How to capture Textbox data using PowerShell and Windows Forms?

Question

I am trying to create a windows form using PowerShell and then manipulate the data entered. The problem I am having is that I can get the code to work if I copy/paste it into a PowerShell window however I cannot get it to work if I save the exact same code to a PS1 file. I don't understand that.

If you try out the example in this article: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff730941.aspx it will work fine when you paste it into an open command prompt. If you try to save this code as a PS1 and run the PS1 in the PowerShell window I get nothing back when click OK on the dialog.

Can someone help me understand why it doesn't work as a PS1 file?

That's interesting. I tried it but my experience was a little different. The behavior was the same, either way. In both cases, it seems that $x was not assigned the string entered in the field. However, if I echo $objTextBox.Text then it does contain the text that I entered. For some reason, this assignment $x=$objTextBox.Text does not seem to be working (scoping problem?). However, for me, it was the same, regardless of whether I used the console for a script. — David
– David, Commented Oct 31, 2014 at 23:26

Matej · Accepted Answer · 2014-10-31 23:39:25Z

3

Variable assignment statement ($x=$objTextBox.Text) sets value within default scope, which is Local by default. As assignment statement is within {...} the variable value is not visible out of the assignment scope.

You can change the assignment statement $x=$objTextBox.Text with the:

$global:x=$objTextBox.Text

More info:

answered Oct 31, 2014 at 23:39

Matej

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Ifedi Okonkwo Over a year ago

Using the example in the script referenced by the OP, I'm just wondering, how can you retrieve the user-entered data after submission, if there were multiple inputs (dynamically created using a loop)?

TheMadTechnician · Accepted Answer · 2014-11-01 01:18:00Z

1

As Matej stated this is a scope issue, and he provided an excellent solution to being able to manipulate variables from within a child scope.

I wanted to provide an alternative way to work around this issue. That is to declare variables at the beginning of the script with New-Variable and use the -Option AllScope argument. For example I will use the script that was referenced in the OP. Insert a line at line 3 to read:

New-Variable -Name x -Option AllScope

Now when you run the script it will output whatever you typed into the box because the variable $x is consistent across all scopes.

answered Nov 1, 2014 at 1:18

TheMadTechnician

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3 Comments

Satarian Over a year ago

Thanks - this works as well as Metej's info. I like this idea a little better because I can assign all my variable ahead of time for use later on.

Ifedi Okonkwo Over a year ago

Using the example in the script referenced by the OP, I'm just wondering, how can you retrieve the user-entered data after submission, if there were multiple inputs (dynamically created using a loop)?

TheMadTechnician Over a year ago

@IfediOkonkwo That's a completely different question. You should create a new thread for that. It would involve storing and retrieving data, where this was a matter of scope.

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