Unreadable out in Html

marlon3 · 2017-01-20T23:51:32.000Z

Hi Team,

Need advise,

i tried to use get-service and output file in html in 2k12 server.

and i dont understand the output.

i only need is to get-the 4 services that are running.

is there anything i need to configure in IE? or add snapin?

Thanks

martin9700 · 2017-01-20T23:53:56.000Z

First, read this: PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING! Read if you're new to the PowerShell forum!

Then, read this: Asking Better Questions

jitensh · 2017-01-21T05:23:36.000Z

what command you used that made the output unreadable? You should have posted here.
Or simply google ‘powershell output html’ this wil work

Get-Service | Where-Object {$_.status -eq "running"} | select displayname,name,status  |ConvertTo-HTML | Out-File C:\Test.htm
Invoke-Expression C:\Test.htm

marlon3 · 2017-01-21T05:36:26.000Z

Hi Jitensh,

same like this.

Get-Service | Where-Object {$_.status -eq “running”} | select displayname,name,status |ConvertTo-HTML | Out-File C:\Test.htm Invoke-Expression C:\Test.htm

but no output or its blank in 2k12 server.is there anything that need to configure in IE?

jitensh · 2017-01-21T06:04:29.000Z

what u see when you right click and open with notepad?

Little-Green-Man · 2017-01-21T13:03:20.000Z

Amberdawn:

Hi Jitensh,

same like this.

Get-Service | Where-Object {$_.status -eq “running”} | select displayname,name,status |ConvertTo-HTML | Out-File C:\Test.htm Invoke-Expression C:\Test.htm

but no output or its blank in 2k12 server.is there anything that need to configure in IE?

Get-Service | Where-Object {$_.status -eq "running"} | Select-Object -Property displayname,name,status  | ConvertTo-HTML | Out-File 'C:\Test.html' 

Invoke-Item 'C:\Test.html'

Here’s a couple of things. The above example is what I would typically do. Your use of Invoke-Expression is not the correct usage. The error mess you would have seen would have told you this. This cmdlet is mean to run a command or expression on the local computer.

Instead, use Invoke-Item. The reason you use this cmdlet is that you are wanting to open an item using the default app, in this case whatever web browser you have. If you want to see more examples of this cmdlet, just type:

get-help invoke-item -examples

If you really must use Invoke-Expression, just be aware that this will create the html file, but will not open it. So really it’s just a matter of what you want to do with the file once created.

$myExpression = 'Get-Service | Where-Object {$_.status -eq "running"} | Select-Object -Property displayname,name,status  | ConvertTo-HTML | Out-File "C:\Test.html"'

Invoke-Expression $myExpression

get-help invoke-expression -examples

Hope that helps.

jitensh · 2017-01-21T17:23:16.000Z

I tested before posting FYI @billkindle That was just a quick post.

jitensh · 2017-01-21T17:28:22.000Z

Invoke-item or invoke expression anything will open html file in default browser even if you double click on it…

The issue here is his output is blank when it shouldn’t be may be Out-file works

Little-Green-Man · 2017-01-21T17:35:51.000Z

JitenSh:

I tested before posting FYI Little Green ManThat was just a quick post.

Ok.

Little-Green-Man · 2017-01-21T18:12:09.000Z

JitenSh:

Invoke-item or invoke expression anything will open html file in default browser even if you double click on it…

Nope. Re-read the PowerShell help file.

NAME
Invoke-Expression

SYNOPSIS
Runs commands or expressions on the local computer.

SYNTAX
Invoke-Expression [-Command] []

Invoke-Expression C:\Test.htm is not valid and will error out because C:\Test.htm is not a command. It’s a string. A string with no inclination of whats going on.

Now let’s look at Invoke-Item:

NAME
Invoke-Item

SYNOPSIS
Performs the default action on the specified item.

SYNTAX
Invoke-Item [-Confirm] [-Credential ] [-Exclude <String>] [-Filter ] [-Include <String>]
-LiteralPath <String> [-UseTransaction] [-WhatIf] []

Invoke-Item [-Path] <String> [-Confirm] [-Credential ] [-Exclude <String>] [-Filter ]
[-Include <String>] [-UseTransaction] [-WhatIf] []

If we follow the syntax, we can do a lot more with that file. Think of this as doing the same as double clicking a file on the desktop.

JitenSh:

The issue here is his output is blank when it shouldn’t be may be Out-file works

That’s due to poor formatting and usage. I copy and paste the same code into a PSv5.1 session and get errors. I made corrections as I showed earlier and both methods produce valid HTML files with only running processes.

psophos · 2017-01-21T18:39:56.000Z

To add to what Bill is saying about Invoke-Expression, it has serious security risks and should not be used or recommended.

There is almost certainly a different, and therefore better, way to do something in powershell than to use Invoke-Expression.

Invoke-Expression does just this (from above): “Runs commands or expressions on the local computer.” and this type of thing has become a security hole in pretty much every system that allows it.

Powershell based malware loves Invoke-Expression.