Introduction to Invoke-Item
My main use for Invoke-Item is when my PowerShell script has just created a file, and I am itching to view its formatted contents. Another use is running executables.
Topics for the Invoke-Item Cmdlet
- Compare Invoke-Item with Get-Content
- Invoke-Item with Executables
- Creating, Then Viewing a Html File
- Research Invoke-Item Parameters
- Start-Process, Alternative to Invoke-Item
- More Members of the Invoke Family
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Compare Invoke-Item with Get-Content
To get a feel of Invoke-Item let us compare it with Get-Content:
Invoke-Item C:\Windows\win.ini
Note 1: Invoke-Item uses notepad to open and view win.ini; this works because of the file association.
Get-Content C:\Windows\win.ini
Note 2: Get-Content displays the raw contents.
As we will see in the next example, Invoke-Item comes into its own with heavily formatted data, such as html.
Problem: How to Run an Executable with PowerShell
Preamble, WinKey +r, iexplore works fine, but how do you achieve the same result in PowerShell?
#Problem: In PowerShell this plain command does not work.
iexplore.exe
# Solution: Call for PowerShell’s Invoke-Item
Clear-Host
Invoke-Item "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe"
Note 3: I find that Invoke-Item needs the full path.
Note 4: A better way of launching a program may be Start-Process
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Creating, Then Viewing a Html File
Suppose you have just created a web page using PowerShell’s ConvertTo-Html cmdlet. Your next step is to see whether the output displays as you expected. Instead of ferreting around with explorer, why not append Invoke-Item?
Scenario: You want a list of running services that you cannot stop. Furthermore, you want to publish the file to the intranet.
# PowerShell Invoke-Command example to find services you cannot stop.
$File ="D:\Intranet\RunningServices.html"
Get-Service | Where {$_.Status -eq "Running" -And $_.CanStop -eq $false} |
ConvertTo-Html -Property Name, Status, CanStop | Out-File $File
Invoke-Item $File
Note 5: What makes this Invoke-Item task easy is the use of the $File variable.
Another Invoke-Item Example
In this example I employ Invoke-Item solely to check the xml file has been created as expected.
$File = "D:\PShell\ProcUnique.xml"
Get-Process -Unique | Export-Clixml $File
Invoke-Item $File
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Research Invoke-Item Parameters
# Employ Get-Help to investigate the syntax of Invoke-Item
Get-Help Invoke-Item -Full
Note 6: Help reveals that Invoke could work with wildcards in the path, however, I rarely use it to open multiple files, for example:
Invoke-Item $env:SystemRoot\*.ini
Where Next: Check Other Members of the Invoke Family
Invoke is a rarely used verb in general English, and is not that common in PowerShell, let me introduce to the rest of this invoke family:
# List members of PowerShell’s Invoke family of cmdlets
Get-Command -Verb invoke
Invoke-Command
Invoke-Expression
Invoke-History
Invoke-Item
Invoke-WebRequest
Invoke-WmiMethod
Invoke-WSManAction
Other examples of Invoke Item
- Out-File: Showing where the file gets created.
- Process-Start
- Remove-PSDrive: Check the script has worked.
Summary of PowerShell’s Invoke-Item
My main task for Invoke-Item are when my script has just created a file, and I wish to view its contents. I find that appending this cmdlet to a script saves me having to open explorer.
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See more Microsoft PowerShell tasks:
• PowerShell Home • Shell Application • New-Object • PowerShell Add Printer • PowerShell -com
• PowerShell Logon Script • Map Network Drive • PowerShell Create Shortcut • Free CSV Import Tool
• Invoke-Expression • Invoke-Command • Invoke-Item • PowerShell Expression v Command Mode
Please email me if you have a better example script. Also please report any factual mistakes, grammatical errors or broken links, I will be happy to correct the fault.
