PowerShell Start-Process with Cmdline Switches - Command-line Guide

When it comes to running executables from PowerShell, the Start-Process cmdlet is a common tool used by programmers. One of the advantages of using Start-Process is the ability to pass command-line switches along with the executable.

To use Start-Process with command-line switches, simply specify the executable file path and add the switches as arguments using the -ArgumentList parameter. For example, to launch Notepad with a command-line switch to open a specific file, use the following command:

Start-Process -FilePath "notepad.exe" -ArgumentList "C:pathtofile.txt"

In this example, the -FilePath parameter specifies the path to the Notepad executable, while the -ArgumentList parameter adds the command-line switch to open the specified file.

It's important to note that when passing arguments with spaces, they should be enclosed in quotes. For example:

Start-Process -FilePath "notepad.exe" -ArgumentList "-a", `"C:path with spacestofile.txt`"

In this example, the argument includes a space in the file path, so it's enclosed in double quotes. The backtick (`) character is used to escape the quotes within the string.

By using Start-Process with command-line switches, you can automate tasks and execute programs with specific settings or options. This can be particularly useful for tasks such as backups, where you may need to specify the location and file name for the backup.