When I'm working on simple PowerShell scripts, I find myself using the PowerShell ISE. When I need to share those scripts on my blog I inevitably need to save the script as a text file so I can post it. I finally realized that instead of the few manual steps, I could automate this process.<\/p>\n
I wrote a simple function called ConvertTo-TextFile that will take the current PowerShell file and save it as a text file in the same location.<\/p>\n
[cc lang=\"PowerShell\"]
\nFunction ConvertTo-TextFile {<\/p>\n
Param (
\n [switch]$Reload
\n )<\/p>\n
#verify we are in the ISE
\n if ($psise) {
\n #get the current file name and path and change the extension
\n $psVersion=$psise.CurrentFile.FullPath
\n $textVersion=$psversion -replace \"ps1\",\"txt\"<\/p>\n
#save the file.
\n $psise.CurrentFile.SaveAs($textVersion)<\/p>\n
#if -Reload then reload the PowerShell file into the ISE
\n if ($Reload)
\n {
\n $psise.CurrentPowerShellTab.Files.Add($psVersion)
\n }
\n } #if $psise
\n else
\n {
\n Write-Warning \"This function requires the Windows PowerShell ISE.\"
\n }
\n} #end function
\n[\/cc]<\/p>\n
Using the ISE object model, I can get the current file name and path. Using the -replace operator I chance the .ps1 extension to .txt. Of course if you have an odd filename like \"My.ps1Script.ps1\" you'll get less than ideal results but hopefully you're keeping it simple. Once I have the new filename it is a simple matter of invoking the SaveAs() method.<\/p>\n
When this method is invoked, the original file is \"gone\" from the ISE. But perhaps you want to keep editing it. If so, you can use the -Reload parameter which will add the original version back into the ISE.<\/p>\n
To fully leverage this function, I dot source the script file in my ISE profile script and then add a menu item to the Add-Ons menu.
\n[cc lang=\"PowerShell\"]
\n. c:\\scripts\\ConvertTo-TextFile.ps1
\n$psISE.CurrentPowerShellTab.AddOnsMenu.Submenus.Add(\"Convert to text file\",{ConvertTo-TextFile}, \"ALT+T\") | out-null
\n[\/cc]<\/p>\n
Now, whenever I want to save a text file version all I need to do is press Alt+T. You define your own combination. Or you might want to define an alias. My implementation does not use -Reload.<\/p>\n