From VB Script to PowerShell

From VB Script to PowerShell

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  Convert Your Brainfrom VBScript to PowerShell Don Jones Senior Partner & Principal Technologist Concentrated Technology, LLC
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  This slide deckwas used in one of our many conference presentations. We hope you enjoy it, and invite you to use it within your own organization however you like. For more information on our company, including information on private classes and upcoming conference appearances, please visit our Web site, www.ConcentratedTech.com . For links to newly-posted decks, follow us on Twitter: @concentrateddon or @concentratdgreg This work is copyright ©Concentrated Technology, LLC
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  CAUTION: DEMOS AHEADThis is a demonstration-intensive session (very few slides) I will capture a shell transcript and save all of my scripts You can download these (in a week or so) from ConcentratedTech.com (there ’s a “Conference Materials” link in the menu) • Don Jones • ConcentratedTech.com
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  Change Your BrainVBScript is a scripting language PowerShell is a shell that has some scripting capabilities In many cases you can do a line-by-line conversion from VBScript to PowerShell – but you ’re not taking advantage of PowerShell’s strengths We ’re going to look at some specific scenarios and try to change your brain! • Don Jones • ConcentratedTech.com
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  The Language PowerShell’s “scripting language” is about 14 keywords It provides most of the language constructs you know from VBScript Let ’s look at where to find the help on them, because we aren’t really going to focus on them a lot here We will look at Switch because it ’s so different from Select Case • Don Jones • ConcentratedTech.com
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  Changing Your BrainGOOD If & Switch – good for adding conditional commands in complex processes AVOID ForEach – if you ’re enumerating a collection, you’re likely doing it wrong Loops of any kind – often not needed, and a sign of a “VBS” approach rather than a “PSH” approach • Don Jones • ConcentratedTech.com
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  Example #1 Readinga list of computer names and connecting to them via WMI We ’ll look at a VBS-style approach, and then a more compact PowerShell-style approach
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  Example #2 Combininginfo from multiple sources into a single table Again, VBS approach first – then a couple of PowerShell-style approaches • Don Jones • ConcentratedTech.com
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  The Trick withPowerShell PowerShell commands intrinsically provide collection enumeration within the pipeline Many PowerShell command parameters natively accept collections/arrays (how can you tell?) so you don ’t have to enumerate over the collection/array yourself (Parens) let you embed embed entire commands as input to another command ’s parameters Many commands can accept other commands as parameters • Don Jones • ConcentratedTech.com
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  Stop Producing TextNever use Write-Host. Write-Output to the pipeline – and write objects, not text Also: Write-Debug ($DebugPreference) Write-Error Write-Warning Write-Verbose Produce objects • Don Jones • ConcentratedTech.com
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  Modularization, the PowerShellWay Every unit – script, function, whatever – should do one thing and either: Produce NO output Produce ONE consistent kind of output to the pipeline Utilize verb-noun naming convention Use consistent parameter names Create functions designed to work within the pipeline (ideally, “script cmdlets” or Advanced Functions) Add help using comments • Don Jones • ConcentratedTech.com
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  Never Do ThisProduce a list… … output it to a text file… … and then read that back in and parse it. Text is only to be used as a final output – not an intermediary Never try to parse the output of a table (e.g., Format-Table) – here ’s why • Don Jones • ConcentratedTech.com
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  Where are myfunctions?!? PowerShell doesn ’t have intrinsic data-manipulation functions Instead, look at methods of… String objects DateTime objects Also look at the static methods of the [Math] class, e.g., [Math]::Abs(-5) • Don Jones • ConcentratedTech.com
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  Any Questions? & Closing Thoughts Use the pipeline. The pipeline isn ’t a feature of PowerShell, it’s at the heart and soul of how the shell is structured For a lot of tasks, a command sequence ( “pipeline”) can be a lot shorter than a VBScript – and just as effective Think reusability – output objects, since those have maximum re-use. • Don Jones • ConcentratedTech.com
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  Final Notes… Pleasebe sure to submit a session evaluation form! Download slides & materials from www.ConcentratedTech.com within one week! Blog, URLs, and other information is also available at www.ConcentratedTech.com for your reference More resources at www.ShellHub.com Thank you very much! • Don Jones • ConcentratedTech.com
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  This slide deckwas used in one of our many conference presentations. We hope you enjoy it, and invite you to use it within your own organization however you like. For more information on our company, including information on private classes and upcoming conference appearances, please visit our Web site, www.ConcentratedTech.com . For links to newly-posted decks, follow us on Twitter: @concentrateddon or @concentratdgreg This work is copyright ©Concentrated Technology, LLC