Multiline powershell function inside batch script

Question

I want to run .bat-script which calls some powershell function inside it. Function is not so small, so I want to split it. But I cannot do it, escape symbols doesn`t help ( ` ,^). Script example:

set file=%1

set function="$file=$Env:file; ^
              $hash = CertUtil -hashfile $file SHA256 | Select -Index 1"

powershell -command %function%

you can't use Powershell syntax in batchfiles. `$function=...` doesn't work in batch. — Stephan, Aug 09 '18 at 13:01
@Stephan of cource, my mistake, but problem was not connected with it — approximatenumber, Aug 09 '18 at 13:31
no, it's connected with the quotes. Without quotes (like in @Rodby's answer), it works. — Stephan, Aug 09 '18 at 13:33
See [this answer](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/46070152/how-to-run-powershell-command-in-batch-file/46077842#46077842) — Aacini, Aug 09 '18 at 13:37

AutoTester213 · Accepted Answer · 2018-08-09T14:46:08.903

4

You can leave the quote at the end of each line like so:

set file=%1

set function="$file=$Env:file; "^
           "$hash = CertUtil -hashfile $file SHA256 | Select -Index 1; "^
           "example break line further...."

powershell -command %function%

The ^ works as multiline character but it also escapes the first character, so also a quote would be escaped.

edited Aug 09 '18 at 14:46

answered Aug 09 '18 at 13:02

AutoTester213

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Perhaps it'd be nice to update the answer as per edits to the question (`set function` and `%function%`) so that it actually works :) – Robert Dyjas Aug 09 '18 at 13:55
1

I have updated the answer didn't relize the powershell syntax to be honest – AutoTester213 Aug 09 '18 at 14:44
1

Awesome @Wojtek-t! Just a heads up, it's usually worth to test (if possible) before posting :) – Robert Dyjas Aug 09 '18 at 16:08

Robert Dyjas · Answer 2 · 2018-08-09T13:54:05.707

Do not mix batchfile syntax with PowerShell. As @Stephan mentioned $function= won't work in batch file. You need to use set function= instead. Let's say I want to execute the following:

Get-Process
Get-ChildItem

Then the code should look like this:

set function=Get-Process; ^
Get-ChildItem;

And you start PowerShell with:

powershell -noexit -command %function%

-noexit added so that you can verify that the code was successfully executed.

Also keep in mind that what you pass to PowerShell is batch multiline and in PowerShell it's visible as one line so you have to remember about semicolon (which you actually do but I'm leaving this comment here for future readers).

There's also another option how to pass variable from batch script to PowerShell. You can do it like this:

set name=explorer

set function=get-process $args[0]; ^
get-childitem

powershell -noexit  -command "& {%function% }" %name%

Explanation:

$args[0] represents first argument passed to the scriptblock. To pass that argument, add %name% after the scriptblock while starting powershell. Also, as pointed out in this answer (credits to @Aacini for pointing this out in comments), you have to add & operator and keep your scriptblock inside curly brackets { }.

Sidenote: to be honest, I'd avoid running scripts like this. Much simpler way would be to just save the file as .ps1 and run this in your batch file:

powershell -noexit -file .\script.ps1

I agree, that\`s bad practice. But I do need to put powershell code inside batch-file, that\`s my issue. — approximatenumber, Aug 09 '18 at 13:33

Multiline powershell function inside batch script

2 Answers2

Explanation: