How do I ask PowerShell where something is?
For instance, "which notepad" and it returns the directory where the notepad.exe is run from according to the current paths.
This question is related to
unix
powershell
command
Try this example:
(Get-Command notepad.exe).Path
I have this which advanced function in my PowerShell profile:
function which {
<#
.SYNOPSIS
Identifies the source of a PowerShell command.
.DESCRIPTION
Identifies the source of a PowerShell command. External commands (Applications) are identified by the path to the executable
(which must be in the system PATH); cmdlets and functions are identified as such and the name of the module they are defined in
provided; aliases are expanded and the source of the alias definition is returned.
.INPUTS
No inputs; you cannot pipe data to this function.
.OUTPUTS
.PARAMETER Name
The name of the command to be identified.
.EXAMPLE
PS C:\Users\Smith\Documents> which Get-Command
Get-Command: Cmdlet in module Microsoft.PowerShell.Core
(Identifies type and source of command)
.EXAMPLE
PS C:\Users\Smith\Documents> which notepad
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\notepad.exe
(Indicates the full path of the executable)
#>
param(
[String]$name
)
$cmd = Get-Command $name
$redirect = $null
switch ($cmd.CommandType) {
"Alias" { "{0}: Alias for ({1})" -f $cmd.Name, (. { which $cmd.Definition } ) }
"Application" { $cmd.Source }
"Cmdlet" { "{0}: {1} {2}" -f $cmd.Name, $cmd.CommandType, (. { if ($cmd.Source.Length) { "in module {0}" -f $cmd.Source} else { "from unspecified source" } } ) }
"Function" { "{0}: {1} {2}" -f $cmd.Name, $cmd.CommandType, (. { if ($cmd.Source.Length) { "in module {0}" -f $cmd.Source} else { "from unspecified source" } } ) }
"Workflow" { "{0}: {1} {2}" -f $cmd.Name, $cmd.CommandType, (. { if ($cmd.Source.Length) { "in module {0}" -f $cmd.Source} else { "from unspecified source" } } ) }
"ExternalScript" { $cmd.Source }
default { $cmd }
}
}
I usually just type:
gcm notepad
or
gcm note*
gcm is the default alias for Get-Command.
On my system, gcm note* outputs:
[27] » gcm note*
CommandType Name Definition
----------- ---- ----------
Application notepad.exe C:\WINDOWS\notepad.exe
Application notepad.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\notepad.exe
Application Notepad2.exe C:\Utils\Notepad2.exe
Application Notepad2.ini C:\Utils\Notepad2.ini
You get the directory and the command that matches what you're looking for.
A quick-and-dirty match to Unix which is
New-Alias which where.exe
But it returns multiple lines if they exist so then it becomes
function which {where.exe command | select -first 1}
I usually just type:
gcm notepad
or
gcm note*
gcm is the default alias for Get-Command.
On my system, gcm note* outputs:
[27] » gcm note*
CommandType Name Definition
----------- ---- ----------
Application notepad.exe C:\WINDOWS\notepad.exe
Application notepad.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\notepad.exe
Application Notepad2.exe C:\Utils\Notepad2.exe
Application Notepad2.ini C:\Utils\Notepad2.ini
You get the directory and the command that matches what you're looking for.
You can install the which command from https://goprogram.co.uk/software/commands, along with all of the other UNIX commands.
I like Get-Command | Format-List, or shorter, using aliases for the two and only for powershell.exe:
gcm powershell | fl
You can find aliases like this:
alias -definition Format-List
Tab completion works with gcm.
If you want a comamnd that both accepts input from pipeline or as paramater, you should try this:
function which($name) {
if ($name) { $input = $name }
Get-Command $input | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Path
}
copy-paste the command to your profile (notepad $profile).
Examples:
? echo clang.exe | which
C:\Program Files\LLVM\bin\clang.exe
? which clang.exe
C:\Program Files\LLVM\bin\clang.exe
Use:
function Which([string] $cmd) {
$path = (($Env:Path).Split(";") | Select -uniq | Where { $_.Length } | Where { Test-Path $_ } | Get-ChildItem -filter $cmd).FullName
if ($path) { $path.ToString() }
}
# Check if Chocolatey is installed
if (Which('cinst.bat')) {
Write-Host "yes"
} else {
Write-Host "no"
}
Or this version, calling the original where command.
