about_PowerTab_usage.help.txt
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about_PowerTab_usage SHORT DESCRIPTION Describes the uses of tab expansion that PowerTab offers. LONG DESCRIPTION PowerTab supports additional usage scenarios for tab expanding commands, references and code constructs. This topic describes the general set of uses built into PowerTab, with examples. To try the examples, enter the exact text of the example and press the [TAB] key. PowerTab also offers specific support for many important command parameters such as enums, process names, and other information that PowerTab can look up. If a parameter is directly support, it will take precedence over the usage patterns described in this topic. PATHS Paths are the basic usage that PowerTab can handle. Any PSDrive path will work and relative paths will be preserved. .\ HKLM:\ COMMANDS PowerTab can complete the name of Powershell cmdlets, functions and aliases given hints. PowerTab will look for the "<VERB>-" pattern for commands. Adding a "%" character to the end of the search string will force PowerTab to search for any type of command (cmdlet, function, script, or application). That character is configurable with $PowerTabConfig.Core.ShortcutChars.Partial. Get- di % add% COMMAND PARAMETERS Command parameter names can be expaned for cmdlets, functions and scripts. PowerTab will also detect the corresponding command to the current cursor location. Get-ChildItem - Get-Process | Format-Table - VARIABLE NAMES Powertab can expand the names of variables, including quoting with "{" and "}" as needed. $ $error VARIABLE PROPERTIES AND METHODS Properties and methods on objects stored in variables can be accessed with PowerTab. $error.g VARIABLE STATIC METHODS Static properties and methods of objects stored in variables can also be accessed. $error:: VARIABLES BY SCOPE PowerTab will respect scope when expanding variable names with a scope. $global: VARIABLES BY TYPE Variable references to items on other PSDrives can also be expanded in PowerTab. $alias: $function: NATIVE COMMANDS To tab expand the names of native commands and executables, add the "!" character to the end of the search string (that character will be removed from the results). That character is configurable with $PowerTabConfig.Core.ShortcutChars.Native. ! net! HISTORY PowerTab supports expanding command history in the same way as the default tab expansion in PowerShell, using the "#" character to lead off the search string. That character is configurable with $PowerTabConfig.Core.ShortcutChars.Native. Additionally, PowerTab supports wildcards in the search string. # #cd #12 HELP TOPICS When looking up a help topic, PowerTab can assist by tab expanding the names of the available help topics. about_ Get-Help about_ TYPES Type name expansion can be accomplished if .NET type names have been cached in the tab expansion database. Use the following patterns. [ [System. [.DateTime .DateTime The last two examples will search for any namespace or type beginning with the entered string. To update the tab expansion database with a list of type names, run this command. Update-TabExpansionType TYPE STATIC MEMBERS Static properties and methods on .Net types are recognized by PowerTab. [System.DateTime]:: TYPE METHOD SIGNATURES By pressing [TAB] after the first parenthesis of a method, PowerTab will offer safe syntax for all the available overloads of the method. [System.DateTime]::Compare( $Date.ToString( ENUMS Enumeration values can also be expaned with PowerTab. [ConsoleColor]::B WMI CLASSES References to WMI class names can be expaned with PowerTab using these patterns. win32_ cim_ msft_ SEE ALSO http://powertab.codeplex.com/documentation |