Function output - results are correct, but format is strange

PowerShell Help
1

I have a (soon to be) advanced function that I am writing to gather some system information from various machines in our environment (name, os, service tag, disk, ram, etc).

I am getting all of the data back that I want to get, it just isn’t displaying the way that I am expecting. Here is part of my code…

        foreach($c in $ComputerName)
        {

            Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_LogicalDisk -ComputerName $c -Credential $Credential -Filter "DriveType=3" -OutVariable disk | Out-Null

            Get-WmiObject -ComputerName $c -Class Win32_BIOS -Credential $Credential | 
                Select -ExpandProperty SerialNumber -OutVariable serviceTag | out-null    

            Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_OperatingSystem -ComputerName $c -Credential $Credential | 
                Select -Property Caption,CDSVersion,OSArchitecture,LastBootUpTime -OutVariable os | Out-Null

            Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_ComputerSystem -ComputerName $c -Credential $Credential | 
                Select -Property Caption, Manufacturer, Model, NumberOfProcessors,TotalPhysicalMemory -OutVariable sys | Out-Null
            
            
            [int]$amountOfDisk = 0

            foreach($d in $disk)
            {
                $amountOfDisk += $d.size / 1gb -as [int]
            }
            
            $prop = [ordered]@{
                'ComputerName' = $c 
                'Manufacturer'= $sys.manufacturer
                'Model'= $sys.model 
                'ServiceTag' = $serviceTag
                'OS' = $os.caption
                'Architecture' = $os.OSArchitecture
                'Processors'= $sys.NumberOfProcessors
                'Memory (GB)'= $sys.TotalPhysicalMemory / 1gb -as [int]
                'Disk (GB)' = $amountOfDisk#>
            }
            
            $obj = New-Object -TypeName PSObject -Property $prop
            write-output $obj | Format-Table -AutoSize 
            
        }

I don’t know why I am getting headings for each object returned… whether the -Autosize switch is put on the Format-Table or not. I have attached an image to explain.

Any help or explanation would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
sb

2

So, let’s look at a couple of things.

First, consider changing your Get-WmiObject approach.

$variable = Get-WmiObject ...

Without the Out-Null is a lot more effective and easier to read. Performs better, too.

The main problem you’ve got is that you’ve planted a Format-Table in your code. Don’t do that. When you only send one object at a time to the formatting system, it gets a bit confused, which is what you’re seeing. It’s treating each object as a new thing to be formatted, so you get table headers every time.

Get rid of the Format-Table and just write $obj to the pipeline. Enclose that entire script of yours in a function, named something like Get-SysInfo. At the bottom of the script:

Get-SysInfo | Format-Table -AutoSize

That way the FUNCTION produces a set of objects to the pipeline, and nothing else. You then call that function, and pipe its output to Format-Table. You’ll be a lot happier with the results.

A given unit of work - a script, or a function - should not attempt to both output objects AND control their formatting. What I’ve suggested gives you TWO units of work: A function that produces the output, and then the script (which contains the function) that controls the formatting of that output.

3

Thanks for the response. I implemented the changes you suggested and I am seeing what I am looking for. I was confused initially because I had a similar script from the MVA Jumpstart series, and when I ran this script - the output was, by default, showing as a table.

Your suggestion certainly helped clear it up.

Thanks again