Supplying Options for Cmdlets

One of the useful features of Windows PowerShell is the standardization of the syntax in working with cmdlets. This vastly simplifies the learning of the new shell and language. Table 1-1 lists the common parameters. Keep in mind that all cmdlets will not implement these parameters. However, if these parameters are used, they will be interpreted in the same manner for all cmdlets because it is the Windows PowerShell engine itself that interprets the parameter.

Table 1-1: Common Parameters
Open table as spreadsheet

Parameter	Meaning
-whatif	Tells the cmdlet to not execute but to tell you what would happen if the cmdlet were to run
-confirm	Tells the cmdlet to prompt before executing the command
-verbose	Instructs the cmdlet to provide a higher level of detail than a cmdlet not using the verbose parameter
-debug	Instructs the cmdlet to provide debugging information
-ErrorAction	Instructs the cmdlet to perform a certain action when an error occurs. Allowed actions are: continue, stop, silentlyContinue, and inquire.
-ErrorVariable	Instructs the cmdlet to use a specific variable to hold error information. This is in addition to the standard $error variable.
-Outvariable	Instructs the cmdlet to use a specific variable to hold the output information
-OutBuffer	Instructs the cmdlet to hold a certain number of objects before calling the next cmdlet in the pipeline

Note 

To get help on any cmdlet, use the Get-Help cmdletname cmdlet.