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Set-ItemProperty

  • Reference
Module:
Microsoft.PowerShell.Management

Creates or changes the value of a property of an item.

Syntax

Set-ItemProperty
   [-Path] <String[]>
   [-Name] <String>
   [-Value] <Object>
   [-PassThru]
   [-Force]
   [-Filter <String>]
   [-Include <String[]>]
   [-Exclude <String[]>]
   [-Credential <PSCredential>]
   [-WhatIf]
   [-Confirm]
   [-Type <RegistryValueKind>]
   [<CommonParameters>]
Set-ItemProperty
   [-Path] <String[]>
   -InputObject <PSObject>
   [-PassThru]
   [-Force]
   [-Filter <String>]
   [-Include <String[]>]
   [-Exclude <String[]>]
   [-Credential <PSCredential>]
   [-WhatIf]
   [-Confirm]
   [-Type <RegistryValueKind>]
   [<CommonParameters>]
Set-ItemProperty
   -LiteralPath <String[]>
   [-Name] <String>
   [-Value] <Object>
   [-PassThru]
   [-Force]
   [-Filter <String>]
   [-Include <String[]>]
   [-Exclude <String[]>]
   [-Credential <PSCredential>]
   [-WhatIf]
   [-Confirm]
   [-Type <RegistryValueKind>]
   [<CommonParameters>]
Set-ItemProperty
   -LiteralPath <String[]>
   -InputObject <PSObject>
   [-PassThru]
   [-Force]
   [-Filter <String>]
   [-Include <String[]>]
   [-Exclude <String[]>]
   [-Credential <PSCredential>]
   [-WhatIf]
   [-Confirm]
   [-Type <RegistryValueKind>]
   [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Set-ItemProperty cmdlet changes the value of the property of the specified item. You can use the cmdlet to establish or change the properties of items. For example, you can use Set-ItemProperty to set the value of the IsReadOnly property of a file object to $True.

You also use Set-ItemProperty to create and change registry values and data. For example, you can add a new registry entry to a key and establish or change its value.

Examples

Example 1: Set a property of a file

This command sets the value of the IsReadOnly property of the "final.doc" file to "true". It uses Path to specify the file, Name to specify the name of the property, and the Value parameter to specify the new value.

The file is a System.IO.FileInfo object and IsReadOnly is just one of its properties. To see all of the properties, type Get-Item C:\GroupFiles\final.doc | Get-Member -MemberType Property.

The $true automatic variable represents a value of "TRUE". For more information, see about_Automatic_Variables.

Set-ItemProperty -Path C:\GroupFiles\final.doc -Name IsReadOnly -Value $true

Example 2: Create a registry entry and value

This example shows how to use Set-ItemProperty to create a new registry entry and to assign a value to the entry. It creates the "NoOfEmployees" entry in the "ContosoCompany" key in HKLM\Software key and sets its value to 823.

Because registry entries are considered to be properties of the registry keys, which are items, you use Set-ItemProperty to create registry entries, and to establish and change their values.

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\Software\ContosoCompany" -Name "NoOfEmployees" -Value 823
Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\Software\ContosoCompany"

PSPath        : Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\contosocompany
PSParentPath  : Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software
PSChildName   : contosocompany
PSDrive       : HKLM
PSProvider    : Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry
NoOfLocations : 2
NoOfEmployees : 823

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\Software\ContosoCompany" -Name "NoOfEmployees" -Value 824
Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\Software\ContosoCompany"

PSPath        : Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\contosocompany
PSParentPath  : Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software
PSChildName   : contosocompany
PSDrive       : HKLM
PSProvider    : Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry
NoOfLocations : 2
NoOfEmployees : 824

The first command creates the registry entry. It uses Path to specify the path of the HKLM: drive and the Software\MyCompany key. The command uses Name to specify the entry name and Value to specify a value.

The second command uses the Get-ItemProperty cmdlet to see the new registry entry. If you use the Get-Item or Get-ChildItem cmdlets, the entries do not appear because they are properties of a key, not items or child items.

The third command changes the value of the NoOfEmployees entry to 824.

You can also use the New-ItemProperty cmdlet to create the registry entry and its value and then use Set-ItemProperty to change the value.

