powershell recursive variable scope

Question

I have a script that calls itself. I need to have a the script maintain a variable at the level it is at. In other words, as the script "bubbles out" of the recursion, the variable should be what it was when it called it.

It appears that the scoping of the variables does not allow for that nicely. Sample code (contained in a test.ps1):

param ($y)
set-variable -name temp -scope script -value $y

while ($continue -ne "n")
{
    $temp = $temp + 1
    $output = "Temp=" + $temp + " ::y=" + $y
    write-host $output
    $continue = read-host "Pause..."
    . .\test.ps1 $temp
}

write-host "exiting $temp - $y"

output:

> PS C:\Users\evanroy\Documents\SCripts> .\test.ps1 1
> Temp=2 ::y=1
> Pause...:
> Temp=3 ::y=2
> Pause...:
> Temp=4 ::y=3
> Pause...:
> Temp=5 ::y=4
> Pause...: n
> exiting 5 - 5
> exiting 5 - 5
> exiting 5 - 5
> exiting 5 - 5
> exiting 5 - 5

desired output:

>PS C:\Users\evanroy\Documents\SCripts> .\test.ps1 1
>Temp=2 ::y=1
>Pause...:
>Temp=3 ::y=2
>Pause...:
>Temp=4 ::y=3
>Pause...:
>Temp=5 ::y=4
>Pause...: n
>exiting 5 - 5
>exiting 4 - 5
>exiting 3 - 5
>exiting 2 - 5
>exiting 1 - 5

Notice how the "exiting" first variable would show that value when it was originally called.

briantist · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-02 23:21:19Z

3

Dot sourcing is not the same as "calling itself". Dot sourcing works as though you had pasted the script into the current one and began executing it immediately.

You might want to call the script with the & operator instead.

You should thoroughly read about_Scopes.

answered Mar 2, 2015 at 23:21

briantist

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2 Comments

Keith Hill Over a year ago

Or just call the script directly e.g. .\test.ps1.

Eric VanRoy Over a year ago

doh... I was troubleshooting a different part and forgot I had done that. I knew it was something simple I just couldn't see it... thank you,

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