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Out-GridView

  • Reference
Module:
Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility

Sends output to an interactive table in a separate window.

Syntax

Out-GridView
   [-InputObject <PSObject>]
   [-Title <String>]
   [-PassThru]
   [<CommonParameters>]
Out-GridView
   [-InputObject <PSObject>]
   [-Title <String>]
   [-Wait]
   [<CommonParameters>]
Out-GridView
   [-InputObject <PSObject>]
   [-Title <String>]
   [-OutputMode <OutputModeOption>]
   [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Out-GridView cmdlet sends the output from a command to a grid view window where the output is displayed in an interactive table.

Because this cmdlet requires a user interface, it does not work on Server Core installations of Windows Server.

You can use the following features of the table to examine your data:

  • Hide, Show, and Reorder Columns: To hide, show, or reorder a column, right-click a column header and then click Select Columns.
  • Sort. To sort the data, click a column header. Click again to toggle from ascending to descending order.
  • Quick Filter. Use the Filter box at the top of the window to search the text in the table. You can search for text in a particular column, search for literals, and search for multiple words.
  • Criteria Filter. Use the Add criteria drop-down menu to create rules to filter the data. This is very useful for very large data sets, such as event logs.
  • Copy and paste. To copy rows of data from Out-GridView, press CTRL+C (copy). You can paste the data into any text or spreadsheet program.

For instructions for using these features, type Get-Help Out-GridView -Full and see How to Use the Grid View Window Features in the Notes section.

Examples

Example 1: Output processes to a grid view

PS C:\> Get-Process | Out-GridView

This command gets the processes running on the local computer and sends them to a grid view window.

Example 2: Use a variable to output processes to a grid view

PS C:\> $P = Get-Process
PS C:\> $P | Out-GridView

This command also gets the processes running on the local computer and sends them to a grid view window.

The first command uses the Get-Process cmdlet to get the processes on the computer and then saves the process objects in the $P variable.

The second command uses a pipeline operator to send the $P variable to Out-GridView.

Example 3: Display a formatted table in a grid view

PS C:\> Get-Process | Select-Object -Property Name, WorkingSet, PeakWorkingSet | Sort-Object -Property WorkingSet -Descending | Out-GridView

This command displays a formatted table in a grid view window.

It uses the Get-Process cmdlet to get the processes on the computer.

Then, it uses a pipeline operator (|) to send the process objects to the Select-Object cmdlet. The command uses the Property parameter of Select-Object to select the Name, WorkingSet, and PeakWorkingSet properties to be displayed in the table.

Another pipeline operator sends the filtered objects to the Sort-Object cmdlet, which sorts them in descending order by the value of the WorkingSet property.

The final part of the command uses a pipeline operator (|) to send the formatted table to Out-GridView.

You can now use the features of the grid view to search, sort, and filter the data.

Example 4: Save output to a variable, and then output a grid view

PS C:\> ($A = Get-ChildItem -Path $pshome -Recurse) | Out-GridView

This command saves its output in a variable and sends it to Out-GridView.

The command uses the Get-ChildItem cmdlet to get the files in the Windows PowerShell installation directory and its subdirectories. The path to the installation directory is saved in the $pshome automatic variable.

The command uses the assignment operator (=) to save the output in the $A variable and the pipeline operator (|) to send the output to Out-GridView.

The parentheses in the command establish the order of operations. As a result, the output from the Get-ChildItem command is saved in the $A variable before it is sent to Out-GridView.

Example 5: Output processes for a specified computer to a grid view

PS C:\> Get-Process -ComputerName "Server01" | ogv -Title "Processes - Server01"

This command displays the processes that are running on the Server01 computer in a grid view window.

The command uses ogv, which is the built-in alias for the Out-GridView cmdlet, it uses the Title parameter to specify the window title.

Example 6: Output data from remote computers to a grid view

PS C:\> Invoke-Command -ComputerName S1, S2, S3 -ScriptBlock {Get-Culture} | Out-GridView

This example shows the correct format for sending data collected from remote computers to the Out-GridView cmdlet.

