Author: Xajuan Smith

Computer Information Specialist, with a desire to make the masses feel what I was born to channel...The emotion that strives us to do more, speak more boldly and with most sincere ideals that will make life easier and will not hinder the dreams we all have at any given time.
Powershell

Effective practices

Xajuan Smith

I have been scripting for quite sometime and sometimes there are older CMD tools that just work.

Most would say why reinvent the wheel?

Well if the wheel wasn’t constantly being revised and upgraded then all the newer methods and functions wouldn’t be as robust.

With programming in c# there are methods and you can build functions there and in powershell to simply your daily task and pc deployments.

Don’t forget that most great ideas come from someone thinking it could be done better. Making things better would never happen if we don’t take steps to refine our processes we have grown so attached to.

Do you have a function that you created to make your life easier? Please share in the comments below.

Uncategorized

PowerShell to Manage thumbnail Cache databases used by file Explorer

Xajuan Smith

So I have seen some issues with thumbnails in 1809 Enterprise edition.

When I am aggravated with them I clip them. it’s just good hygiene. lol

 

so here is a telltale script that does just that.

<#
Thumbnail Issue
-kill explorer tasks
-Remove Thumbnail databases
-restart explorer

#>


#-kill explorer tasks
write-host "stopping the Explorer Process."
Stop-Process -Name explorer -Force

#-Remove Thumbnail databases

Write-Host "These files need to be removed to ensure that they are not Corrupted:" -ForegroundColor Yellow
Get-ChildItem -Path "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\" thumbcache_* | select -ExpandProperty fullname -OutVariable THUMBS

remove-item $THUMBS -Force  -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -ErrorVariable ThumbErrors

new-item c:\ -name Logs -ItemType Directory -ErrorAction Stop; $THUMBS| Export-Csv THumbDBErrorLog.csv -NoTypeInformation

That is how you clip those unsightly thumbnails….

Functions, Scripting Technique, Uncategorized

User Back up function or Script

Xajuan Smith

 

First I want to point out the $home variable for individual self initiated back ups.

so if you wanted to back up specifics to the current logged in user $home is Sufficient, even if you have DFS / or SMB redirected home folders.

if you are backing up all users you need to also save the sticky notes. that’s an added bonus to reading my article.

Function Get-Backup ($user){

# Get logged on Username
if ($User -like $null) {$User = $env:username}

Create path using variables so that we arent guessing usernames.
$path = "\\Server\Users\$user\user_backup\$(Get-Date -Format M)\"

#create newer Path based on the date.
new-item -ItemType directory -Path $path -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
$logged ="$path\Results.txt"

#copy contents of vital folders specified below from there paths to the new location.

copy-item c:\users\$user\pictures -recurse -Destination $path -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
copy-item c:\users\$user\documents -recurse -Destination $path -Verbose -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
copy-item c:\users\$user\downloads -recurse -Destination $path -Verbose -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
copy-item c:\users\$user\favorites -recurse -Destination $path -Verbose -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
copy-item c:\users\$user\links -recurse -Destination $path -Verbose -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
copy-item c:\users\$user\desktop -recurse -Destination $path -Verbose -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
copy-item c:\users\$user\music -recurse -Destination $path -Verbose -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
copy-item c:\users\$user\contacts -recurse -Destination $path -Verbose -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
# I only included these folders because these are standard folders anything extra needs to be added manually.

I know a lot of people who are attached to their sticky notes.
located here:
$notes= ls "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\microsoftstickynotes*"
copy-item $notes.fullname $path -Verbose -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}#End Function  you can always make this much more robust.

 

Enjoy City Life? I grew up in the city and I rather not deal with heavily populated areas. although I prefer people than bugs that goes for computer bugs too lol

Uncategorized

AWS/GoogleCloud and harnessing PowerShell (One Shell to rule them all)

Xajuan Smith

Heads up….. The cloud is ready.

There is alot of fun to be had with different Platforms and PowerShell grew up on the mean streets of scrutiny, much like myslef and we are much alike in our flexibility to adapt and automate anything, although I am sure PowerShell probably doesn’t need me as much as I rely on it’s abilities to be context sensitive to my tab key.

Looking at the featured image i used for the article it is clear to see a lot of platforms have embraced PowerShell with a favorable amount of cmdlets. JUST THINK OF THE AUTOMATION POSSIBILITIES!

Okay, so to warn you ahead of time, I maybe diving into all the cloud crowds shortly to give myself an expanse of elbow room when scripting solutions.

Stay informed and do not forget to Get-Help!

This is for amazon webservices:

Install-Module -Name AWSPowerShell

This is for GoogleCloud:

find-module -Name googlecloud | install-module 

This may may only possible after you enable and trust the repositories.

Take Care Citizen!

Scripting Technique, Uncategorized

Using a series of numbers to loop through an object or process.

Xajuan Smith

I wanted to share this to help people that have to build scripts that parse/writes tons of files.

I always use the numbers depending on scale like the following.

