One of the frequent questions I get about SQL Diagnostic Manager pertains to one of the most fundamental features of the product – exactly how is...
database-tools
Correctly Filtering DateTime
When you use Where-Object to filter information by date or time, this works actually very well--provided you use the correct filtering format. Do...
Use Fresh Testing Environment in PowerShell ISE
When you develop PowerShell scripts in the PowerShell ISE editor, you should run the final tests in a clean environment, making sure that no...
Some suggestions
Hi, I think it may be useful in SQL Defrag: 1. To see index script when I see the fragmentation of this index. Now I need to use another tool to do...
Importing Multiple Certificates from PFX Files
Get-PfxCertificate can import digital certificates from a PFX file. However, it can only retrieve one certificate. So if your PFX file contains more...
Using Fully Qualified Names in Remoting
When you try PowerShell Remoting, you may run into connection errors just because your machine name was not fully qualified. Kerberos authentication...
Is Your SQL Server Slow? Maybe It’s Trying Too Hard
The following is a guest post by Microsoft Certified Master Robert L Davis. Find more from him at SQLSoldier.com, and follow him on twitter...
Ensuring Backward Compatibility
Let's assume you have created this function: function Test-Function { param ( [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)] $ServerPath ) "You selected...
Importing Certificates from PFX Files
You can use Get-PfxCertificate to load digital certificates from PFX files, and then use the certificate to sign script files, for example: $pfxpath...
Reading StringExpand Registry Values
When you read a Registry value of type StringExpand, it will always automatically expand any environment variables contained in the text. This...
Setting (And Deleting) Environment Variables
PowerShell can read environment variables easily. This returns the current windows folder: $env:windir However, if you want to make permanent...
Copying instance lists between SQL Elements and SQL Diagnostic Manager
If you’re a user of both SQL Elements and SQL Diagnostic Manager, it’s a reasonable bet that you’ll have some overlap of instances being monitored...
Mandatory Parameter with a Dialog
Typically, when you mark a function parameter as "mandatory", PowerShell will prompt the user when the user omits the parameter: function...
Using Comma as Decimal Delimiter
You may not be aware of this, but PowerShell uses a different decimal delimiter for input and output - which may cause confusions to script users....
Testing for Valid Date
If you need to test whether some information resembles a valid date format, here is a test function: function Test-Date { param (...
Speaking English and German (and Spanish, and you name it)
Windows 8 is the first operating system that comes with fully localized text-to-speech engines. So you can now have PowerShell speak (and curse) in...
Multiple Assignments in One Line
When you assign something to a variable, you can enclose the expression in braces. This will also output the data. Have a look: $a = Get-Service ($a...
Pinging Computers
There are multiple ways how you can ping computers. Here is a simple approach that uses the traditional ping.exe but can be easily integrated into...
Playing a Sound on Error
To catch a user’s attention, your script can easily play WAV sound files. Here is a simple function: function Play-Alarm { $path =...
Getting DNS IP Address from Host Name
There is a tiny .NET function called GetHostByName() that is vastly useful. It will look up a host name and return its current IP address:...
Reading and Writing NTFS Streams
When a file is stored on a drive with NTFS file system, you can attach data streams to it to store hidden information. Here is a sample that hides...
Create New Local Admin Account on the Fly
Ever needed a new local administrator account for testing purposes? Provided you are already Administrator, and you opened a PowerShell with full...
Launching Any Excel Version
Microsoft Excel is an example of a program that is not easy to launch directly: the path to Excel may be different, depending on Office version and...
Unblocking Download Files
Any file you download from the Internet or receive via email get marked by Windows as potentially unsafe. If the file contains executables or...