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New-Alias

  • Reference
Module:
Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility

Creates a new alias.

Syntax

New-Alias
   [-Name] <String>
   [-Value] <String>
   [-Description <String>]
   [-Option <ScopedItemOptions>]
   [-PassThru]
   [-Scope <String>]
   [-Force]
   [-WhatIf]
   [-Confirm]
   [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The New-Alias cmdlet creates a new alias in the current Windows PowerShell session. Aliases created by using New-Alias are not saved after you exit the session or close Windows PowerShell. You can use the Export-Alias cmdlet to save your alias information to a file. You can later use Import-Alias to retrieve that saved alias information.

Examples

Example 1: Create an alias for a cmdlet

PS C:\> New-Alias -Name "List" Get-ChildItem

This command creates an alias named List to represent the Get-ChildItem cmdlet.

Example 2: Create a read-only alias for a cmdlet

PS C:\> New-Alias -Name "W" -Value Get-WmiObject -Description "quick wmi alias" -Option ReadOnly
PS C:\> Get-Alias -Name "W" | Format-List *

This command creates an alias named W to represent the Get-WmiObject cmdlet. It creates a description, quick wmi alias, for the alias and makes it read-only. The last line of the command uses Get-Alias to get the new alias and pipes it to Format-List to display all of the information about it.

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

-Description

Specifies a description of the alias. You can type any string. If the description includes spaces, enclose it in quotation marks.

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

-Force

Indicates that the cmdlet acts like Set-Alias if the alias named already exists.

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

-Name

Specifies the new alias. You can use any alphanumeric characters in an alias, but the first character cannot be a number.

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

-Option

Specifies the value of the Options property of the alias. Valid values are:

  • None: The alias has no constraints (default value)
  • ReadOnly: The alias can be deleted but cannot be changed except by using the Force parameter
  • Constant: The alias cannot be deleted or changed
  • Private: The alias is available only in the current scope
  • AllScope: The alias is copied to any new scopes that are created
  • Unspecified: The option is not specified

To see the Options property of all aliases in the session, type Get-Alias | Format-Table -Property Name, Options -AutoSize.

Type:ScopedItemOptions
Accepted values:None, ReadOnly, Constant, Private, AllScope, Unspecified
Position:Named
Default value:[System.Management.Automation.ScopedItemOptions]::None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-PassThru

Returns an object representing the item with which you are working. 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

-Scope

Specifies the scope of the new alias. The acceptable values for this parameter are:

  • Global
  • Local
  • Script
  • A number relative to the current scope (0 through the number of scopes, where 0 is the current scope and 1 is its parent).

Local is the default. For more information, see about_Scopes.

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

-Value

Specifies the name of the cmdlet or command element that is being aliased.

Type:String
Position:1
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

None

You cannot pipe input to this cmdlet.

Outputs

None or System.Management.Automation.AliasInfo

When you use the Passthru parameter, New-Alias generates a System.Management.Automation.AliasInfo object representing the new alias. Otherwise, this cmdlet does not generate any output.

Notes

  • To create a new alias, use Set-Alias or New-Alias. To change an alias, use Set-Alias. To delete an alias, use Remove-Item.