1..17 | |foreach-object {Write-Output "User$_"}

another example if you need files:

$objectarray=@()

1..17 | |foreach-object {new-object psobject  -property @{ name="User$_"}

Well depending on the task you can create a dev variable of sorts. to contain your creation of variables is sound and effective.

I wouldn’t rely on it in a production script unless you did a “foreach($this in $that)” scenario.

chime in if you have any questions or request. I welcome a challenge.

Scripting Technique, server, Uncategorized

Learning when and “Where”.

Xajuan Smith

learning your way around the shell is really important. the “where-Object” is like the GPS of the pipeline and to elaborate on the pipeline a little is a one way train to get you to the solution you need.

here is an example.

where GPS

I set this to select the first one to help trim the image. There are 3 properties to navigate these service entries.

I used the pipeline to give you an example of the “|” pipeline so you can understand the flow of things. the object(s) are declared and sometimes processed before the pipeline. then more things can happen.

Look below for an example:

Where Turn by Turn.jpg

The pipeline is the directions in which you mold your data.  you put that with some select-object & other commands like format-list, ConvertTo-html, Export-csv, & Out-File.

So I can’t wait to see what you have waiting to travel down the pipeline! See you around the city!

Functions, Scripting Technique, Uncategorized

PowerShell Get-TimeMachine?!

Xajuan Smith

Well, I know what you’re thinking, it is just click bait. But I want to assure you it is possible.

new-timespanYou could create this into a function but the magic is in the details of this one.

“New-TimeSpan” is a tool that has existed since 2.0 and before you start-sleep ever again, consider the possibilities if you can truly calculate the duration of start-sleep dynamically!

So I stumbled across this only due to the need to simulate a scheduled task/job quickly in an environment I had not the local privileges to ensure that I could create a scheduled job.

If necessary you could utilize this to create some uniformity in your daily duties, reminders, etc.

 

So Let’s see this tag team with Start-Sleep!

tagteam timespan

I included the variable to display how this works so well. you just define when you want the script to stop that same day. It will show an error if you did it differently.  However, as long as the values are a positive number and not a negative integer you have a timespan.

The last example is using it to control things in the future….essentially a PowerShell Time machine, please share any of your experiences in the comments or on Twitter.

timemachine

so just know that time only flows in one direction. Trying to relive the past can cause you errors lol. Kind of ironic how that works outside the shell too. Don’t forget to visit other parts of the city. See ya around, and avoid cyclic redundancy errors!

Functions, Scripting Technique

PowerShell and utilizing it’s Profile.

Xajuan Smith

It may not be something we all wake up in the morning thinking about but to wake up and make your life just a bit easier is something we all think about. probably at more times through out the day.

The PowerShell profile that is going to be covered are both user based profiles.

One is the Shell Profile and the other is the ISE Profile.

both profiles are saved via the $profile defined path.

shell_Profile
Shell
ise_profile
ISE

These are essentially scripts with your preferences, functions, load frequently used modules, favorite variables, and etc.

I have been in some interesting situations where I automated report building into functions. Load specific modules that I use daily and some routine $variables to load that are always the same.

imagine how much time saving it would be to have your cup of coffee sitting and waiting on you in the car already made? that is the advantage the PowerShell Profile provides. A series of tasks, preparations that come automatic every time you click the sweet PowerShell emblem.

if you have network mapped user home folder, your profile can follow you to any and every server/machine you work on.

experiment and have fun with making your life easier.

any questions or comments let me know how you use your $profile !

Functions, Scripting Technique

Comparing objects, files, and variables in PowerShell

Xajuan Smith

How do you Compare objects?

Most people throw things at a problem and see what sticks.

Is this a true “solution” or a makeshift glue that can come unraveled at any given moment.

 

I think that when we compare we should understand what is needed and not needed, and really understand our options.

Understand the basics

This is an example of a variable with text defined. we want to look for the word Fruit.

PS C:\> $Apple = "Red Fruit, Green Fruit, Yellow Fruit"

PS C:\> $Apple -match 'Fruit'
True

PS C:\> $Apple | where {$_ -match 'Fruit'}
Red Fruit, Green Fruit, Yellow Fruit

PS C:\> $Apple -like 'Fruit'
False

PS C:\> $Apple | where {$_ -like 'Fruit'}

 

So it looks like “Like” doesn’t like to be used in the way you cognitively expect.

PS C:\> $apple -like '*Fruit*'
True

PS C:\> $apple | where {$_ -like '*Fruit*'}
Red Fruit, Green Fruit, Yellow Fruit

Well there is a trick to it. The trick is it has rules that govern how it looks at the compared objects and if it care about what comes before or after the string you are looking for.

I like to use match. some instances like the Active Directory module that comes with RSAT doesn’t allow it with the -filter parameter. you can pipe and filter instead.

Take a look below:

PS C:\> get-aduser -filter {givenname -like *Xajuan*}

VS the pipeline equivalent below:

PS C:\> get-aduser -filter * | where {$_.givenname -match

Either way stay true to your comfort zone and be sure to explore outside it, because at the end of the day, you got to get the job done, and nothing compares like that is complete.