The command uses the Invoke-Command cmdlet to run a Get-Culture command on three remote computers. It uses a pipeline operator to send the data that is returned to the Out-GridView cmdlet.

Notice that the script block that contains the commands that are run remotely does not include the Out-GridView command. If it did, the command would fail when it tried to open a grid view window on each of the remote computers.

Example 7: Pass multiple items through Out-GridView

PS C:\> Get-Process | Out-GridView -PassThru | Export-Csv -Path .\ProcessLog.csv

This command lets you select multiple processes from the Out-GridView window. The processes that you select are passed to the Export-Csv command and written to the ProcessLog.csv file.

The command uses the PassThru parameter of Out-GridView, which lets you send multiple items down the pipeline. The PassThru parameter is equivalent to using the Multiple value of the OutputMode parameter.

Example 8: Create a Windows shortcut to Out-GridView

PS C:\> Powershell.exe -Command "Get-Service | Out-GridView -Wait"

This command shows how to use the Wait parameter of Out-GridView to create a Windows shortcut to the Out-GridView window. Without the Wait parameter, Windows PowerShell would exit as soon as the Out-GridView window opened, which would close the Out-GridView window almost immediately.

Parameters

-InputObject

Specifies that the cmdlet accepts input for Out-GridView.

When you use the InputObject parameter to send a collection of objects to Out-GridView, Out-GridView treats the collection as one collection object, and it displays one row that represents the collection. To display the each object in the collection, use a pipeline operator (|) to send objects to Out-GridView.

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

-OutputMode

Specifies the items that the interactive window sends down the pipeline as input to other commands. By default, this cmdlet does not generate any output. To send items from the interactive window down the pipeline, click to select the items and then click OK.

The values of this parameter determine how many items you can send down the pipeline.

  • None. No items. This is the default value.
  • Single. Zero items or one item. Use this value when the next command can take only one input object.
  • Multiple. Zero, one, or many items. Use this value when the next command can take multiple input objects. This value is equivalent to the Passthru parameter.

This parameter was introduced in Windows PowerShell 3.0.

Type:OutputModeOption
Accepted values:None, Single, Multiple
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-PassThru

Indicates that the cmdlet sends items from the interactive window down the pipeline as input to other commands. By default, this cmdlet does not generate any output. This parameter is equivalent to using the Multiple value of the OutputMode parameter.

To send items from the interactive window down the pipeline, click to select the items and then click OK. Shift-click and Ctrl-click are supported.

This parameter was introduced in Windows PowerShell 3.0.

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

-Title

Specifies the text that appears in the title bar of the Out-GridView window.

By default, the title bar displays the command that invokes Out-GridView.

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

-Wait

Indicates that the cmdlet suppresses the command prompt and prevents Windows PowerShell from closing until the Out-GridView window is closed. By default, the command prompt returns when the Out-GridView window opens.

This feature lets you use the Out-GridView cmdlets in Windows shortcuts. When Out-GridView is used in a shortcut without the Wait parameter, the Out-GridView window appears only momentarily before Windows PowerShell closes.

This parameter was introduced in Windows PowerShell 3.0.

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

Inputs

PSObject

You can send any object to this cmdlet.

Outputs

None

Out-GridView does not return any objects.

Notes

  • In Windows PowerShell 2.0, the Out-GridView cmdlet is installed by default on client versions of Windows, but is an optional feature on Server versions of Windows. In Windows PowerShell 3.0, it is installed on all systems by default. However, if you turn off or remove the Windows PowerShell ISE feature, the Out-GridView cmdlet is also turned off or removed.

  • You cannot use a remote command to open a grid view window on another computer.

  • The command output that you send to Out-GridView cannot be formatted, such as by using the Format-Table or Format-Wide cmdlets. To select properties, use the Select-Object cmdlet.

  • Deserialized output from remote commands might not be formatted correctly in the grid view window.

  • Keyboard Shortcuts for Out-GridView

    By using the following keyboard shortcuts, you can perform many tasks quickly.

