17 Input and output

 

Up to this point in the book, we’ve primarily been relying on PowerShell’s native ability to output tables and lists. As you start to combine commands into more complex scripts, you’ll probably want to gain more precise control over what’s displayed. You may also need to prompt a user for input. In this chapter, you’ll learn how to collect that input and how to display whatever output you might desire.

We want to point out, however, that the contents of this chapter are useful only for scripts that interact with human eyeballs and fingertips. For scripts that run unattended, these aren’t appropriate techniques, because there won’t be a human being around to interact with.

17.1 Prompting for, and displaying, information

The way PowerShell displays and prompts for information depends on how it’s being run. You see, PowerShell is built as a kind of under-the-hood engine.

17.2 Read-Host

17.3 Write-Host

17.4 Write-Output

17.5 Other ways to write

17.6 Lab

17.7 Lab answers

17.8 Further exploration