Edit

Share via

Start-Transcript

  • Reference
Module:
Microsoft.PowerShell.Host

Creates a record of all or part of a PowerShell session to a text file.

Syntax

Start-Transcript
     [[-Path] <String>]
     [-Append]
     [-Force]
     [-NoClobber]
     [-IncludeInvocationHeader]
     [-UseMinimalHeader]
     [-WhatIf]
     [-Confirm] 
     [<CommonParameters>]
Start-Transcript
     [[-LiteralPath] <String>]
     [-Append]
     [-Force]
     [-NoClobber]
     [-IncludeInvocationHeader]
     [-UseMinimalHeader]
     [-WhatIf]
     [-Confirm] 
     [<CommonParameters>]
Start-Transcript
     [[-OutputDirectory] <String>]
     [-Append]
     [-Force]
     [-NoClobber]
     [-IncludeInvocationHeader]
     [-UseMinimalHeader]
     [-WhatIf]
     [-Confirm] 
     [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Start-Transcript cmdlet creates a record of all or part of a PowerShell session to a text file. The transcript includes all command that the user types and all output that appears on the console.

By default, Start-Transcript stores the transcript in the following location using the default name:

  • On Windows: $HOME\Documents
  • On Linux or macOS: $HOME

The default filename is PowerShell_transcript.<computername>.<random>.<timestamp>.txt.

Starting in Windows PowerShell 5.0, Start-Transcript includes the hostname in the generated file name of all transcripts. The filename also includes random characters in names to prevent potential overwrites or duplication when you start two or more transcripts simultaneously. Including the computer name is useful if you store your transcripts in a centralized location. The random character string prevents guessing of the filename to gain unauthorized access to the file.

If the target file doesn't have a Byte Order Mark (BOM), Start-Transcript defaults to Utf8NoBom encoding in the target file.

Examples

Example 1: Start a transcript file with default settings

Start-Transcript

This command starts a transcript in the default file location.

Example 2: Start a transcript file at a specific location

Start-Transcript -Path "C:\transcripts\transcript0.txt" -NoClobber

This command starts a transcript in the Transcript0.txt file in C:\transcripts. NoClobber parameter prevents any existing files from being overwritten. If the Transcript0.txt file already exists, the command fails.

Example 3: Start a transcript file with a unique name and store it on a file share

The following example creates a transcript file with a name unique enough to be stored on in a shared location. The filename is constructed from the user's name, the hostname of the computer running PowerShell, the version of PowerShell, and the date and time. The transcript is stored in the \\Server01\Transcripts file share.

$sharepath  = '\\Server01\Transcripts'
$username   = $env:USERNAME
$hostname   = hostname
$version    = $PSVersionTable.PSVersion.ToString()
$datetime   = Get-Date -f 'yyyyMMddHHmmss'
$filename   = "Transcript-${username}-${hostname}-${version}-${datetime}.txt"
$Transcript = Join-Path -Path $sharepath -ChildPath $filename
Start-Transcript

The full path to the transcript file is stored in the $Transcript preference variable. For more information about the $Transcript preference variable, see about_Preference_Variables.

Parameters

-Append

Indicates that this cmdlet adds the new transcript to the end of an existing file. Use the Path parameter to specify the file.

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

-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

-Force

Allows the cmdlet to append the transcript to an existing read-only file. When used on a read-only file, the cmdlet changes the file permission to read-write. The cmdlet can't override security restrictions when this parameter is used.

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

-IncludeInvocationHeader

Indicates that this cmdlet logs the time stamp when commands are run.

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

-LiteralPath

Specifies a location to the transcript file. Unlike the Path parameter, the value of the LiteralPath parameter is used exactly as it's typed. No characters are interpreted as wildcards. If the path includes escape characters, enclose it in single quotation marks. Single quotation marks inform PowerShell not to interpret any characters as escape sequences.

Type:String
Aliases:PSPath, LP
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-NoClobber

Indicates that this cmdlet doesn't overwrite an existing file. By default, if a transcript file exists in the specified path, Start-Transcript overwrites the file without warning.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:NoOverwrite
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-OutputDirectory

Specifies a specific path and folder in which to save a transcript. PowerShell automatically assigns the transcript name.

Type:String
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Path

Specifies a location to the transcript file. Enter a path to a .txt file. Wildcards aren't permitted. If any of the directories in the path don't exist, the command fails.

If you don't specify a path, Start-Transcript uses the path in the value of the $Transcript global variable. If you haven't created this variable, Start-Transcript stores the transcripts in the default location and filename.

Type:String
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-UseMinimalHeader

Prepend a short header to the transcript, instead of the detailed header included by default. This parameter was added in PowerShell 6.2.

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

-WhatIf

Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet isn't run.

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

Inputs

None

You can't pipe objects to this cmdlet.

Outputs

String

This cmdlet returns a string containing a confirmation message and the path to the output file.

Notes

To stop a transcript, use the Stop-Transcript cmdlet.

To record an entire session, add the Start-Transcript command to your profile. For more information, see about_Profiles.