Understanding Formatting

Formatting Strategy

1. Looks for pre-defined formatting specification(View) in *.format.ps1xml files.
2. Follow instruction like Format-Table.
3. Direct ToString for
   • primitive types in .NET
   • objects without any public property

NOTE

Since PowerShell 6.0, pre-defined formatting specification are presented in C# source code. You can still load your own specification by ps1xml files.

NOTE

To formatting

Format as Table

• Format by -Property with specific property names or calculated property

gps | ft -Property Name,ID # pick two columns
gps | ft @{ n = 'CMD'; e = 'Name' } # create custom column by calculated property

• Toggle headers by -HideTableHeaders
• Format with custom View by -View
• Group by property -GroupBy
• Enable word wrap by -Wrap
• -RepeatHeader to make sure each page has a header for certain pager like less, more and Out-Host -Paging

# display groups separately
gci -file | ft -GroupBy Extension