Datasheet

Chapter 1: Getting Started with Windows PowerShell
21
Parameter details describe whether the parameter is required or optional and if it is positional or named.
They also describe whether the parameter has a default value and if it accepts pipeline input and
wildcard characters. For example, the parameter details for the
Identity parameter as used with the
SetMailbox cmdlet contain the information displayed in Figure 1 - 16 using Get-Help and the
Parameter parameter.
As you can see in these details, the Identity parameter is required ( true ) and positional
(for position 1), has no default value, and accepts pipeline input (
true ) but not wildcard
characters (
false ).
Learning More
In addition to help information for individual cmdlets, there are several supplementary help files that
cover conceptual topics related to using Windows PowerShell. The names of the individual help files by
and large describe the topic they cover and are prefixed with the string
about_ . To see a complete list of
available topics simply type the command shown in Figure 1 - 17 .
To access the contents of one of these help files simply enter
Get-Help about_ < topic name > . For
example, to read the help file that covers the usage of wildcards in Windows PowerShell, type
Get-Help
about_wildcard
.
Using Tab Expansion to Enter Cmdlets and Parameters
At this point you may be asking yourself how you will ever be able to remember exact cmdlet names
and type them in without making spelling mistakes. Fortunately that is not a problem once you
understand how to use the tab expansion feature of Windows PowerShell.
Figure 1-16
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