Pass PowerShell arguments to Process.Start

Question

I am trying to convert some of my bat scripts over to C#. I have the entire program ported except for the PowerShell execution line.

To keep things simple, I was trying to just call the PowerShell command from cmd. I am able to do so but its not taking the complex arguments and parameters that go along with the PowerShell command.

Here is the command if I run directly from cmd or bat file.

powershell -Command "& {asnp 'citrix*'; remove-BrokerTag -Name 'Somename' -Machine 'domain\server' -AdminAddress 'SomeServer';}"

I was using this code to invoke cmd and run my powershell command.

string strCmdText;
strCmdText = "'/C powershell " + "-Command " + "&" + " { asnp 'citrix*'; add - BrokerTag - Name 'Somename' - Machine 'domain\server'" + (listboxvariable) + " - AdminAddress 'ServerXX'; }'" + " & pause";
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("CMD.exe", strCmdText);

I get this error "Cannot process the command because of a missing parameter. A command must follow -Command."

As you can see there are a lot of arguments in this PowerShell command.

Is there an easier way to do this? or I am just missing something simple?

If already converting the code to C#, why not using C# classes to preform the same action? learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/… Goodluck! — Totem
– Totem, Commented Sep 4, 2018 at 17:17

Robert Harvey · Accepted Answer · 2018-09-04 17:33:02Z

4

In your original PowerShell line, the Command is surrounded by double quotes.

Try this:

strCmdText = "/C powershell " + "-Command " + "\"& " + "{ asnp 'citrix*'; add - BrokerTag - Name 'Somename' - Machine 'domain\server'" + (listboxvariable) + " - AdminAddress 'ServerXX'; }\"" + " & pause";

Notice the use of \" escape sequences to add the missing double quotes that are present in your original command line.

edited Sep 4, 2018 at 17:33

answered Sep 4, 2018 at 17:10

Robert Harvey

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6 Comments

Johnny Cakes Over a year ago

i get the same error. --> Cannot process the command because of a missing parameter. A command must follow -Command. Followed by --> '"{ asnp 'citrix*'; add - BrokerTag - Name 'somename' - Machine 'domain'server - AdminAddress 'Server'; }"' is not recognized as an internal or external command,

Pietro Nadalini Over a year ago

@Robert Harvey♦ The original Command has a double quote before the & shouldn't the \" be inserted before the & instead of putting it after ?

Robert Harvey Over a year ago

@pnadalini: Fixed.

Johnny Cakes Over a year ago

thanks!! .. the powershell command is actually running now.. but now a problem when trying to define the -Machine parameter. it seems to be ignoring the \ in domain\machine..

Theo Over a year ago

I guess you will have to double the backslash there too: domain\\server

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