For more information about the HKLM: drive, type Get-Help Get-PSDrive. For more information about how to use PowerShell to manage the registry, type Get-Help Registry.

Example 3: Modify an item by using the pipeline

Th example uses Get-ChildItem to get the weekly.txt file. The file object is piped to Set-ItemProperty. The Set-ItemProperty command uses the Name and Value parameters to specify the property and its new value.

Get-ChildItem weekly.txt | Set-ItemProperty -Name IsReadOnly -Value $True

Parameters

-Confirm

Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:cf
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Credential

Note

This parameter is not supported by any providers installed with PowerShell. To impersonate another user, or elevate your credentials when running this cmdlet, use Invoke-Command.

Type:PSCredential
Position:Named
Default value:Current user
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Exclude

Specifies, as a string array, an item or items that this cmdlet excludes in the operation. The value of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. Enter a path element or pattern, such as *.txt. Wildcard characters are permitted. The Exclude parameter is effective only when the command includes the contents of an item, such as C:\Windows\*, where the wildcard character specifies the contents of the C:\Windows directory.

Type:String[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:True

-Filter

Specifies a filter to qualify the Path parameter. The FileSystem provider is the only installed PowerShell provider that supports the use of filters. You can find the syntax for the FileSystem filter language in about_Wildcards. Filters are more efficient than other parameters, because the provider applies them when the cmdlet gets the objects rather than having PowerShell filter the objects after they are retrieved.

Type:String
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:True

-Force

Forces the cmdlet to set a property on items that cannot otherwise be accessed by the user. Implementation varies from provider to provider. For more information, see about_Providers.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Include

Specifies, as a string array, an item or items that this cmdlet includes in the operation. The value of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. Enter a path element or pattern, such as "*.txt". Wildcard characters are permitted. The Include parameter is effective only when the command includes the contents of an item, such as C:\Windows\*, where the wildcard character specifies the contents of the C:\Windows directory.

Type:String[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:True

-InputObject

Specifies the object that has the properties that this cmdlet changes. Enter a variable that contains the object or a command that gets the object.

Type:PSObject
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-LiteralPath

Specifies a path to one or more locations. The value of LiteralPath is used exactly as it is typed. No characters are interpreted as wildcards. If the path includes escape characters, enclose it in single quotation marks. Single quotation marks tell PowerShell not to interpret any characters as escape sequences.

For more information, see about_Quoting_Rules.

Type:String[]
Aliases:PSPath, LP
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Name

Specifies the name of the property.

Type:String
Aliases:PSProperty
Position:1
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-PassThru

Returns an object that represents the item property. By default, this cmdlet does not generate any output.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Path

Specifies the path of the items with the property to modify. Wildcard characters are permitted.

Type:String[]
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:True

-Type

Type is a dynamic parameter that the Registry provider adds to the Set-ItemProperty cmdlet. This parameter only works in the registry drives.

Specifies the type of property that this cmdlet adds. The acceptable values for this parameter are:

  • String: Specifies a null-terminated string. Used for REG_SZ values.
  • ExpandString: Specifies a null-terminated string that contains unexpanded references to environment variables that are expanded when the value is retrieved. Used for REG_EXPAND_SZ values.
  • Binary: Specifies binary data in any form. Used for REG_BINARY values.
  • DWord: Specifies a 32-bit binary number. Used for REG_DWORD values.
  • MultiString: Specifies an array of null-terminated strings terminated by two null characters. Used for REG_MULTI_SZ values.
  • Qword: Specifies a 64-bit binary number. Used for REG_QWORD values.
  • Unknown: Indicates an unsupported registry data type, such as REG_RESOURCE_LIST values.
Type:RegistryValueKind
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Value

Specifies the value of the property.

Type:Object
Position:2
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-WhatIf

Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:wi
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

Inputs

PSObject

You can pipe objects to this cmdlet.

Outputs

None, System.Management.Automation.PSCustomObject

This cmdlet generates a PSCustomObject object that represents the item that was changed and its new property value, if you specify the PassThru parameter. Otherwise, this cmdlet does not generate any output.

Notes

Set-ItemProperty is designed to work with the data exposed by any provider. To list the providers available in your session, type Get-PSProvider. For more information, see about_Providers.