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Invoke-Item

  • Reference
Module:
Microsoft.PowerShell.Management

Performs the default action on the specified item.

Syntax

Invoke-Item
      [-Path] <String[]>
      [-Filter <String>]
      [-Include <String[]>]
      [-Exclude <String[]>]
      [-Credential <PSCredential>]
      [-WhatIf]
      [-Confirm]
      [-UseTransaction]
      [<CommonParameters>]
Invoke-Item
      -LiteralPath <String[]>
      [-Filter <String>]
      [-Include <String[]>]
      [-Exclude <String[]>]
      [-Credential <PSCredential>]
      [-WhatIf]
      [-Confirm]
      [-UseTransaction]
      [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Invoke-Item cmdlet performs the default action on the specified item. For example, it runs an executable file or opens a document file in the application associated with the document file type. The default action depends on the type of item and is determined by the PowerShell provider that provides access to the data.

Examples

Example 1: Open a file

This command opens the file aliasApr04.doc in Microsoft Office Word. In this case, opening in Word is the default action for .doc files.

Invoke-Item "C:\Test\aliasApr04.doc"

Example 2: Open all files of a specific type

This command opens all of the Microsoft Office Excel spreadsheets in the C:\Users\User1\Documents folder. Each spreadsheet is opened in a new instance of Excel. In this case, opening in Excel is the default action for .xls files.

Invoke-Item "C:\Users\User1\Documents\*.xls"

Parameters

-Confirm

Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:cf
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Credential

Note

This parameter is not supported by any providers installed with PowerShell. To impersonate another user, or elevate your credentials when running this cmdlet, use Invoke-Command.

Type:PSCredential
Position:Named
Default value:Current user
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Exclude

Specifies, as a string array, an item or items that this cmdlet excludes in the operation. The value of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. Enter a path element or pattern, such as *.txt. Wildcard characters are permitted. The Exclude parameter is effective only when the command includes the contents of an item, such as C:\Windows\*, where the wildcard character specifies the contents of the C:\Windows directory.

Type:String[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:True

-Filter

Specifies a filter to qualify the Path parameter. The FileSystem provider is the only installed PowerShell provider that supports the use of filters. You can find the syntax for the FileSystem filter language in about_Wildcards. Filters are more efficient than other parameters, because the provider applies them when the cmdlet gets the objects rather than having PowerShell filter the objects after they are retrieved.

Type:String
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:True

-Include

Specifies, as a string array, an item or items that this cmdlet includes in the operation. The value of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. Enter a path element or pattern, such as "*.txt". Wildcard characters are permitted. The Include parameter is effective only when the command includes the contents of an item, such as C:\Windows\*, where the wildcard character specifies the contents of the C:\Windows directory.

Type:String[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:True

-LiteralPath

Specifies a path to one or more locations. The value of LiteralPath is used exactly as it is typed. No characters are interpreted as wildcards. If the path includes escape characters, enclose it in single quotation marks. Single quotation marks tell PowerShell not to interpret any characters as escape sequences.

For more information, see about_Quoting_Rules.

Type:String[]
Aliases:PSPath
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Path

Specifies the path to the selected item. Wildcard characters are permitted.

Type:String[]
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:True

-UseTransaction

Includes the command in the active transaction. This parameter is valid only when a transaction is in progress. For more information, see about_transactions.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:usetx
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-WhatIf

Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:wi
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

Inputs

String

You can pipe a string that contains a path to this cmdlet.

Outputs

None

This cmdlet returns no output of its own, but the items it invokes may return their own output.

Notes

Windows PowerShell includes the following aliases for Invoke-Item:

  • ii

This cmdlet is designed to work with the data exposed by any provider. To list the providers available in your session, type Get-PSProvider. For more information, see about_Providers.