    Use this key:To perform this action:

    TAB Moves the cursor from the Filter box to the Add criteria menu to the table and back.

    UP ARROW Move up one row. Will move to column headers.

    DOWN ARROW Move down one row.

    LEFT ARROW In column header row, move left one column.

    RIGHT ARROW In column header row, move right one column.

    CONTEXT MENU KEY In column header row, displays the Select Columns option.

    ENTER or SPACEBAR In column header row, sort column data (toggle A-Z, Z-A).

    How to Use the Grid View Window Features

    The following topics explain how to use the features of the window that Out-GridView displays.

    How to Hide, Show, and Reorder Columns

    To hide or show a column:

Right click any column header and click Select Columns.

2. In the Select Columns dialog box, use the arrow keys to move the columns between the Selected columns to the Available columns boxes. Only columns in the Selected Columns box appear in the grid view window.

To reorder columns:

  • Drag and drop the column into the desired location.

  • or-

Right click any column header and click Select Columns.

2. In the Select Columns dialog box, use the Move up and Move down buttons to reorder the columns. Columns at the top of the list appear to the left of columns at the bottom of the list in the grid view window.

How to Sort Table Data

  • To sort the data, click a column header.

  • To change the sort order, click the column header again. Each time you click the same header, the sort order toggles between ascending to descending order. The current order is indicated by a triangle in the column header.

How to Select Table Data

  • To select a row, click the row or use the up or down arrow to navigate to the row.

  • To select all rows (except for the header row), press CTRL+A.

  • To select consecutive rows, press and hold the SHIFT key while clicking the rows or using the arrow keys.

  • To select nonconsecutive rows, press the CTRL key and click to add a row to the selection.

You cannot select columns, and you cannot select the entire column header row.

How to Copy Rows

  • To copy one or more rows from the table, select the rows and then press CTRL+C.

You can paste the data into any text or spreadsheet program. You cannot copy columns or parts of rows and you cannot copy the column header row.

How to Search in the Table (Quick Filter)

Use the Filter box to search for data in the table. When you type in the box, only items that include the typed text appear in the table.

  • Search for text. To search for text in the table, in the Filter box, type the text to find.

  • Search for multiple words. To search for multiple words in the table, type the words separated by spaces. Out-GridView displays rows that include all of the words (logical AND).

  • Search for literal phrases. To search for phrases that include spaces or special characters, enclose the phrase in quotation marks. Out-GridView displays rows that include an exact match for the phrase.

  • Search in columns. To search for text in one or more columns, use the following format:

<column>:<text> [<column>:<text>] ...

For example, to find "Net" in the DisplayName column, in the Filter box, type:

displayname:net

To find rows with "Net" in the DisplayName and Name columns, in the Filter box, type:

displayname:net name:net

  • Turn off search. To display the entire table again, click the red X button in the top right corner of the Filter box or delete the text from the Filter box.

Use Criteria to Filter the Table

You can use rules or criteria to determine which items are displayed in the table. Items appear only when they satisfy all of the criteria that you establish. The available criteria are determined by the properties of the objects displayed in the grid view window and the .NET Framework types of those properties.

Each criterion has the following format:

<column> <operator> <value>

Criteria for different properties are connected by AND. Criteria for the same property are connected by OR. You cannot change the logical connectors.

The criteria only affects the display. It does not delete items from the table.

How to Add Criteria

1. To display the Add criteria menu button, in the upper right corner of the window, click the Expand arrow.

2. Click the Add Criteria menu button.

3. Click to select columns (properties). You can select one or many properties.

4. When you are finished selecting properties, click the Add button.

5. To cancel the additions, click Cancel.

6. To add more criteria, click the Add Criteria button again.

How to Edit a Criterion

  • To change an operator, click the blue operator value, and then click to select a different operator from the drop-down list.

  • To enter or change a value, type a value in the value box. If you enter a value that is not valid, a circular X icon appears. To remove it, change the value.

  • To create an OR statement, add a criteria with the same property.

How to Delete Criteria

  • To delete selected criteria, click the red X beside each criterion.

  • To delete all criteria, click the Clear All button.