Set-psbreakpoint PowerShell Command

The Set-PSBreakpoint command is an essential tool for any Windows PowerShell user. It allows you to set breakpoints in your code, which can be used to pause execution and investigate the state of your code at any given point. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the Set-PSBreakpoint command, including syntax, parameters, inputs, outputs, examples, and tips.

What is the Set-PSBreakpoint Command?

The Set-PSBreakpoint command is a Windows PowerShell cmdlet that allows you to set breakpoints in your code. A breakpoint is a point in your code where execution is paused so that you can investigate the state of your code at that point. This is useful for debugging your code and for understanding how your code is executing.

Syntax and Parameters

The syntax for the Set-PSBreakpoint command is as follows:

Set-PSBreakpoint [-Script] <String> [-Line] <Int32> [-Action <ScriptBlock>] [-Mode <String>] [-Variable <String>] [-AccessMode <String>] [-Enabled <Boolean>] [-PassThru] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]

The Set-PSBreakpoint command has several parameters that can be used to customize the behavior of the command. These parameters are as follows:

  • -Script: The path to the script file in which the breakpoint should be set.
  • -Line: The line number in the script file where the breakpoint should be set.
  • -Action: The action to be taken when the breakpoint is encountered. This can be a script block or a string.
  • -Mode: The mode of the breakpoint. This can be either “Read” or “Write”.
  • -Variable: The name of the variable for which the breakpoint should be set.
  • -AccessMode: The access mode of the breakpoint. This can be either “Read” or “Write”.
  • -Enabled: A boolean value indicating whether the breakpoint is enabled or disabled.
  • -PassThru: A boolean value indicating whether the breakpoint object should be returned.
  • -WhatIf: A boolean value indicating whether the command should be run in “WhatIf” mode.
  • -Confirm: A boolean value indicating whether the command should be run in “Confirm” mode.
  • <CommonParameters>: This parameter set allows you to use common parameters such as -Verbose, -Debug, -ErrorAction, and -ErrorVariable.

Inputs and Outputs

The Set-PSBreakpoint command takes two inputs: the path to the script file and the line number in the script file where the breakpoint should be set. The command does not return any output.

Examples

Here are some examples of how to use the Set-PSBreakpoint command:

  • To set a breakpoint at line 10 of a script file named “MyScript.ps1”, use the following command: Set-PSBreakpoint -Script “MyScript.ps1” -Line 10
  • To set a breakpoint at line 10 of a script file named “MyScript.ps1” and specify an action to be taken when the breakpoint is encountered, use the following command: Set-PSBreakpoint -Script “MyScript.ps1” -Line 10 -Action {Write-Host “Breakpoint encountered!”}
  • To set a breakpoint at line 10 of a script file named “MyScript.ps1” and specify a variable for which the breakpoint should be set, use the following command: Set-PSBreakpoint -Script “MyScript.ps1” -Line 10 -Variable “MyVariable”
  • To set a breakpoint at line 10 of a script file named “MyScript.ps1” and specify an access mode for the breakpoint, use the following command: Set-PSBreakpoint -Script “MyScript.ps1” -Line 10 -AccessMode “Read”

Tips for Using the Set-PSBreakpoint Command

Here are some tips for using the Set-PSBreakpoint command:

  • Make sure to specify the correct script file path and line number when setting a breakpoint.
  • You can use the -WhatIf and -Confirm parameters to test the command before running it.
  • You can use the -PassThru parameter to return the breakpoint object.
  • You can use the -Mode parameter to specify whether the breakpoint should be set for reads or writes.
  • You can use the -Action parameter to specify an action to be taken when the breakpoint is encountered.
  • You can use the -Enabled parameter to enable or disable the breakpoint.

Conclusion

The Set-PSBreakpoint command is a powerful tool for debugging your Windows PowerShell scripts. It allows you to set breakpoints in your code, which can be used to pause execution and investigate the state of your code at any given point. In this guide, we’ve covered everything you need to know about the Set-PSBreakpoint command, including syntax, parameters, inputs, outputs, examples, and tips.

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