Trace-command PowerShell Command

Trace-Command is a Windows PowerShell command that allows users to trace the execution of a script or command. It is a powerful tool that can be used to debug scripts and commands, as well as to monitor the performance of scripts and commands. In this article, we will explore the syntax, parameters, inputs, outputs, examples, and tips for using the Trace-Command command.

Syntax

The syntax for the Trace-Command command is as follows:

Trace-Command [-Name] Name [-Expression] Expression [-Option] Option [-PSHost] PSHost [-Script] Script [-Stack] Stack [-Verbose] [-Debug] [-InformationAction] InformationAction [-InformationVariable] InformationVariable [-OutVariable] OutVariable [-OutBuffer] OutBuffer [-ErrorAction] ErrorAction [-ErrorVariable] ErrorVariable [-WarningAction] WarningAction [-WarningVariable] WarningVariable [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [CommonParameters]

Parameters

The Trace-Command command has several parameters that can be used to customize the trace output. These parameters are:

  • Name: This parameter specifies the name of the trace output.
  • Expression: This parameter specifies the expression to be traced.
  • Option: This parameter specifies the trace option.
  • PSHost: This parameter specifies the PowerShell host.
  • Script: This parameter specifies the script to be traced.
  • Stack: This parameter specifies the stack trace.
  • Verbose: This parameter specifies the verbose output.
  • Debug: This parameter specifies the debug output.
  • InformationAction: This parameter specifies the action to be taken when an informational message is encountered.
  • InformationVariable: This parameter specifies the variable to store the informational message.
  • OutVariable: This parameter specifies the variable to store the output.
  • OutBuffer: This parameter specifies the size of the output buffer.
  • ErrorAction: This parameter specifies the action to be taken when an error is encountered.
  • ErrorVariable: This parameter specifies the variable to store the error message.
  • WarningAction: This parameter specifies the action to be taken when a warning is encountered.
  • WarningVariable: This parameter specifies the variable to store the warning message.
  • WhatIf: This parameter specifies the action to be taken if the command is run.
  • Confirm: This parameter specifies the action to be taken if the command is confirmed.
  • CommonParameters: This parameter specifies the common parameters used by all cmdlets.

Inputs

The Trace-Command command requires the following inputs:

  • Name: This is the name of the trace output.
  • Expression: This is the expression to be traced.
  • Option: This is the trace option.
  • PSHost: This is the PowerShell host.
  • Script: This is the script to be traced.
  • Stack: This is the stack trace.

Outputs

The Trace-Command command produces the following outputs:

  • Verbose: This is the verbose output.
  • Debug: This is the debug output.
  • InformationAction: This is the action to be taken when an informational message is encountered.
  • InformationVariable: This is the variable to store the informational message.
  • OutVariable: This is the variable to store the output.
  • OutBuffer: This is the size of the output buffer.
  • ErrorAction: This is the action to be taken when an error is encountered.
  • ErrorVariable: This is the variable to store the error message.
  • WarningAction: This is the action to be taken when a warning is encountered.
  • WarningVariable: This is the variable to store the warning message.
  • WhatIf: This is the action to be taken if the command is run.
  • Confirm: This is the action to be taken if the command is confirmed.
  • CommonParameters: This is the common parameters used by all cmdlets.

Examples

The following examples demonstrate how to use the Trace-Command command:

  • To trace the execution of a script, use the following command:
    Trace-Command -Script ScriptName -Verbose
  • To trace the execution of a command, use the following command:
    Trace-Command -Expression CommandName -Debug
  • To trace the execution of a script with the stack trace, use the following command:
    Trace-Command -Script ScriptName -Stack

Tips

The following tips can help you get the most out of the Trace-Command command:

  • Use the Name parameter to specify a unique name for the trace output.
  • Use the PSHost parameter to specify the PowerShell host.
  • Use the Verbose parameter to enable verbose output.
  • Use the Debug parameter to enable debug output.
  • Use the OutBuffer parameter to specify the size of the output buffer.
  • Use the WhatIf parameter to simulate the command before running it.
  • Use the Confirm parameter to confirm the command before running it.

Conclusion

The Trace-Command command is a powerful tool that can be used to debug scripts and commands, as well as to monitor the performance of scripts and commands. It has several parameters that can be used to customize the trace output, and it requires several inputs to be specified. The command produces several outputs, and it can be used with several examples. Finally, there are several tips that can help you get the most out of the Trace-Command command.

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