10 Easy Tips

10 Easy Tips

To Help You

Master PowerShell

for SharePoint


St ephan Samuel

SAFE

Managed Ser vi ces


Stephan Samuel

o
I write SharePoint for Catapult!

o
Find me here:

o
Stephan.Samuel@CatapultSystems.com

o
@
StephanSamuel


Do you use PowerShell?

o
It’s a .NET scripting language.

o
It allows you to control your local
environment, services, etc.

o
Scripting allows repeatability.

What Is PowerShell?

PowerShell 101,

if you’re new to it

o
Be more efficient, save time.

o
Don’t be frightened when you
need a PowerShell
-
only command.


Why PowerShell?

… didn’t we move away from DOS
years ago?

But wait…

o
Automate common tasks with PowerShell.

o
Know how you and those around you can:

o
Save time doing repeated tasks.

o
Avoid buying more expensive tools, sometimes.

I’m not a developer or admin!

•
Manage list or document
library content.

•
Install, upgrade and deploy
reliably.

•
Inspect and modify users or
attributes.

•
Filter objects with complex
criteria.

•
Perform
ad hoc
reporting.

•
Manage across site
collections.


Use PS!

You bought the farm, now it’s
time to protect and manage it!

o
We have a document library with
pictures.

o
We want to sort out the ones with
spaces in the filenames.

Today’s Task

Nuts & Bolts: the tips!

Understanding Pipes

1

o
Pipe from left to right.

o
Build as you go!


Pipes

o
Build a set.

o
Filter the set.

o
Perform an operation.


Systematic Approach

Get
-
Help

2

o
All built
-
in
cmdlets

have help: Get
-
Help

o
Get
-
Member shows more detail.



Use Help
Cmdlets

o
Bing will get you the help you need.

o
Use the visual command builder.

Go Online

It’s Not Just Text

3

o
Drag and drop files into the PS window!

o
The full path and quotes are added.

Drag & Drop

Tab completes as you type.

Tab Completion

Keep The Window Open

4

Leaving the window
open doesn’t let
bugs in!

o
Name your variables well.

o
Use them later!

Long Live The PS Window!

Common Parameters

5

o
Most
cmdlets

give additional
debugging data.

o
Confirm everything as you go!

The Debug Parameter

o
Perform a dry run.

o
Get the details before you commit.

The
WhatIf

Parameter

Useful Output

6

o
Work in small pieces.

o
Each parts only adds something
small.

Break It Apart

o
Output objects, not text.

o
Make filtering easy!

Raw Output

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

7

o
Work in small pieces.

o
Use the standard template.

Reusable Code

o
Make piping easy.

o
From the template, these self
-
document.

Parameters

Six months from now, reading your own
code is like another developer reading
your code today.

Maintainability

Anyone Care To Comment?

8

o
For one line: #

o
For blocks: <# and #>

Comments

Naming Conventions

9

o
Learn and use common verbs:

o
Get, New, Remove

o
The standard: Verb
-
Noun

Common Verbs

o
Loop With %{ $_ }

o
Filter With ?{ $_ }

Command Abbreviations

Save Typing!

10

o
Use the SharePoint PS icon instead of the
default.

o
Get a shortcut to the SharePoint PowerShell
command.

o
You’re only adding possibilities!

Get A New Icon!

You’re Ready To Go!

What We Learned

o
Some quick tips can make PowerShell more
familiar.

o
Help is available, online and in PowerShell.

o
A few easy steps help us re
-
use our work.

o
Know how to ask someone to work for you!

Does the script work?

Can we see?

Run it!

Find me here:


Stephan.Samuel@CatapultSystems.com


@
StephanSamuel

on Twitter


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