnull / null values did not work as expected:
    • 
  • With PSObject output, null values are excluded as expected
    • 
  • Speed comparison between DataRow and PSObject output with 1854 rows, 84 columns:
    • 

That DBNull behavior is strange! Why doesn't it behave as expected?

I agree. PowerShell does a lot of work under the covers to provide behavior a non-developer might expect. From my perspective, PowerShell should handle [System.DBNull]::Value like it does Null. Please vote up this Microsoft Connect suggestion if you agree!

Major thanks to Dave Wyatt for providing the C# code that produces the PSObject output type as a workaround for this.

You clearly don't know SQL. Why are you working on this function?

I absolutely do not know SQL. If I'm doing something wrong please let me know!

I have a number of projects at work that involve PowerShell wrappers for SQL queries. Invoke-Sqlcmd2 has been my go-to command for this - now that I'm spending more time with it, I plan to add some functionality.

Why is Invoke-Sqlcmd2 here?

I copied the code here to avoid the automated tweets for Poshcode.org submissions. I make many small changes and didn't want to spam twitter : )

TechNet Galleries Contributions

Many of these functions started out in the Technet Gallery. You might find more context at these links.

• ConvertFrom-SID
• Get-ADGroupMembers
• Get-FolderEntry
• Get-GPPFile
• Get-GPPShortcut
• Get-InstalledSoftware
• Get-MSSQLColumn
• Get-NetworkStatistics
• Get-PropertyType
• Get-ScheduledTasks
• Get-UACSetting
• Get-UserSession
• Invoke-Parallel
• Open-ISEFunction
• Test-ForAdmin

Help!

Would love contributors, suggestions, feedback, and other help!