Invoke-Item
Performs the default action on the specified item.
Syntax
Path (Default)
Invoke-Item
[-Path] <String[]>
[-Filter <String>]
[-Include <String[]>]
[-Exclude <String[]>]
[-Credential <PSCredential>]
[-WhatIf]
[-Confirm]
[<CommonParameters>]
LiteralPath
Invoke-Item
-LiteralPath <String[]>
[-Filter <String>]
[-Include <String[]>]
[-Exclude <String[]>]
[-Credential <PSCredential>]
[-WhatIf]
[-Confirm]
[<CommonParameters>]
Description
The Invoke-Item cmdlet performs the default action on the specified item. For example, it runs an
executable file or opens a document file in the application associated with the document file type.
The default action depends on the type of item and is determined by the PowerShell provider that
provides access to the data.
Examples
Example 1: Open a file
This command opens the file aliasApr04.doc in Microsoft Office Word. In this case, opening in Word
is the default action for .doc files.
Invoke-Item "C:\Test\aliasApr04.doc"
Example 2: Open all files of a specific type
This command opens all of the Microsoft Office Excel spreadsheets in the C:\Users\User1\Documents
folder. Each spreadsheet is opened in a new instance of Excel. In this case, opening in Excel is the
default action for .xls files.
Invoke-Item "C:\Users\User1\Documents\*.xls"
Parameters
-Confirm
Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.
Parameter properties
| Type: | SwitchParameter |
| Default value: | False |
| Supports wildcards: | False |
| DontShow: | False |
| Aliases: | cf |
Parameter sets
(All)
| Position: | Named |
| Mandatory: | False |
| Value from pipeline: | False |
| Value from pipeline by property name: | False |
| Value from remaining arguments: | False |
-Credential
Note
This parameter is not supported by any providers installed with PowerShell. To impersonate another user, or elevate your credentials when running this cmdlet, use Invoke-Command.
Parameter properties
| Type: | PSCredential |
| Default value: | Current user |
| Supports wildcards: | False |
| DontShow: | False |
Parameter sets
(All)
| Position: | Named |
| Mandatory: | False |
| Value from pipeline: | False |
| Value from pipeline by property name: | True |
| Value from remaining arguments: | False |
-Exclude
Specifies, as a string array, an item or items that this cmdlet excludes in the operation. The value
of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. Enter a path element or pattern, such as
*.txt. Wildcard characters are permitted. The Exclude parameter is effective only when the
command includes the contents of an item, such as C:\Windows\*, where the wildcard character
specifies the contents of the C:\Windows directory.
Parameter properties
| Type: | String[] |
| Default value: | None |
| Supports wildcards: | True |
| DontShow: | False |
Parameter sets
(All)
| Position: | Named |
| Mandatory: | False |
| Value from pipeline: | False |
| Value from pipeline by property name: | False |
| Value from remaining arguments: | False |
-Filter
Specifies a filter to qualify the Path parameter. The FileSystem provider is the only installed PowerShell provider that supports the use of filters. You can find the syntax for the FileSystem filter language in about_Wildcards. Filters are more efficient than other parameters, because the provider applies them when the cmdlet gets the objects rather than having PowerShell filter the objects after they are retrieved.
Parameter properties
| Type: | String |
| Default value: | None |
| Supports wildcards: | True |
| DontShow: | False |
Parameter sets
(All)
| Position: | Named |
| Mandatory: | False |
| Value from pipeline: | False |
| Value from pipeline by property name: | False |
| Value from remaining arguments: | False |
-Include
Specifies, as a string array, an item or items that this cmdlet includes in the operation. The value
of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. Enter a path element or pattern, such as
"*.txt". Wildcard characters are permitted. The Include parameter is effective only when the
command includes the contents of an item, such as C:\Windows\*, where the wildcard character
specifies the contents of the C:\Windows directory.
Parameter properties
| Type: | String[] |
| Default value: | None |
| Supports wildcards: | True |
| DontShow: | False |
Parameter sets
(All)
| Position: | Named |
| Mandatory: | False |
| Value from pipeline: | False |
| Value from pipeline by property name: | False |
| Value from remaining arguments: | False |
-LiteralPath
Specifies a path to one or more locations. The value of LiteralPath is used exactly as it is typed. No characters are interpreted as wildcards. If the path includes escape characters, enclose it in single quotation marks. Single quotation marks tell PowerShell not to interpret any characters as escape sequences.
For more information, see about_Quoting_Rules.
Parameter properties
| Type: | String[] |
| Default value: | None |
| Supports wildcards: | False |
| DontShow: | False |
| Aliases: | PSPath, LP |
Parameter sets
LiteralPath
| Position: | Named |
| Mandatory: | True |
| Value from pipeline: | False |
| Value from pipeline by property name: | True |
| Value from remaining arguments: | False |
-Path
Specifies the path to the selected item. Wildcard characters are permitted.
Parameter properties
| Type: | String[] |
| Default value: | None |
| Supports wildcards: | True |
| DontShow: | False |
Parameter sets
Path
| Position: | 0 |
| Mandatory: | True |
| Value from pipeline: | True |
| Value from pipeline by property name: | True |
| Value from remaining arguments: | False |
-WhatIf
Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.
Parameter properties
| Type: | SwitchParameter |
| Default value: | False |
| Supports wildcards: | False |
| DontShow: | False |
| Aliases: | wi |
Parameter sets
(All)
| Position: | Named |
| Mandatory: | False |
| Value from pipeline: | False |
| Value from pipeline by property name: | False |
| Value from remaining arguments: | False |
CommonParameters
This cmdlet supports the common parameters: -Debug, -ErrorAction, -ErrorVariable, -InformationAction, -InformationVariable, -OutBuffer, -OutVariable, -PipelineVariable, -ProgressAction, -Verbose, -WarningAction, and -WarningVariable. For more information, see about_CommonParameters.
Inputs
String
You can pipe a string that contains a path to this cmdlet.
Outputs
None
This cmdlet returns no output of its own, but the items it invokes may return their own output.
Notes
PowerShell includes the following aliases for Invoke-Item:
ii
This cmdlet is designed to work with the data exposed by any provider. To list the providers
available in your session, type Get-PSProvider. For more information, see
about_Providers.
