CHAPTER 4

Aliases, Functions, and the Pipe, Oh My!

IN THIS CHAPTER, YOU WILL LEARN TO:

Use Aliases	66
Use Built-in Aliases	67
Create Your Own Aliases	69
Use Functions	77
Understand Functions	78
Use Existing Functions	79
Create Your Own Function	80
Work with the Pipe Operator	81
Use the Pipe Operator to Combine PowerShell Cmdlets	81
Control PowerShell Output	82

This chapter covers three important tools to add your own style to PowerShell: aliases, functions, and the pipe (|) operator.

Aliases provide a way to shorten long cmdlets, saving you typing. More importantly, aliases allow you to use your former command prompt knowledge and put it to use inside a PowerShell session.

Functions let you take PowerShell to an entirely new level. They extend the concept of aliases and can take advantage of the power of the .NET Framework.