Out-host PowerShell Command

Out-Host is a Windows PowerShell command that enables you to send output to the host program, which is the program that is currently running. It is used to display the output of a command in a user-friendly format. Out-Host is a powerful command that can be used to create a wide variety of output formats, including HTML, XML, and text. In this guide, we will explore the syntax, parameters, inputs, outputs, examples, and tips for using Out-Host.

Syntax of Out-Host

The syntax of Out-Host is as follows:

Out-Host [-InputObject] <PSObject[]> [-Paging] [-Width <Int32>] [-Stream] [-NoNewline] [-Separator <String>] [-Encoding <Encoding>] [-Force] [-Verbose] [-Debug] [-ErrorAction <ActionPreference>] [-ErrorVariable <String>] [-OutVariable <String>] [-OutBuffer <Int32>] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [ <CommonParameters>]

Parameters of Out-Host

Out-Host has several parameters that can be used to customize the output. These parameters include:

  • -InputObject – This parameter specifies the input object to be sent to the host program.
  • -Paging – This parameter enables paging of the output.
  • -Width – This parameter specifies the width of the output.
  • -Stream – This parameter specifies the stream to which the output should be sent.
  • -NoNewline – This parameter prevents a new line from being added to the output.
  • -Separator – This parameter specifies the separator to be used between output items.
  • -Encoding – This parameter specifies the encoding to be used for the output.
  • -Force – This parameter forces the output to be sent to the host program.
  • -Verbose – This parameter displays verbose output.
  • -Debug – This parameter displays debug output.
  • -ErrorAction – This parameter specifies the action to be taken when an error occurs.
  • -ErrorVariable – This parameter specifies the variable to which the error should be assigned.
  • -OutVariable – This parameter specifies the variable to which the output should be assigned.
  • -OutBuffer – This parameter specifies the size of the output buffer.
  • -WhatIf – This parameter displays what would happen if the command were to run.
  • -Confirm – This parameter displays a prompt asking for confirmation before running the command.

Inputs of Out-Host

Out-Host accepts input objects as its input. These input objects can be anything from a single object to an array of objects. The input objects are sent to the host program, which is the program that is currently running.

Outputs of Out-Host

Out-Host sends the input objects to the host program, which is the program that is currently running. The output of Out-Host can be customized using the parameters described above. The output can be in the form of text, HTML, or XML.

Examples of Out-Host

Here are some examples of how Out-Host can be used:

  • To display the output of a command in a user-friendly format, use the following command: Out-Host -InputObject <PSObject[]>
  • To enable paging of the output, use the following command: Out-Host -InputObject <PSObject[]> -Paging
  • To specify the width of the output, use the following command: Out-Host -InputObject <PSObject[]> -Width <Int32>
  • To specify the stream to which the output should be sent, use the following command: Out-Host -InputObject <PSObject[]> -Stream
  • To prevent a new line from being added to the output, use the following command: Out-Host -InputObject <PSObject[]> -NoNewline
  • To specify the separator to be used between output items, use the following command: Out-Host -InputObject <PSObject[]> -Separator <String>
  • To specify the encoding to be used for the output, use the following command: Out-Host -InputObject <PSObject[]> -Encoding <Encoding>
  • To force the output to be sent to the host program, use the following command: Out-Host -InputObject <PSObject[]> -Force
  • To display verbose output, use the following command: Out-Host -InputObject <PSObject[]> -Verbose
  • To display debug output, use the following command: Out-Host -InputObject <PSObject[]> -Debug
  • To specify the action to be taken when an error occurs, use the following command: Out-Host -InputObject <PSObject[]> -ErrorAction <ActionPreference>
  • To specify the variable to which the error should be assigned, use the following command: Out-Host -InputObject <PSObject[]> -ErrorVariable <String>
  • To specify the variable to which the output should be assigned, use the following command: Out-Host -InputObject <PSObject[]> -OutVariable <String>
  • To specify the size of the output buffer, use the following command: Out-Host -InputObject <PSObject[]> -OutBuffer <Int32>
  • To display what would happen if the command were to run, use the following command: Out-Host -InputObject <PSObject[]> -WhatIf
  • To display a prompt asking for confirmation before running the command, use the following command: Out-Host -InputObject <PSObject[]> -Confirm

Tips for Using Out-Host

Here are some tips for using Out-Host:

  1. Be sure to specify the input object that you want to send to the host program.
  2. Use the -Paging parameter to enable paging of the output.
  3. Use the -Width parameter to specify the width of the output.
  4. Use the -Stream parameter to specify the stream to which the output should be sent.
  5. Use the -NoNewline parameter to prevent a new line from being added to the output.
  6. Use the -Separator parameter to specify the separator to be used between output items.
  7. Use the -Encoding parameter to specify the encoding to be used for the output.
  8. Use the -Force parameter to

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