asked on

Powershell Output Without Format-Table

I want to change from using Format-Table to using Select-Object since Format-Table is causing a problem when connecting to a PowerShell v3 server from a PowerShell v2 server. I've tried changing it but it does not format the same way. I've attached an image of the output I am getting with Format-Table and I want to get the same thing with Select-Object or any other way.

# Core: Enable-PSRemoting
# Agent: Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Force
#.\AppAssure-v5-Backup.ps1 -cmdCore AO-FS-02 -cmdAgent AO-AD-01

param ([string] $cmdCore, [string] $cmdAgent)
$Session = New-PSSession $cmdCore
Invoke-Command -Session $Session {
param ($cmdCore, $cmdAgent)
Import-Module AppAssurePowerShellModule
Get-CompletedJobs -JobType Transfer -Number l24 -ProtectedServer $cmdAgent | Where {($_.StartTime).AddHours(-8) -gt (Get-Date).AddHours(-24)} | 
Format-Table -HideTableHeaders `
  @{label="Status"; Width=12; e={$_.Status}},
  @{label="Snapshot Time"; Width=25; e={$_.StartTime.AddHours(-8)}} 
} -ArgumentList $cmdCore, $cmdAgent | Tee-Object -file C:\temp\AppAssure_Backup.txt
Remove-PSSession $session

$path = "C:\temp\AppAssure_Backup.txt"

If(-not(Test-Path -path $path))
  {
Write-Host "Backup Failed: Backup log does not exist."
exit 2001
  }
Else
 {  

if ((Get-Content C:\temp\AppAssure_Backup.txt) -match "Succeeded")
{
#Exit Code 0
Write-Host " | Backup Successful"
#$host.SetShouldExit(0)
exit 0
}
else
{
#Exit Code 2001
Write-Host " | Backup Failed"
#$host.SetShouldExit(2001)
exit 2001
} 

}

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footech

I don't think you're going to have any luck with that. PowerShell applies formatting to all it's output. When you use Select-Object (in the absence of any formatting commands), when you have 5 or more columns, Format-List is used, and Format-Table is used for less than 5. Here's a link that explains some of this in more detail.
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/powershell/archive/2006/04/30/how-powershell-formatting-and-outputting-really-works.aspx
and
http://www.windowsitpro.com/blog/powershell-with-a-purpose-blog-36/scripting-languages/how-the-powershell-formatting-subsystem-works-137397

I'm not sure I can suggest a work-around for you. What problem are you seeing when using Format-Table?

jonathanbyers

ASKER

There appears to be an issue when using Format-Table when connecting to a system running PowerShell v3 from a system running PowerShell v2. I have some Windows 2003 server (which can't run v3) that I need to execute this script from. I'm having issues and according to http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/is/winserverpowershell/thread/87570f5e-3c71-4efc-a7fc-75677c32f664 it is because of the version mismatch.

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footech

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jonathanbyers

ASKER

Ah, I kept reading just take out the FT, but needed the formatting. I tested the code below and all works. I left the labels since I want them there, but need a line return due to how our monitoring software interprets the output of the script. I'll probably just end up removing them for now.

Invoke-Command -Session $Session {
param ($cmdCore, $cmdAgent)
Import-Module AppAssurePowerShellModule
Get-CompletedJobs -JobType Transfer -Number l1 -ProtectedServer $cmdAgent | Where {($_.StartTime).AddHours(-8) -gt (Get-Date).AddHours(-24)}
} -ArgumentList $cmdCore, $cmdAgent | 
Format-Table -HideTableHeaders `
  @{label="Status"; Width=12; e={$_.Status}},
  @{label="Snapshot Time"; Width=25; e={$_.StartTime.AddHours(-8)}} | Tee-Object -file C:\temp\AppAssure_Backup.txt 
Remove-PSSession $session

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jonathanbyers

ASKER

Excellent solution, thanks!