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Test-ModuleManifest

  • Reference
Module:
Microsoft.PowerShell.Core

Verifies that a module manifest file accurately describes the contents of a module.

Syntax

Test-ModuleManifest
    [-Path] <String>
    [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Test-ModuleManifest cmdlet verifies that the files that are listed in the module manifest (.psd1) file are actually in the specified paths.

This cmdlet is designed to help module authors test their manifest files. Module users can also use this cmdlet in scripts and commands to detect errors before they run scripts that depend on the module.

Test-ModuleManifest returns an object that represents the module. This is the same type of object that Get-Module returns. If any files are not in the locations specified in the manifest, the cmdlet also generates an error for each missing file.

Examples

Example 1: Test a manifest

test-ModuleManifest -Path "$pshome\Modules\TestModule.psd1"

This command tests the TestModule.psd1 module manifest.

Example 2: Test a manifest by using the pipeline

"$pshome\Modules\TestModule.psd1" | test-modulemanifest

Test-ModuleManifest : The specified type data file 'C:\Windows\System32\Wi
ndowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modules\TestModule\TestTypes.ps1xml' could not be processed because the file was not found. Please correct the path and try again.
At line:1 char:34
+ "$pshome\Modules\TestModule.psd1" | test-modulemanifest <<<<
+ CategoryInfo          : ResourceUnavailable: (C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modules\TestModule\TestTypes.ps1xml:String) [Test-ModuleManifest], FileNotFoundException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : Modules_TypeDataFileNotFound,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.TestModuleManifestCommandName

Name              : TestModule
Path              : C:\Windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modules\TestModule\TestModule.psd1
Description       :
Guid              : 6f0f1387-cd25-4902-b7b4-22cff6aefa7b
Version           : 1.0
ModuleBase        : C:\Windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modules\TestModule
ModuleType        : Manifest
PrivateData       :
AccessMode        : ReadWrite
ExportedAliases   : {}
ExportedCmdlets   : {}
ExportedFunctions : {}
ExportedVariables : {}
NestedModules     : {}

This command uses a pipeline operator (|) to send a path string to Test-ModuleManifest.

The command output shows that the test failed, because the TestTypes.ps1xml file, which was listed in the manifest, was not found.

Example 3: Write a function to test a module manifest

function Test-ManifestBool ($path)

{$a = dir $path | Test-ModuleManifest -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue; $?}

This function is like Test-ModuleManifest, but it returns a Boolean value. The function returns $True if the manifest passed the test and $False otherwise.

The function uses the Get-ChildItem cmdlet, alias = dir, to get the module manifest specified by the $path variable. The command uses a pipeline operator (|) to pass the file object to Test-ModuleManifest.

Test-ModuleManifest uses the ErrorAction common parameter with a value of SilentlyContinue to suppress the display of any errors that the command generates. It also saves the PSModuleInfo object that Test-ModuleManifest returns in the $a variable. Therefore, the object is not displayed.

Then, in a separate command, the function displays the value of the $? automatic variable. If the previous command generates no error, the command displays $True, and $False otherwise.

You can use this function in conditional statements, such as those that might precede an Import-Module command or a command that uses the module.

Parameters

-Path

Specifies a path and file name for the manifest file. Enter an optional path and name of the module manifest file that has the .psd1 file name extension. The default location is the current directory. Wildcard characters are supported, but must resolve to a single module manifest file. This parameter is required. You can also pipe a path to Test-ModuleManifest.

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

Inputs

String

You can pipe the path to a module manifest to this cmdlet.

Outputs

PSModuleInfo

This cmdlet returns a PSModuleInfo object that represents the module. It returns this object even if the manifest has errors.