Why does this command not work?

Hello

Does anyone know what I am doing wrong here?
Provider | foreach-object {$_.drives} | foreach-object {$a = $_.name +
":\"; & "dir $a"}

I get the following message per provider.

'dir Alias:\' is not recognized as a cmdlet, function, operable
program, or script file.
At line:1 char:85
+ get-psprovider | foreach-object {$_.drives} | foreach-object {$a =
$_.name + ":\"; &" <<<< dir $a"}
'dir Env:\' is not recognized as a cmdlet, function, operable program,
or script file.
At line:1 char:85
+ get-psprovider | foreach-object {$_.drives} | foreach-object {$a =
$_.name + ":\"; &" <<<< dir $a"}

Seems to me that "dir Env:\" does work if I type it in and execute it,
but not if I make the command from the providers collection.

Any help appreciated.
Thanks

This seemed to work for me

Get-PSProvider | ForEach-Object{$_.drives} | ForEach-Object{$a = $_.name +
":\"; dir $a}

I don't think you needed the & and " " around dir $a

--
Richard Siddaway

Please note that all scripts are supplied "as is" and with no warranty


"MadBison@gmail.com" wrote:

> Hello
>
> Does anyone know what I am doing wrong here?
> Provider | foreach-object {$_.drives} | foreach-object {$a = $_.name +
> ":\"; & "dir $a"}
>
> I get the following message per provider.
>
> 'dir Alias:\' is not recognized as a cmdlet, function, operable
> program, or script file.
> At line:1 char:85
> + get-psprovider | foreach-object {$_.drives} | foreach-object {$a =
> $_.name + ":\"; &" <<<< dir $a"}
> 'dir Env:\' is not recognized as a cmdlet, function, operable program,
> or script file.
> At line:1 char:85
> + get-psprovider | foreach-object {$_.drives} | foreach-object {$a =
> $_.name + ":\"; &" <<<< dir $a"}
>
> Seems to me that "dir Env:\" does work if I type it in and execute it,
> but not if I make the command from the providers collection.
>
> Any help appreciated.
> Thanks
>
>

"RichS" <RichS@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:047CFB06-03F9-413E-B82B-87E40F88F59E@microsoft.com...
> This seemed to work for me
>
> Get-PSProvider | ForEach-Object{$_.drives} | ForEach-Object{$a = $_.name +
> ":\"; dir $a}
>
> I don't think you needed the & and " " around dir $a

In addition, see the recent thread called "Execute a command in a string"
for an explanation why & "dir $a" doesn't work.

Jacques

MadBison@gmail.com wrote:
> Hello
>
> Does anyone know what I am doing wrong here?
> Provider | foreach-object {$_.drives} | foreach-object {$a = $_.name +
> ":\"; & "dir $a"}

If you insist to use wrap "dir $a" with quotes, then you can
invoke-expression the string as follows:

get-psprovider | foreach-object {$_.drives} | foreach-object {$a =
$_.name + ":\"; invoke-expression "dir $a"}

But as Jacques Barathon mentioned, there is no need for "&" or
"invoke-expression" just call "dir $a" without double quotes around
it.

get-psprovider | foreach-object {$_.drives} | foreach-object {$a =
$_.name + ":\"; dir $a}

Thanks everyone for your help. Indeed, removing the & and quotes did
the trick.

Get-PSProvider | foreach-object {$_.drives}| foreach-object {$a =
$_.name + ":\"; dir $a}

Thanks

Sung M Kim wrote:
> MadBison@gmail.com wrote:
> > Hello
> >
> > Does anyone know what I am doing wrong here?
> > Provider | foreach-object {$_.drives} | foreach-object {$a = $_.name +
> > ":\"; & "dir $a"}
>
> If you insist to use wrap "dir $a" with quotes, then you can
> invoke-expression the string as follows:
>
> get-psprovider | foreach-object {$_.drives} | foreach-object {$a =
> $_.name + ":\"; invoke-expression "dir $a"}
>
> But as Jacques Barathon mentioned, there is no need for "&" or
> "invoke-expression" just call "dir $a" without double quotes around
> it.
>
> get-psprovider | foreach-object {$_.drives} | foreach-object {$a =
> $_.name + ":\"; dir $a}