Having issues with Invoke-Item (Powershell)

Hi Gitcho,

Thanks for your help.

It doesnt fail, but does not execute.

Likewise, if I do the following:

$cmdagent = "c:\windows\notepad.exe"
icm {$cmdagent}

It simply outputs the line.

It's because "c:\windows\notepad.exe" is a string not a script block, if you put that in a script block ( { ... } ) and invoke it then all you'll get is the string.

You can either:

1. Make it a real script block

# This command will not execute immediately, it prepares the command
$cmdagent = { c:\windows\notepad.exe }
# Execute it
Invoke-Command $cmdagent

2. Call it with the call operator:

# Create a string containing the command to run
$cmdagent = "c:\windows\notepad.exe"
# Call it
& $cmdagent

3. Use Invoke-Expression

# Create a string containing the command to run
$cmdagent = "c:\windows\notepad.exe"
# Invoke the string as an expression
Invoke-Expression $cmdagent

Only the last two will convert a string into an executable command.

HTH

Chris

Hi Chris, that works with regards to:

# Create a string containing the command to run
$cmdagent = "c:\windows\notepad.exe"
# Invoke the string as an expression
Invoke-Expression $cmdagent


So, should the following work, with the double quotes embracing the entire line?, or do you think the spaces and switches are mucking things up?

$cmdagent = "C:\Program Files\test\AeXNSC.exe /install ns=server.test.net nsweb=http://webtest/altiris/ NOSTARTMENU NOTRAYICON /NOADDREMOVE /s"
Invoke-Command $cmdagent

Thanks so much Chris.