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Update-FormatData

  • Reference
Module:
Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility

Updates the formatting data in the current session.

Syntax

Update-FormatData
      [[-AppendPath] <String[]>]
      [-PrependPath <String[]>]
      [-WhatIf]
      [-Confirm]
      [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Update-FormatData cmdlet reloads the formatting data from formatting files into the current session. This cmdlet lets you update the formatting data without restarting PowerShell.

Without parameters, Update-FormatData reloads the formatting files that it loaded previously. You can use the parameters of Update-FormatData to add new formatting files to the session.

Formatting files are text files in XML format with the format.ps1xml file name extension. The formatting data in the files defines the display of Microsoft .NET Framework objects in the session.

When PowerShell starts, it loads the format data from the PowerShell source code. However, you can create custom format.ps1xml files to update formatting in the current session. You can use Update-FormatData to reload the formatting data into the current session without restarting PowerShell. This is useful when you have added or changed a formatting file, but do not want to interrupt the session.

For more information about formatting files in PowerShell, see about_Format.ps1xml.

Examples

Example 1: Reload previously loaded formatting files

Update-FormatData

This command reloads the formatting files that it loaded previously.

Example 2: Reload formatting files and trace and log formatting files

Update-FormatData -AppendPath "trace.format.ps1xml, log.format.ps1xml"

This command reloads the formatting files into the session, including two new files, Trace.format.ps1xml and Log.format.ps1xml.

Because the command uses the AppendPath parameter, the formatting data in the new files is loaded after the formatting data from the built-in files.

The AppendPath parameter is used because the new files contain formatting data for objects that are not referenced in the built-in files.

Example 3: Edit a formatting file and reload it

Update-FormatData -PrependPath "c:\test\NewFiles.format.ps1xml"

# Edit the NewFiles.format.ps1 file.

Update-FormatData

This example shows how to reload a formatting file after you have edited it.

The first command adds the NewFiles.format.ps1xml file to the session. It uses the PrependPath parameter because the file contains formatting data for objects that are referenced in the built-in files.

After adding the NewFiles.format.ps1xml file and testing it in these sessions, the author edits the file.

The second command uses the Update-FormatData cmdlet to reload the formatting files. Because the NewFiles.format.ps1xml file was previously loaded, Update-FormatData automatically reloads it without using parameters.

Parameters

-AppendPath

Specifies formatting files that this cmdlet adds to the session. The files are loaded after PowerShell loads the built-in formatting files.

When formatting .NET objects, PowerShell uses the first formatting definition that it finds for each .NET type. If you use the AppendPath parameter, PowerShell searches the data from the built-in files before it encounters the formatting data that you are adding.

Use this parameter to add a file that formats a .NET object that is not referenced in the built-in formatting files.

Type:String[]
Aliases:PSPath, Path
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:True
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

-PrependPath

Specifies formatting files that this cmdlet adds to the session. The files are loaded before PowerShell loads the built-in formatting files.

When formatting .NET objects, PowerShell uses the first formatting definition that it finds for each .NET type. If you use the PrependPath parameter, PowerShell searches the data from the files that you are adding before it encounters the formatting data from the built-in files.

Use this parameter to add a file that formats a .NET object that is also referenced in the built-in formatting files.

Type:String[]
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 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 the append path to Update-FormatData.

Outputs

None

The cmdlet does not return any output.

Notes

  • Update-FormatData also updates the formatting data for commands in the session that were imported from modules. If the formatting file for a module changes, you can run an Update-FormatData command to update the formatting data for imported commands. You do not need to import the module again.