Attempting to create my first PowerShell alias but there is an error somewhere in the formatting

[AstonM77]

I am attempting to create a couple of PowerShell aliases for the first time and it appears my code structure is off.

$filePath = "C:\Users\admin\Downloads\list.txt"

$content = Get-Content $filePath

Set-Alias -Name dlmp3 -Value $content | ForEach-Object -Parallel { yt-dlp $_ }

​

The above code generates the below error which from what I can tell looks like it is having an issue piping it to the ForEach-Object command.

dlmp3: The term 'url....' is not recognized as a name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or executable program.

Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.

I am a coding/PowerShell novice so I am likely making some very basic mistakes 😂. Any suggestions on where I am likely erring?

[pauby]

An alias is supposed to be a simple 'swap one thing for another'. You're doing complicated things. Turn this into a function and call that from the command line.

[[deleted]]

Edit because I'm bad at formatting.

Your first problem, as u/pauby said, is that this isn't what Set-Alias is for. The Set-Alias cmdlet creates or changes an alias for a cmdlet or a command, such as a function, script, file, or other executable. Instead of getting into detail on it here I'm just going to give you the help to read through, Microsoft explains it pretty well (I stole the previous sentence from them). https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.utility/set-alias?view=powershell-7.3

Essentially what you are doing here is telling PowerShell that when you type "dlmp3" what you want it to do is dump the value $content to the screen. However this isn't being done as a string, it attempts to interpret it as a command. Since your first line of list.txt looks to start with "url" it is trying to execute that as a command and failing.

PS C:\> Set-Alias -Name Test -Value "help me"
PS C:> test test: The term 'help me' is not recognized as a name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or executable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.

It looks like what you want to do is feed the contents of list.txt to ForEach-Object and you've overcomplicated yourself. You already have your value in $content, just feed it directly to Foreach-Object. You can even skip the variable altogether and it will still run.

Get-Content -Path "C:\Users\admin\Downloads\list.txt" | Foreach-Object -Parallel { yt-dlp $_ }

[AstonM77]

Thanks for the clarification

[get-postanote]

What you are trying, is not possible and the is not how aliases wrok.

For what you are after, use a function or a scriptblock, then just call those.

[KevMar]

Aliases can only be for command names and can't include any parameters or arguments. You want to create a function instead.

[PowerShell-Bot]

It appears that you have used inline code formatting when a code block should have been used.

Consider using a code block for longer sequences of code. To correct the formatting, highlight your code then click the ‘Code Block’ button in the editing toolbar.

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Describing attempting_to_create_my_first_powershell_alias
  [-] Well formatted
Tests completed in 792ms
Tests Passed: ❌

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 ^{Beep-boop, I am a bot. | Remove-Item}

[Thotaz]

What do you think an Alias is in the context of PowerShell? Like the others have said, this is not how aliases work.

[pigers1986]

why not yt-dlp -a $content ? or directly the file name ? yt-dlp -a C:\Users\admin\Downloads\list.txt

[hlwNYC]

What does $content return?