This version also works better, because it is not limited to bat files:
function which([string] $cmd) {
$where = iex $(Join-Path $env:SystemRoot "System32\where.exe $cmd 2>&1")
$first = $($where -split '[\r\n]')
if ($first.getType().BaseType.Name -eq 'Array') {
$first = $first[0]
}
if (Test-Path $first) {
$first
}
}
# Check if Curl is installed
if (which('curl')) {
echo 'yes'
} else {
echo 'no'
}
This seems to do what you want (I found it on http://huddledmasses.org/powershell-find-path/):
Function Find-Path($Path, [switch]$All = $false, [Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.TestPathType]$type = "Any")
## You could comment out the function stuff and use it as a script instead, with this line:
#param($Path, [switch]$All = $false, [Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.TestPathType]$type = "Any")
if($(Test-Path $Path -Type $type)) {
return $path
} else {
[string[]]$paths = @($pwd);
$paths += "$pwd;$env:path".split(";")
$paths = Join-Path $paths $(Split-Path $Path -leaf) | ? { Test-Path $_ -Type $type }
if($paths.Length -gt 0) {
if($All) {
return $paths;
} else {
return $paths[0]
}
}
}
throw "Couldn't find a matching path of type $type"
}
Set-Alias find Find-Path
Check this PowerShell Which.
The code provided there suggests this:
($Env:Path).Split(";") | Get-ChildItem -filter notepad.exe
My proposition for the Which function:
function which($cmd) { get-command $cmd | % { $_.Path } }
PS C:\> which devcon
C:\local\code\bin\devcon.exe
Try the where command on Windows 2003 or later (or Windows 2000/XP if you've installed a Resource Kit).
BTW, this received more answers in other questions:
I usually just type:
gcm notepad
or
gcm note*
gcm is the default alias for Get-Command.
On my system, gcm note* outputs:
[27] » gcm note*
CommandType Name Definition
----------- ---- ----------
Application notepad.exe C:\WINDOWS\notepad.exe
Application notepad.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\notepad.exe
Application Notepad2.exe C:\Utils\Notepad2.exe
Application Notepad2.ini C:\Utils\Notepad2.ini
You get the directory and the command that matches what you're looking for.
Check this PowerShell Which.
The code provided there suggests this:
($Env:Path).Split(";") | Get-ChildItem -filter notepad.exe
Here is an actual *nix equivalent, i.e. it gives *nix-style output.
Get-Command <your command> | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Definition
Just replace with whatever you're looking for.
PS C:\> Get-Command notepad.exe | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Definition
C:\Windows\system32\notepad.exe
When you add it to your profile, you will want to use a function rather than an alias because you can't use aliases with pipes:
function which($name)
{
Get-Command $name | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Definition
}
Now, when you reload your profile you can do this:
PS C:\> which notepad
C:\Windows\system32\notepad.exe
I usually just type:
gcm notepad
or
gcm note*
gcm is the default alias for Get-Command.
On my system, gcm note* outputs:
[27] » gcm note*
CommandType Name Definition
----------- ---- ----------
Application notepad.exe C:\WINDOWS\notepad.exe
Application notepad.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\notepad.exe
Application Notepad2.exe C:\Utils\Notepad2.exe
Application Notepad2.ini C:\Utils\Notepad2.ini
You get the directory and the command that matches what you're looking for.
I have this which advanced function in my PowerShell profile:
function which {
<#
.SYNOPSIS
Identifies the source of a PowerShell command.
.DESCRIPTION
Identifies the source of a PowerShell command. External commands (Applications) are identified by the path to the executable
(which must be in the system PATH); cmdlets and functions are identified as such and the name of the module they are defined in
provided; aliases are expanded and the source of the alias definition is returned.
.INPUTS
No inputs; you cannot pipe data to this function.
.OUTPUTS
.PARAMETER Name
The name of the command to be identified.
.EXAMPLE
PS C:\Users\Smith\Documents> which Get-Command
Get-Command: Cmdlet in module Microsoft.PowerShell.Core
(Identifies type and source of command)
.EXAMPLE
PS C:\Users\Smith\Documents> which notepad
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\notepad.exe
(Indicates the full path of the executable)
#>
param(
[String]$name
)
$cmd = Get-Command $name
$redirect = $null
switch ($cmd.CommandType) {
"Alias" { "{0}: Alias for ({1})" -f $cmd.Name, (. { which $cmd.Definition } ) }
"Application" { $cmd.Source }
"Cmdlet" { "{0}: {1} {2}" -f $cmd.Name, $cmd.CommandType, (. { if ($cmd.Source.Length) { "in module {0}" -f $cmd.Source} else { "from unspecified source" } } ) }
"Function" { "{0}: {1} {2}" -f $cmd.Name, $cmd.CommandType, (. { if ($cmd.Source.Length) { "in module {0}" -f $cmd.Source} else { "from unspecified source" } } ) }
"Workflow" { "{0}: {1} {2}" -f $cmd.Name, $cmd.CommandType, (. { if ($cmd.Source.Length) { "in module {0}" -f $cmd.Source} else { "from unspecified source" } } ) }
"ExternalScript" { $cmd.Source }
default { $cmd }
}
}
Try this example:
(Get-Command notepad.exe).Path
You can install the which command from https://goprogram.co.uk/software/commands, along with all of the other UNIX commands.
Try the where command on Windows 2003 or later (or Windows 2000/XP if you've installed a Resource Kit).
