Collection of PowerShell Scripts

This repository contains 120+ useful and cross-platform PowerShell scripts in the Scripts/ subfolder - to be used by command-line interface (CLI), for remote control (RC), by context menu, by voice control, by automation software like Jenkins, automatically as daily tasks, or simply to learn PowerShell.

Table of Contents

• add-firewall-rules.ps1 - adds firewall rules for the given executables (requires admin rights)
• check-ipv4-address.ps1 - checks the given IPv4 address for validity
• check-mac-address.ps1 - checks the given MAC address for validity
• check-xml-file.ps1 - checks the given XML file for validity
• clone-repos.ps1 - clones well-known Git repositories
• close-calculator.ps1 - closes the calculator program gracefully
• close-chrome.ps1 - closes Google Chrome gracefully
• close-edge.ps1 - closes Microsoft Edge gracefully
• close-file-explorer.ps1 - closes Microsoft File Explorer gracefully
• close-program.ps1 - closes the given program gracefully
• close-thunderbird.ps1 - closes Mozilla Thunderbird gracefully
• close-windows-terminal.ps1 - closes Windows Terminal gracefully
• configure-git.ps1 - sets up the Git user configuration
• csv-to-text.ps1 - converts the given CSV file into a text list
• daily-tasks.sh - execute PowerShell scripts automatically as daily tasks (Linux only)
• decrypt-file.ps1 - encrypts the given file
• display-time.ps1 - displays the current time for 10 seconds by default
• download.ps1 - downloads the file/directory from the given URL
• empty-dir.ps1 - empties the given directory
• enable-crash-dumps.ps1 - enables the writing of crash dumps
• encrypt-file.ps1 - encrypts the given file
• generate-qrcode.ps1 - generates a QR code
• hibernate.ps1 - enables hibernate mode for the local computer (requires admin rights)
• inspect-exe.ps1 - prints basic information of the given executable file
• list-anagrams.ps1 - lists all anagrams of the given word
• list-automatic-variables.ps1 - lists the automatic variables of PowerShell
• list-clipboard.ps1 - lists the contents of the clipboard
• list-current-timezone.ps1 - lists the current time zone details
• list-environment-variables.ps1 - lists all environment variables
• list-empty-dirs.ps1 - lists empty subfolders in a directory tree
• list-installed-software.ps1 - lists the installed software
• list-files.ps1 - lists all files in the given folder and also in every subfolder
• list-formatted.ps1 - lists the current working directory formatted in columns
• list-fritzbox-calls.ps1 - lists the FRITZ!Box calls
• list-fritzbox-devices.ps1 - lists FRITZ!Box's known devices
• list-logbook.ps1 - lists the content of the logbook
• list-unused-files.ps1 - lists unused files in a directory tree
• list-cmdlets.ps1 - lists the PowerShell cmdlets
• list-earthquakes.ps1 - lists earthquakes with magnitude >= 6.0 for the last 30 days
• list-modules.ps1 - lists the PowerShell modules
• list-news.ps1 - lists the latest news
• list-os-releases.ps1 - lists OS releases and download URL
• list-printers.ps1 - lists all printer known to the computer
• list-processes.ps1 - lists the local computer processes
• list-random-passwords.ps1 - prints a list of random passwords
• list-random-pins.ps1 - prints a list of random PIN's
• list-scripts.ps1 - lists the PowerShell scripts in this repository
• list-timezones.ps1 - lists all time zones available
• list-user-groups.ps1 - lists the user groups on the local computer
• locate-city.ps1 - prints the geographic location of the given city
• locate-ipaddress.ps1 - prints the geographic location of the given IP address
• locate-zip-code.ps1 - prints the geographic location of the given zip-code
• MD5.ps1 - prints the MD5 checksum of the given file
• make-install.ps1 - installs built executables and libs to the installation directory
• moon.ps1 - prints the current moon phase
• mute-audio.ps1 - mutes audio
• open-browser.ps1 - starts the default Web browser
• open-calculator.ps1 - starts the calculator program
• open-email-client.ps1 - starts the default email client
• play-beep.ps1 - plays a beep sound
• poweroff.ps1 - halts the local computer (requires admin rights)
• query-smart-data.ps1 - queries the S.M.A.R.T. data of your HDD/SSD's
• new-email.ps1 - starts the default email client to write a new email
• next-joke.ps1 - gets the next random Juck Norris joke
• reboot.ps1 - reboots the local computer (requires admin rights)
• reboot-fritzbox.ps1 - reboots the FRITZ!box device
• remove-empty-dirs.ps1 - removes empty subfolders within the given directory tree
• search-files.ps1 - searches the given pattern in the given files
• scan-ports.ps1 - scans the network for open/closed ports
• send-email.ps1 - sends an email message
• send-tcp.ps1 - sends a TCP message to the given IP address and port
• send-udp.ps1 - sends a UDP datagram message to the given IP address and port
• set-timer.ps1 - sets a timer for a countdown
• set-wallpaper.ps1 - sets the given image as wallpaper
• SHA1.ps1 - prints the SHA1 checksum of the given file
• SHA256.ps1 - prints the SHA256 checksum of the given file
• simulate-matrix.ps1 - simulates the Matrix (fun)
• simulate-presence.ps1 - simulates the human presence against burglars
• speak-date.ps1 - speaks the current date by text-to-speech (TTS)
• speak-english.ps1 - speaks the given text with an English text-to-speech (TTS) voice
• speak-epub.ps1 - speaks the content of the given Epub file by text-to-speech (TTS)
• speak-file.ps1 - speaks the content of the given text file by text-to-speech (TTS)
• speak-german.ps1 - speaks the given text with a German text-to-speech (TTS) voice
• speak-joke.ps1 - speaks the next joke by text-to-speech (TTS)
• speak-test.ps1 - performs a speak test by text-to-speech (TTS)
• speak-text.ps1 - speaks the given text by text-to-speech (TTS)
• speak-time.ps1 - speaks the current time by text-to-speech (TTS)
• switch-shelly1.ps1 - switches a Shelly1 device in the local network
• take-screenshot.ps1 - takes a single screenshot
• take-screenshots.ps1 - takes multiple screenshots
• train-dns-cache.ps1 - trains the DNS cache with frequently used domain names
• translate-file.ps1 - translates the given file from source to target language
• translate-text.ps1 - translates the given text into other languages
• turn-volume-up.ps1 - turns the audio volume up (+10% by default)
• turn-volume-down.ps1 - turns the audio volume down (-10% by default)
• txt2wav.ps1 - converts text into a audio .WAV file
• unmute-audio.ps1 - unmutes audio
• update-repos.ps1 - updates all Git repositories under the current directory
• visualize-dir-tree.ps1 - visualizes the given/current directory tree
• voice-control.ps1 - executes the PowerShell scripts by voice
• weather.ps1 - prints the current weather forecast
• weather-alert.ps1 - checks the current weather for critical values
• weather-report.ps1 - prints the local weather report
• weather-worldwide.ps1 - prints the current weather of cities worldwide
• wakeup.ps1 - sends a magic packet to the given computer, waking him up
• write-animated.ps1 - writes animated text
• write-big.ps1 - writes the given text in big letters
• write-blue.ps1 - writes the given text in a blue foreground color
• write-braille.ps1 - writes the given text in Braille
• write-green.ps1 - writes the given text in a green foreground color
• write-logbook.ps1 - writes the given text to the logbook
• write-marquee.ps1 - writes the given text as marquee
• write-morse-code.ps1 - writes the given text in Morse code
• write-motd.ps1 - writes the message of the day (MOTD)
• write-red.ps1 - writes the given text in a red foreground color
• write-rot13.ps1 - encodes or decodes the given text with ROT13
• write-typewriter.ps1 - writes the given text with the typewriter effect
• write-uppercase.ps1 - writes the given text in uppercase letters
• write-vertical.ps1 - writes the given text in vertical direction
• zip-dir.ps1 - creates a zip archive of the given directory

