Powershell window disappears before I can read the error message

user_151225 0
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When I call a Powershell script, how can I keep the called script from closing its command window. I'm getting an error and I'm sure I can fix it if I could just read the error.

I have a Powershell script that sends an email with attachment using the .NET classes. If I call the script directly by executing it from the command line or calling it from the Windows Scheduler then it works fine. If I call it from within another script (IronPython, if that matters) then it fails. All scenarios work fine on my development machine. (I really do have to get that "Works on My Machine" logo!) I've got the call to Powershell happening in a way that displays a command window and I can see a flicker of red just before it closes.

Sorry: Powershell 1.0, IronPython 1.1

Solution: powershell -noexit d:\script\foo.ps1

The -noexit switch worked fine. I just added it to the arguments I pass from IronPython. As I suspected, it's something that I can probably fix myself (execution policy, although I did temporarily set as unrestricted with no effect, so I guess I need to look deeper). I'll ask another question if I run into trouble with that.

Thanks to all for the help. I learned that I need to investigate powershell switches a little more closely, and I can see quite a few things that will prove useful in the future.

powershell ironpython scripting
12 Answers

I am generaly fine with scripts autoclosing except when an error occurs, where I need to see the error. Assuming you have not changed $ErrorActionPreference away from the default 'Continue', then for the behaviour I described do this at the end of you script

if ($Error)
{
    Pause
}
user_4639670

My .PS1 script ran fine from the Powershell console but when "double-clicking" or "right-click open with powershell" it would exhibit the 'open/close' problem.

The Fix for me was to rename the script folder to a Name Without Spaces.

Then it all worked - Windows couldn't deal with "C:\This is my folder\myscript.ps1" but "C:\This_is_my_folder\myscript.ps1" worked just fine

user_160195400
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