about_History

Applies To: Windows PowerShell 2.0

TOPIC
    about_History

SHORT DESCRIPTION
    Describes how to retrieve and run commands in the command history.


LONG DESCRIPTION
    When you enter a command at the command prompt, Windows PowerShell
    saves the command in the command history. You can use the commands
    in the history as a record of your work. And, you can recall and run the 
    commands from the command history.


  History Cmdlets
      Windows PowerShell has a set of cmdlets that manage the command history.

          Cmdlet (Alias)       Description
          -------------------  ------------------------------------------
          Get-History (h)      Gets the command history.

          Invoke-History (r)   Runs a command in the command history.

          Add-History          Adds a command to the command history.

          Clear-History (clh)  Deletes commands from the command history.


  Keyboard Shortcuts for Managing History
      In the Windows PowerShell console, you can use the following shortcuts
      to manage the command history.
 

      For other host applications, see the product documentation.


          Use this key      To perform this action
          -------------     ----------------------------------------------
          UP ARROW          Displays the previous command.
 
          DOWN ARROW        Displays the next command.
 
          F7                Displays the command history. 
                            To hide the history, press ESC.
 
          F8                Finds a command. Type one or more characters,
                            and then press F8. For the next instance, 
                            press F8 again.

          F9                Find a command by history ID. Type the history
                            ID, and then press F9. To find the ID, press F7.


  MaximumHistoryCount
      The $MaximumHistoryCount preference variable determines the maximum
      number of commands that Windows PowerShell saves in the command history.
      The default value is 64, meaning that Windows PowerShell saves the 64
      most recent commands, but you can change the value of the variable.
      

      For example, the following command raises the $MaximumHistoryCount to
      100 commands:


          $MaximumHistoryCount = 100


      To apply the setting, restart Windows PowerShell. 


      To save the new variable value for all your Windows PowerShell
      sessions, add the assignment statement to a Windows PowerShell profile.
      For more information, see about_Profiles.


  Order of Commands in the History    
      Commands are added to the history when the command finishes executing,
      not when the command is entered. If commands take some time to be 
      completed, or if the commands are executing in a nested prompt, the
      commands might appear to be out of order in the history. (Commands
      that are executing in a nested prompt are completed only when you exit 
      the prompt level.)


SEE ALSO
    about_Line_Editing
    about_Variables
    about_Preference_Variables