PowerShell Mini-Series?

[brian-zadikow]

Wonder why there isn't tab completion for the command line and/or PowerShell? Or, maybe I missed something? I do see some tab completion but how if tab completion is built in how come the hosts had to type Export-SmigServerSetting ? Why not just type Export-Sm and hit tab for the tab completion?
I am currently viewing the 'Episode: Migrating Roles' and see how the PowerShell is useful though for a newbie it's intimidating.
A series on it would seem valuable. But, maybe that's only from a 'newbie' perspective?

[james-clayton]

I am reading Don Jone's Powershell in a month and typing in the commands as he says them. the best way is to practice as you read and try things out. It is a new Shell, but you can start whittling it down. What I did was:
GET-HELP * | c:\users\me\Desktop\get-help.csv or get-help * > file.csv -type file or get-help * | export-csv file.csv -type file
I printed it out and am just having a good time skimming through the commands and practicing with that book. Sure it's a lot, but make the unknown known I always say. Then the shell will be second nature and the tests commands will seem remedial by that point.

[Chris Sims]

Well, yeah, this is a language where getting your hands dirty, as they say, is really your best bet. Learn the basic precepts of how the syntax works, from there pick a project and try it until you get it.
This is how I learned it, and it probably didn't teach me most of the best practices, but I later learned. The language also builds on .NET, so if you're familiar with any of those, you can call most of the same .NET core functions to accomplish tasks as well.

[david-shue]

Brian,
From what I have seen, version 3 & 4 should do as you ask. But only you have hit the dash will it start to work. As in your case it would at least get you close. I don't have PS open at the moment and can't test what other options might be out there that could show up.
And I agree that understand how to search help is a great way to learn not only where things are but how to find things that do what you need them too. Its also useful for those that have properly written commandlets them self.

[Chris Sims]

I don't recall this particular part of the lesson as well, but if it is mentioned as a module or snap-in, you need to import-module or add-pssnapin before you can tab-complete the command.

[david-shue]

Good point Christopher. I forgot about that when I was answering. Thanks for the additional info.

[benjamin-parker]

I also support a mini series, or at the very least a blog post/article that highlights a bunch of commands that explicitly cover the requirements. I have started working on the practice exams and it is very powershell heavy regarding memorizing commands that complete X action.
Some of it you can figure out based on syntax and verbs, other stuff not so much without just memorizing it for the test.

[Don Pezet]

Good evening everyone. I have been working on building a PowerShell mini-series for the show. I've got a tentative outline drawn up and I wanted to bounce it off of everyone in this thread to get your opinions. Take a look at it let me know what you all think. I'm open for suggestions if you see anything you would like to change/add.
Don Pezet
Host, ITProTV

Powershell for System Admins

• Introduction to PowerShell
  • Basic Command Syntax
  • Help Commands
  • Piping Command Output
  • Formating Command Output
  • Customizing the interface
  • Extending the PowerShell with additional commandlets
  • Local vs Remote Management
  • PowerShell ISE
• Server Management
  • Add/Remove Roles and Features
  • Working with Disks
  • Querying Server Status (WMI)
  • Configuring Networking
  • Configuring Windows Firewall
  • Managing Services
  • Managing Processes
  • Add/Modify Printers
  • File Operations
  • Registry Operations
• DNS
  • Installing DNS
  • Configuring Zones
  • Monitoring Status
• DHCP
  • Installing DHCP
  • Configuring Scopes
  • Monitoring Status
• Active Directory Domain Services
  • Installing AD:DS Role
  • Promoting a DC
  • Create/Modify/Delete User Accounts
  • Create/Modify/Delete Groups
  • Create/Modify/Delete OU Structures
  • Import/Export Data
  • Performing Bulk Operations

[Chris Sims]

Overall it looks like an excellent plan of coverage. I will think on it some and see if anything comes to mind .
I don't know what the community looks like but it might help to do a show teaching the similarities between it and vbs and how to make the transition if anyone is currently working in an environment with Server 2k3 like myself. It will support powershell, but it requires some configuration whereas VBS is supported, and sometimes I've had to use it as well. I would keep that pretty limited and just show the common ways to do something regular in vbs, and what it looks like with powershell.
If anything else comes to mind I will post it.

[scott-maser]

I would like to echo the thoughts of many in this thread that a concise list of PowerShell commands to study for the exam would be very helpful. Even if you cannot teach a whole class on it, just a list of the commands across each of the 70-4xx courses would make it a lot easier to study for the exams.