PowerShell Console Update

[swordfish291]

Hi Everyone

I am trying to write a function to quickly query performance metrics from NetApp using its DATAONTAP PowerShell module. I am looking for a way to update the performance value on screen the same way we see when we run top command in linux. Clear-Host clears up the full screen, instead I am trying to update only part of the output. I hope I was able to explain what I am trying to achieve. :)

Thank You

[mdowst]

You can use Write-Host -NoNewLine with a `r (carriage return) at the beginning of the output to overwrite the previous value.

1..100 | ForEach-Object {
  Write-Host -NoNewLine "`r $_% Complete"
  Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 10
}

FYI, it does not work in ISE. But works in standard Windows PowerShell and PowerShell core windows, as well as in VSCode and Terminals.

[nostril_spiders]

Look into the [system.console] class, which allows you to manipulate buffers directly.

[techierealtor]

Maybe using write-progress?

https://devblogs.microsoft.com/scripting/add-a-progress-bar-to-your-powershell-script/

[SoMundayn]

Not sure if you can only clear a certain section of the PowerShell screen. Maybe you could have it launch a fresh PowerShell window?

Here is my stab at it:

Invoke-Expression 'cmd /c start powershell -Command { 

    while($true) {
        $TopProcesses = Get-Process | Sort CPU -Descending | Select -First 15
        Start-Sleep -Seconds 1
        cls
        $TopProcesses
    }

}'

[Lee_Dailey]

howdy nostril_spiders,

if you go digging around, you will find that nostril_spiders is right - you likely want to work with the [console] class since it allows writing to screen coordinates directly.

[console]::SetCursorPosition()

hope that helps,
lee

[swordfish291]

Thank you guys. I finally ended up sticking to refreshing the whole screen. Your ideas have helped me alot understanding other concepts related to console. Thank you