PSEC - Powershell Enhanced Capability

A set of additional functions for Powershell that includes a robust GUI API and a comprehensive Workflow facility

The PSEC package provides a set of routines that enhance PowerShell. They include:

Addition commands to supplement Powershell. See CMDS - Overview
A robust GUI system. See PSEC - GUI Capability
A comprehensive Workflow package based on the builtin GUI. See PSEC - Workflow Facility Overview
Restart facilities to aid in developing scripts and classes. See PSEC - Restart Facility
Themed icon and console management for multiple simultaneous PSEC applications. See PSEC - Icon and Console Management.
A built-in documentation system that builds what you are reading. See PSEC - Rebuilding Documentation
Working examples to use as a basis for custom Workflows or further development. See PSEC - Reference Examples

PSEC Installer Download

A current version of PSEC installation can be obtained at the following location. The .exe is a self-extracting zip file that will guide you through the install process.

The zip file contains the Powershell source files, working examples and this documentation.

Note: The file is downloaded as a .bin file to avoid download complications in the browser. It should be renamed once downloaded by dropping the .bin suffix. If you have a virus scanner installed the rename process will trigger a local scan of the file.

The download can be obtained at: DOWNLOAD PSEC Installer EXE

Hello World Example

The ease of creating a Workflow in PSEC is shown by the following example.

It orchestrates the creation of a file that takes a long time followed by the processing of the file once it is created.

The command flow psec-hello in a PSEC window starts the orchestration.

The detailed explanation can be seen at PSEC Hello World Example.

The Configuration File

{
  "title": "PSEC Workflow Hello World Example",
  "tasks":  [
               {
                   "title":  "Create Data",
                   "lib":    "run-generic-script",
                   "alias":   "create-data",
                   "parm-sleep": 20,
                   "parm-msg": "Data created",
                   "parm-file": "psec-hello-world-demo-file.txt"
               },
               {
                   "title":  "Wait for data",
                   "lib":    "run-generic-script",
                   "alias":   "wait-data",
                   "dependsOn":"create-data"
               },
               {
                  "title":  "Process data",
                  "lib":    "run-generic-script",
                  "alias":   "process-data",
                  "dependsOn":"wait-data"
               }
           ]
}

See Sample NAME-cfg.json Format for the parameter description of this file.

Step 1 Create File Script

Running Step 1 creates a file after a configured delay.

The file name is calculated from the task location and the configured name. It is passed to the subsequent steps in a global hashmap provided by the PSEC Workflow infrastructure.


param([Task]$task,[hashtable]$cfgParms,[hashtable]$brief)

$targFile = "$($task.execLocn)/$($cfgParms['file'])"
$sleepSecs = $cfgParms['sleep']
$task.tfs.globMap.creFile = $targFile;

$msg = "creating $targFile after $sleepSecs secs"
Remove-Item -Path $targFile -force


Start-Job -ScriptBlock {
  start-sleep $using:sleepSecs
  Set-Content -Path $using:targFile -Value $using:msg
  $wshell = New-Object -ComObject Wscript.Shell
  $Output = $wshell.Popup($using:msg)
}

$brief.createMsg = $msg
"$msg`r`nfinished`r`n";

Step 2 Wait File Script

Running Step 2 generates a FAIL or GOOD status depending on whether the file creation has completed.

param([Task]$task,[hashtable]$cfgParms,[hashtable]$brief)

$targFile = $task.tfs.globMap.creFile;
if (test-path $targFile) {
  $brief.sCondCode = "GOOD"
  $brief.waitMsg = "$targFile found"
} else {
  $brief.sCondCode = "FAIL"
  $brief.waitMsg = "$targFile not yet located"
}
"wait-data-run.ps1 finished`r`n";

Step 3 Process File Script

Step 3, the file processing step, is prevented from running until Step 2 has succeeded.

param([Task]$task,[hashtable]$cfgParms,[hashtable]$brief)

$targFile = $task.tfs.globMap.creFile;
$brief.procMsg = "$targFile ready for processing"
"process-data-run.ps1 finished`r`n";