BTW, this received more answers in other questions:
Here is an actual *nix equivalent, i.e. it gives *nix-style output.
Get-Command <your command> | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Definition
Just replace with whatever you're looking for.
PS C:\> Get-Command notepad.exe | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Definition
C:\Windows\system32\notepad.exe
When you add it to your profile, you will want to use a function rather than an alias because you can't use aliases with pipes:
function which($name)
{
Get-Command $name | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Definition
}
Now, when you reload your profile you can do this:
PS C:\> which notepad
C:\Windows\system32\notepad.exe
This seems to do what you want (I found it on http://huddledmasses.org/powershell-find-path/):
Function Find-Path($Path, [switch]$All = $false, [Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.TestPathType]$type = "Any")
## You could comment out the function stuff and use it as a script instead, with this line:
#param($Path, [switch]$All = $false, [Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.TestPathType]$type = "Any")
if($(Test-Path $Path -Type $type)) {
return $path
} else {
[string[]]$paths = @($pwd);
$paths += "$pwd;$env:path".split(";")
$paths = Join-Path $paths $(Split-Path $Path -leaf) | ? { Test-Path $_ -Type $type }
if($paths.Length -gt 0) {
if($All) {
return $paths;
} else {
return $paths[0]
}
}
}
throw "Couldn't find a matching path of type $type"
}
Set-Alias find Find-Path
This seems to do what you want (I found it on http://huddledmasses.org/powershell-find-path/):
Function Find-Path($Path, [switch]$All = $false, [Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.TestPathType]$type = "Any")
## You could comment out the function stuff and use it as a script instead, with this line:
#param($Path, [switch]$All = $false, [Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.TestPathType]$type = "Any")
if($(Test-Path $Path -Type $type)) {
return $path
} else {
[string[]]$paths = @($pwd);
$paths += "$pwd;$env:path".split(";")
$paths = Join-Path $paths $(Split-Path $Path -leaf) | ? { Test-Path $_ -Type $type }
if($paths.Length -gt 0) {
if($All) {
return $paths;
} else {
return $paths[0]
}
}
}
throw "Couldn't find a matching path of type $type"
}
Set-Alias find Find-Path
A quick-and-dirty match to Unix which is
New-Alias which where.exe
But it returns multiple lines if they exist so then it becomes
function which {where.exe command | select -first 1}
This seems to do what you want (I found it on http://huddledmasses.org/powershell-find-path/):
Function Find-Path($Path, [switch]$All = $false, [Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.TestPathType]$type = "Any")
## You could comment out the function stuff and use it as a script instead, with this line:
#param($Path, [switch]$All = $false, [Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.TestPathType]$type = "Any")
if($(Test-Path $Path -Type $type)) {
return $path
} else {
[string[]]$paths = @($pwd);
$paths += "$pwd;$env:path".split(";")
$paths = Join-Path $paths $(Split-Path $Path -leaf) | ? { Test-Path $_ -Type $type }
if($paths.Length -gt 0) {
if($All) {
return $paths;
} else {
return $paths[0]
}
}
}
throw "Couldn't find a matching path of type $type"
}
Set-Alias find Find-Path
I like Get-Command | Format-List, or shorter, using aliases for the two and only for powershell.exe:
gcm powershell | fl
You can find aliases like this:
alias -definition Format-List
Tab completion works with gcm.
If you want a comamnd that both accepts input from pipeline or as paramater, you should try this:
function which($name) {
if ($name) { $input = $name }
Get-Command $input | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Path
}
copy-paste the command to your profile (notepad $profile).
Examples:
? echo clang.exe | which
C:\Program Files\LLVM\bin\clang.exe
? which clang.exe
C:\Program Files\LLVM\bin\clang.exe
Use:
function Which([string] $cmd) {
$path = (($Env:Path).Split(";") | Select -uniq | Where { $_.Length } | Where { Test-Path $_ } | Get-ChildItem -filter $cmd).FullName
if ($path) { $path.ToString() }
}
# Check if Chocolatey is installed
if (Which('cinst.bat')) {
Write-Host "yes"
} else {
Write-Host "no"
}
Or this version, calling the original where command.
This version also works better, because it is not limited to bat files:
function which([string] $cmd) {
$where = iex $(Join-Path $env:SystemRoot "System32\where.exe $cmd 2>&1")
$first = $($where -split '[\r\n]')
if ($first.getType().BaseType.Name -eq 'Array') {
$first = $first[0]
}
if (Test-Path $first) {
$first
}
}
# Check if Curl is installed
if (which('curl')) {
echo 'yes'
} else {
echo 'no'
}
My proposition for the Which function:
function which($cmd) { get-command $cmd | % { $_.Path } }
PS C:\> which devcon
C:\local\code\bin\devcon.exe
Check this PowerShell Which.
The code provided there suggests this:
($Env:Path).Split(";") | Get-ChildItem -filter notepad.exe
Source: Stackoverflow.com