When I run where in CMD, I get output:
C:\Users\Ragesh> where calc
C:\Windows\System32\calc.exe
But the same thing in PS:
PS C:\data\code> where calc
PS C:\data\code>
Where's the output going?!
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2 Answers
The following worked for me:
PS C:\Users\Bill> where.exe calc
C:\Windows\System32\calc.exe
When you type where in PS, it is not same as executing where.exe
PS C:\Users\Bill> where <press ENTER>
cmdlet Where-Object at command pipeline position 1
Supply values for the following parameters:
Property:
So when you type where calc it is executing Where-Object calc (the alias of Where-Object is where and ?) and thus returns nothing, and not executing where.exe calc.
You can use the Get-Command (alias gcm) cmdlet instead of where.exe. Here is an example function to make Get-Command function exactly like where.exe. If you put this in your PowerShell profile it will always be available in your session.
function which ($command) {
Get-Command -Name $command -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
Select-Object -ExpandProperty Path -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
The following links may be useful -
Equivalent of *Nix 'which' command in Powershell?
https://superuser.com/questions/34492/powershell-equivalent-to-unix-which-command
Hope this helps.
6 Comments
Ragesh
Thanks for the tip. It doesn't explain why 'where' doesn't show any output in PS, though.
Bill
@Ragesh I updated the answer with explanation and a way to get this to work. Pls let me know if u have questions.
Frode F.
You can also run it in using cmd.exe. Like
cmd /c "where calc"
x0n
You can see the command precedence that leads to this by issuing
get-command where -CommandType all.
JonnyRaa
is there any way of switching off this behaviour? I found the same problem with 'sc' (for mucking around with services) and then tried to 'where' sc. Thought my computer had gone crazy! I dont want to use cmd because of the obvious horribleness but powershell randomly replacing stuff with other stuff is also awful
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@Bill's answer is one reason.
Another is you're in the Powershell ISE in which case where.exe invokes a new command shell that opens, prints the output, and closes immediately.
