Microsoft Private Public

Introduction to PowerShell (PWS101)

3 days
PowerShell

Learn PowerShell fundamentals to automate Windows tasks. Use cmdlets, help, variables, scripts, pipelines, modules, and scheduled tasks.

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$1,857.10
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Course Overview

In this Introduction to PowerShell course, you’ll learn how to use PowerShell to automate and streamline common tasks in Windows environments. The course starts with core concepts—PowerShell editions and hosts, commands and cmdlets, and a productive scripting setup using the VS Code PowerShell extension.

You’ll then build practical skills by using PowerShell’s help system, working with execution policies, variables, operators, and common troubleshooting patterns. From there, you’ll progress into writing scripts with parameters and functions, using conditional logic and loops, handling errors, and working effectively with objects and the pipeline.

The course also covers managing files and directories (including permissions), working with modules and packages (including the PowerShell Gallery), and automating routine work with scheduled tasks and event triggers.

Course Benefits

  • Identify key PowerShell concepts, including the differences between Windows PowerShell and PowerShell, and choose appropriate hosts and tools.
  • Use commands and cmdlets effectively, including discovering and interpreting syntax with PowerShell’s built-in help.
  • Configure and work within execution policies and run tasks with appropriate privileges.
  • Create and use variables, operators, and basic data structures to solve common scripting problems.
  • Write reusable scripts using parameters, functions, conditional logic, and loops.
  • Work with objects, members, and the pipeline to filter, format, and transform data.
  • Manage files, directories, and basic permissions from PowerShell.
  • Install, update, and use modules and packages, including content from the PowerShell Gallery.
  • Automate routine administration with scheduled tasks and event triggers.

Delivery Methods

Public Class
Live expert-led online training from anywhere. Guaranteed to run .
Private Class
Delivered for your team at your site or online.

Course Outline

  1. Introduction
    1. Windows PowerShell vs. PowerShell
    2. PowerShell Uses
    3. Commands
    4. Cmdlets
    5. PowerShell Hosts
    6. VS Code PowerShell Extension
    7. Hello, World! (Exercise)
    8. Copying and Pasting
  2. Help
    1. Help PowerShell Help You
    2. Local Help
    3. Online Help
    4. ShowWindow Parameter
    5. Updating Help
    6. Help Documentation Sections
    7. Data Types
    8. Cmdlet Syntax
    9. Reading Help Documentation (Exercise)
    10. Finding Commands
    11. Help Practice (Exercise)
  3. Basic Operations
    1. Execution Policies
    2. Running PowerShell as an Administrator
    3. Getting and Setting Execution Policies (Exercise)
    4. Creating Variables
    5. Basic Arithmetic in PowerShell
    6. Understanding Error Messages
    7. Working with Type, String, and Collection Operators in PowerShell
    8. Setting Environment Variables
    9. The PATH and PowerShell Versions (Exercise)
    10. Concatenation
  4. Advanced Operations
    1. Writing and Running Scripts
    2. Adding Parameters to Your Script (Exercise)
    3. Naming Scripts
    4. Functions
    5. Conditional Statements
    6. Using Conditional Statements in PowerShell (Exercise)
    7. Looping
    8. Arrays, Lists and HashTables
    9. Looping and Data Structures in PowerShell (Exercise)
    10. Error Handling
    11. Using the Pipeline
    12. Objects and Members
    13. Working with PowerShell Custom Objects and the Pipeline (Exercise)
    14. PowerShell Profiles
    15. Creating a PowerShell Profile with a Custom Prompt (Exercise)
  5. Files And Directories
    1. Navigating Directories
    2. Creating and Deleting Directories
    3. Reading and Writing Files
    4. File and Directory Permissions
    5. Filesystem Operations (Exercise)
  6. Modules And Packages
    1. Understanding Modules
    2. Importing and Using Modules
    3. Exploring the PowerShell Gallery
    4. Installing and Updating Modules
    5. Creating a Simple Module (Exercise)
    6. Understanding Packages
    7. Installing and Managing Packages
  7. PowerShell Automation
    1. Understanding Automation with PowerShell
    2. Scheduled Tasks
    3. Event Triggers
    4. Automating Routine Tasks
    5. Creating a Simple Automation Script (Exercise)

Class Materials

Each student receives a comprehensive set of materials, including course notes and all class examples.

Class Prerequisites

Experience in the following is required for this PowerShell class:

  • Basic understanding of the Windows operating system.
  • No prior experience with PowerShell is necessary.

Experience in the following would be useful for this PowerShell class:

  • Some comfort with command-line interfaces (helpful but not required).
  • Interest in learning scripting and task automation concepts.

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