Skip to main content

Creating an Error Log: Option 1 - Use a Custom Object with a CSV file

This is day 4 of how to create an error log.

Today we will be using a custom object for our error log.  We can actually do this in two different ways.  We could create a custom object with specific information from the error object produced by PowerShell or create a custom log ourselves.

If we utilize the object created by PowerShell with a CSV error log, then we need to make sure that we only utilized 2D data.  That is information that is not a complex object itself.

Function Test-ADUsers
{
    [CmdletBinding()]
    Param (
        [parameter(Mandatory=$true)]
        [String[]]
        $Names,

        [Switch]
        $NoAppend

# Begin Support Functions
    )
    Function Test-ErrorLog
    {
    [CmdletBinding()]
    Param (
        [parameter(Mandatory=$true)]
        [String]
        $Path,

        [parameter(Mandatory=$true)]
        [String]
        $Name
        )

        # Test the path.
        If (!(Test-Path -Path $Path))
        {
            Write-Verbose "Creating the directory $Path"
            New-Item -Path $Path -ItemType Directory
        }

        # Test the file
        If (!(Test-Path -Path "$Path\$Name"))
        {
            Write-Verbose "Creating the file $Name"
            New-Item -Path "$Path\$Name" -ItemType File
        }

    } # END: Function Test-ErrorLog

# End Support Functions

    # Verify that the error log is present.
    Test-ErrorLog -Path c:\ps\error -Name Errorlog.csv

    # If -NoAppend is TRUE, then clear the error log.
    If(($NoAppend))
    {
        Write-Verbose "Clearing the error log"
        Remove-Item -Path C:\PS\error\ErrorLog.csv -Force
        New-Item -Path C:\PS\error -Name ErrorLog.csv -ItemType File     
    }

    ForEach ($Name in $Names)
    {
        Try {Get-ADUser -Identity $Name -ErrorAction Stop -ErrorVariable MyError}
        Catch
        {
            $Obj = New-Object -TypeName PSObject -Property @{
                TimeGenerated = (Get-Date).ToString()
                UserName = $Name
                Message = $MyError.Message
                }
            $Obj | Export-csv -Path C:\PS\Error\ErrorLog.csv -Append

            $MyError | Select *
        }
    }

} # END: Function Test-ADUsers

Test-ADUsers -Names "Administrator", "Bad", "Administrator"  -Verbose

Take a look at the Get-ADUser cmdlet.  We added the –ErrorVariable parameter to store our error object. Next, look at the Catch block. You can see the creation of the object to be sent to our error log.

TimeGenerated will be the time the error is recorded.  Notice, I’m only sending a string, not a SYSTEM.DATTIME object that is normally produce by Get-Date
UserName is the name of the user that we are currently testing.
Message contains the message property of the error object.


The Export-CSV cmdlet also has a huge advantage.  We are using the –Append parameter.  This means that we will add new records as needed.  The –NoAppend parameter that we created earlier prevents us from appending to a file that already exists.  The –Append parameter of Export-CSV is needed to ensure that we record all error instances when the code is ran.  Otherwise we will only have a record of the last error recorded.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

How to list all the AD LDS instances on a server

AD LDS allows you to provide directory services to applications that are free of the confines of Active Directory.  To list all the AD LDS instances on a server, follow this procedure: Log into the server in question Open a command prompt. Type dsdbutil and press Enter Type List Instances and press Enter . You will receive a list of the instance name, both the LDAP and SSL port numbers, the location of the database, and its status.

How to run GPResult on a remote client with PowerShell

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.

Error icon when creating a GPO Preference drive map

You may not have an error at all.  Take a look at the drive mapping below. The red triangle is what threw us off.  It is not an error.  It is simply a color representation of the Replace option of the Action field in the properties of the drive mappings. Create action This give you a green triangle. The Create action creates a new mapped drive for users. Replace Action The Replace action gives you a red triangle.  This action will delete and recreate mapped drives for users. The net result of the Replace action is to overwrite all existing settings associated with the mapped drive. If the drive mapping does not exist, then the Replace action creates a new drive mapping. Update Action The Update action will have a yellow triangle. Update will modify settings of an existing mapped drive for users. This action differs from Replace in that it only updates settings defined within the preference item. All other settings remain as configured on the mapped drive. If the