Running powershell scripts from within a .NET windows app - vb.net

Question

I'm needing to run scripts from within a vb.net windows app.
I've got the scripts running in the background fine;
Using MyRunSpace As Runspace = RunspaceFactory.CreateRunspace()
MyRunSpace.Open()
Using MyPipeline As Pipeline = MyRunSpace.CreatePipeline()
MyPipeline.Commands.AddScript("import-module -name " & moduleName &
vbCrLf &
"(get-module -name " & moduleName & ").version")
Dim results = MyPipeline.Invoke()
'Do something with the results
End Using
MyRunSpace.Close()
End Using
However, i now need to be able to have the powershell run (not in the background) eg. When prompts occur;
Set-ExecutionPolicy unrestricted
I'm currently looking into the Microsoft.PowerShell.ConsoleHost namespace to see if i can use something like;
Dim config = RunspaceConfiguration.Create
ConsoleShell.Start(config, "Windows PowerShell", "", New String() {""})
Can anyone advise me please???
EDIT: I've fudged it a bit with this;
Public Function RunPowershellViaShell(ByVal scriptText As String) As Integer
Dim execProcess As New System.Diagnostics.Process
Dim psScriptTextArg = "-NoExit -Command ""& get-module -list"""
'Dim psScriptTextArg = "-NoExit -Command ""& set-executionPolicy unrestricted"""
'Dim psScriptTextArg = ""-NoExit -Command """ & scriptText & """"
execProcess.StartInfo.WorkingDirectory = Environment.SystemDirectory & "\WindowsPowershell\v1.0\"
execProcess.StartInfo.FileName = "powershell.exe"
execProcess.StartInfo.Arguments = psScriptTextArg
execProcess.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = True
Return execProcess.Start
End Function
But there's gotta be a better way??

Answer 1

There is a distinction between the PowerShell engine and its host. What you're wanting is to run the engine within your application but then fire up a separate host (which also is hosting the PowerShell engine) to handle prompts. You might want to look into modifying your application to act as a host itself. You could then react to prompts (read-host) and pop dialog boxes or whatever. Take a look at this relevant PowerShell namespace. Also check out this blog post on creating a simple PSHost.