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Creating a graphical date picker

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This sample only applies to Windows platforms.

Use Windows PowerShell 3.0 and later releases to create a form with a graphical, calendar-style control that lets users select a day of the month.

Create a graphical date-picker control

Copy and then paste the following into Windows PowerShell ISE, and then save it as a PowerShell script (.ps1) file.

Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms
Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Drawing

$form = New-Object Windows.Forms.Form -Property @{
    StartPosition = [Windows.Forms.FormStartPosition]::CenterScreen
    Size          = New-Object Drawing.Size 243, 230
    Text          = 'Select a Date'
    Topmost       = $true
}

$calendar = New-Object Windows.Forms.MonthCalendar -Property @{
    ShowTodayCircle   = $false
    MaxSelectionCount = 1
}
$form.Controls.Add($calendar)

$okButton = New-Object Windows.Forms.Button -Property @{
    Location     = New-Object Drawing.Point 38, 165
    Size         = New-Object Drawing.Size 75, 23
    Text         = 'OK'
    DialogResult = [Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::OK
}
$form.AcceptButton = $okButton
$form.Controls.Add($okButton)

$cancelButton = New-Object Windows.Forms.Button -Property @{
    Location     = New-Object Drawing.Point 113, 165
    Size         = New-Object Drawing.Size 75, 23
    Text         = 'Cancel'
    DialogResult = [Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::Cancel
}
$form.CancelButton = $cancelButton
$form.Controls.Add($cancelButton)

$result = $form.ShowDialog()

if ($result -eq [Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::OK) {
    $date = $calendar.SelectionStart
    Write-Host "Date selected: $($date.ToShortDateString())"
}

The script begins by loading two .NET Framework classes: System.Drawing and System.Windows.Forms. You then start a new instance of the .NET Framework class Windows.Forms.Form. That provides a blank form or window to which you can start adding controls.

$form = New-Object Windows.Forms.Form -Property @{
    StartPosition = [Windows.Forms.FormStartPosition]::CenterScreen
    Size          = New-Object Drawing.Size 243, 230
    Text          = 'Select a Date'
    Topmost       = $true
}

This example assigns values to four properties of this class by using the Property property and hashtable.

  1. StartPosition: If you don't add this property, Windows selects a location when the form is opened. By setting this property to CenterScreen, you're automatically displaying the form in the middle of the screen each time it loads.

  2. Size: This is the size of the form, in pixels. The preceding script creates a form that's 243 pixels wide by 230 pixels tall.

  3. Text: This becomes the title of the window.

  4. Topmost: By setting this property to $true, you can force the window to open atop other open windows and dialog boxes.

Next, create and then add a calendar control in your form. In this example, the current day isn't highlighted or circled. Users can select only one day on the calendar at one time.

$calendar = New-Object Windows.Forms.MonthCalendar -Property @{
    ShowTodayCircle   = $false
    MaxSelectionCount = 1
}
$form.Controls.Add($calendar)

Next, create an OK button for your form. Specify the size and behavior of the OK button. In this example, the button position is 165 pixels from the form's top edge, and 38 pixels from the left edge. The button height is 23 pixels, while the button length is 75 pixels. The script uses predefined Windows Forms types to determine the button behaviors.

$okButton = New-Object Windows.Forms.Button -Property @{
    Location     = New-Object Drawing.Point 38, 165
    Size         = New-Object Drawing.Size 75, 23
    Text         = 'OK'
    DialogResult = [Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::OK
}
$form.AcceptButton = $okButton
$form.Controls.Add($okButton)

Similarly, you create a Cancel button. The Cancel button is 165 pixels from the top, but 113 pixels from the left edge of the window.

$cancelButton = New-Object Windows.Forms.Button -Property @{
    Location     = New-Object Drawing.Point 113, 165
    Size         = New-Object Drawing.Size 75, 23
    Text         = 'Cancel'
    DialogResult = [Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::Cancel
}
$form.CancelButton = $cancelButton
$form.Controls.Add($cancelButton)

Add the following line of code to display the form in Windows.

$result = $form.ShowDialog()

Finally, the code inside the if block instructs Windows what to do with the form after users select a day on the calendar, and then click the OK button or press the Enter key. Windows PowerShell displays the selected date to users.

if ($result -eq [Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::OK) {
    $date = $calendar.SelectionStart
    Write-Host "Date selected: $($date.ToShortDateString())"
}

See also