Echo equivalent in PowerShell for script testing

Question

I would like to output variables and values out in a PowerShell script by setting up flags and seeing the data matriculate throughout the script.

How would I do thi

Answer 1

echo is alias to Write-Output although it looks the same as Write-Host.

It isn't What is the difference between echo and Write-Host in PowerShell?.

echo is an alias for Write-Output, which writes to the Success output stream. This allows output to be processed through pipelines or redirected into files. Write-Host writes directly to the console, so the output can't be redirected/processed any further.

Answer 2

By far the easiest way to echo in powershell, is just create the string object and let the pipeline output it:

$filesizecounter = 8096
"filesizecounter : $filesizecounter"

Of course, you do give up some flexibility when not using the Write-* methods.

Answer 3

Try Get-Content .\yourScript.PS1 and you will see the content of your script.

also you can insert this line in your scrip code:

get-content .\scriptname.PS1
script code
script code

....

Answer 4

There are several ways:

Write-Host: Write directly to the console, not included in function/cmdlet output. Allows foreground and background colour to be set.

Write-Debug: Write directly to the console, if $DebugPreference set to Continue or Stop.

Write-Verbose: Write directly to the console, if $VerbosePreference set to Continue or Stop.

The latter is intended for extra optional information, Write-Debug for debugging (so would seem to fit in this case).

Additional: In PSH2 (at least) scripts using cmdlet binding will automatically get the -Verbose and -Debug switch parameters, locally enabling Write-Verbose and Write-Debug (i.e. overriding the preference variables) as compiled cmdlets and providers do.

Answer 5

Powershell has an alias mapping echo to Write-Output, so:

echo "filesizecounter : $filesizecounter"