Skip to main content

Organizing your PowerShell Workspace

By

If you are like me, you have multiple monitors stretched across your desk. Hey, I will admit it, I am a PowerUser.  As both a Microsoft Certified Trainer, Network Administrator, and PowerShell evangelist, I need real estate.  I often develop my PowerShell code with the ISE and multiple Shell windows.  That way I can code in one, test in another, lookup help files, and test small chunks of code.  The problem comes around to which window is used for what?

Years ago, while visiting a software development company that was acquired by the company that I was working for, I observed one of their techniques for keeping track of which script was running what task.  Each script was monitoring a specific project or log on a server.  Each one of these tasks were assigned a foreground and a background color.  With this in mind, you can set specific foreground and background colors schemes for your development. Tack a look at this code.


Function Switch-HostColor
{
<# ========================================================
    Cmdlet: Switch-HostColor
    Author: Jason A Yoder
    Company: MCTExpert, Inc.
    Version: 1.0
    Date: June 10, 2013
   ======================================================== #>
[CmdletBinding()]
Param ([Parameter(Mandatory=$True)]
       [ValidateSet("RedOnBlack", "BlueOnBlack", "GreenOnBlack",
                    "YellowOnBlack","CyanOnBlack","MagentaOnBlack",
                    "BlackOnBlue")]
       $ColorScheme)
 
    Switch ($ColorScheme)
    {
         "BlueOnBlack"
        {
            $(Get-Host).UI.RawUI.ForegroundColor = "Blue"
            $(Get-Host).UI.RawUI.BackgroundColor = "Black"
        }
        "RedOnBlack"
        {
            $(Get-Host).UI.RawUI.ForegroundColor = "Red"
            $(Get-Host).UI.RawUI.BackgroundColor = "Black"
        }
        "GreenOnBlack"
        {
            $(Get-Host).UI.RawUI.ForegroundColor = "Green"
            $(Get-Host).UI.RawUI.BackgroundColor = "Black"
        }
        "YellowOnBlack"
        {
            $(Get-Host).UI.RawUI.ForegroundColor = "Yellow"
            $(Get-Host).UI.RawUI.BackgroundColor = "Black"
        }
        "CyanOnBlack"
        {
            $(Get-Host).UI.RawUI.ForegroundColor = "Cyan"
            $(Get-Host).UI.RawUI.BackgroundColor = "Black"
        }
        "MagentaOnBlack"
        {
            $(Get-Host).UI.RawUI.ForegroundColor = "Magenta"
            $(Get-Host).UI.RawUI.BackgroundColor = "Black"
        }
        "BlackOnBlue"
        {
            $(Get-Host).UI.RawUI.ForegroundColor = "Black"
            $(Get-Host).UI.RawUI.BackgroundColor = "Blue"
        }
    } # End: Switch ($ColorScheme)
   
    # Clear the host to enable
    Clear-Host
<#
.SYNOPSIS
Change the host color scheme.
 
.DESCRIPTION
Changes the host color scheme to help keep tasks performed in
different shells organized.
 
.PARAMETER ColorScheme
Specify a preset color scheme to change the host foreground and
background colors to.
 
.EXAMPLE
Switch-HostColor -ColorScheme BlueOnBlack
 
Clears the screen and displays all text in blue foreground and
black background.
#>
} # End: Function Switch-HostColor



This code has several defined color formats for you to use as examples.  Notice the use of the ValidateSet parameter attribute.  This provides for tab completion of the possible values for the parameter ColorScheme.  You can provide any color scheme that you wish.  One word of caution, make sure to use two sets of colors that will have a high contrast and not hurt your eyes.  One of the color schemes that I observed in use was magenta text on a bright yellow background.  Not a good idea.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

With the AD Recycle Bin Turned on, What Happens when you Create a User Account with a Password that does not meet the Password Policy?

By
This was an interesting observation from one of my Windows Server 2012 classes.  While working with the AD Recycle bin in a lab, one of my students discovered some interesting accounts that were created. When he created user accounts that did not meet password complexity requirements, an account is temporarily made and then deleted.  When a new password is provided that meets the password requirements, then a new account is made. We discovered this in two places.  First off in the Active Directory Administrative Center.  This is what caused the initial confusion.  Take a look.  This is in the Deleted Objects OU. You can see multiple deleted accounts for Test2 and one for Test3.  Test3 is a valid, functioning user account.  Using the PowerShell command Get-ADObject –IncludeDeletedObjects –Filter * –Properties ObjectSID we can see that indeed, two accounts were created, with one of them deleted. Notice the RID portion of the SID is different. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sticky Key problem between Windows Server 2012 and LogMeIn

By
This week I instructed my first class using Windows Server 2012 accessed via LogMeIn and discovered a Sticky Key problem every time you press the Shift key. Here is my solution to resolve this.  First off, in the Preferences of LogMeIn for the connection to the Windows Server, click General . Change the Keyboard and mouse priority to Host side user and click Apply at the bottom. On the Windows 2012 server, open the Control Panel – Ease of Access – Change how your keyboard works . Uncheck Turn on Sticky Keys . Click Set up Sticky Keys . Uncheck Turn on Sticky Keys when SHIFT is pressed five times . Click OK twice. If you are using Windows Server 2012 as a Hyper-V host, you will need to redo the Easy of Use settings on each guest operating system in order to avoid the Sticky Key Problem. Updated Information: March 20, 2013 If you continue to have problems, Uncheck Turn on Filter Keys .
6 comments
Read more

How to run GPResult on a remote client with PowerShell

By
In the past, to run the GPResult command, you would need to either physically visit this client, have the user do it, or use and RDP connection.  In all cases, this will disrupt the user.  First, you need PowerShell remoting enabled on the target machine.  You can do this via Group Policy . Open PowerShell and type this command. Invoke-Command –ScriptBlock {GPResult /r} –ComputerName <ComputerName> Replace <ComputerName> with the name of the target.  Remember, the target needs to be online and accessible to you.
Post a Comment
Read more