What is PowerShell?

PowerShell is a task automation and configuration management framework from Microsoft, consisting of a command-line shell and associated scripting language.

• it's powerful: fully control your computer
• it's cross-platform: available for Linux, Mac OS and Windows
• it's open-source: see the Github repository at https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell
• it's easy to learn: see the tutorial at https://www.guru99.com/powershell-tutorial.html
• it's fully documented: see the official docs at https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/

How to get PowerShell?

• Windows 7 and newer do provide PowerShell by default. It's recommended to install Windows Terminal (see the Microsoft Store at https://www.aka.ms/terminal) for a comfortable command-line usage. Per default, Windows does not allow script execution (execution policy "restricted"). To enable this, enter as administrator:

  $ Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned
  

• On CentOS, Debian, Docker, Fedora, macOS, openSUSE, Red Hat, Ubuntu visit https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell for installation.

Afterward, install this collection by clicking on the green "Code" button or execute:

$ git clone https://github.com/fleschutz/PowerShell

Configure PowerShell as Default Shell

• Linux: make sure PowerShell is installed, then execute: chsh -s /bin/powershell <username>
• Windows: no need to, PowerShell is the default shell

Adding the Scripts to the Search Path

Want to use the PowerShell scripts everywhere on the command-line? Then you need to add the Scripts/ subfolder to the search path:

• Bash or sh: edit .profile in your home directory and add the line: PATH="$PATH:/path/to/PowerShell/Scripts"
• Windows: open the environment variables dialogue and add the full path to Scripts/ to the system environment variable "Path"

Using PowerShell in Context Menus

• to enable "right-click > New > Windows PowerShell Script" execute Add_ps1_to_New_context_menu.reg in subfolder Misc/
• to disable this execute Remove_ps1_from_New_context_menu.reg in subfolder Misc/

Script Conventions

Each PowerShell script should follow the 9 golden rules:

1. the filename should be named <verb>-<object>.ps1
2. the first line reads #!/bin/powershell to support PowerShell on Linux
3. the script has execute file permissions (chmod a+rx ) to support PowerShell on Linux
4. provide a comment-based help with syntax, description, link, author, and license
5. check the requirements (e.g. #Requires -RunAsAdministrator, or #Requires -Version 3)
6. prefer command-line options, else ask the user
7. use Set-StrictMode -Version Latest to enable additional error checking
8. for readibility use UpperCamelCase for variables and functions, lowerCamelCase for everything else
9. exit 0 for success, else print an error message and exit with the error code (mostly 1)

Feedback

Send your email feedback to: markus [at] fleschutz [dot] de

License & Copyright

This open source release is licensed under the CC0 license. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.