Microsoft Script Explorer: PowerShell script search

PowerShell is a command line scripting language for Windows that Microsoft has designed with system administrators in mind. It empowers Windows users to control and automate administrative tasks on systems running Windows. Windows PowerShell combines a command prompt and scripting language which can be used together or independent of each other.

Microsoft Script Explorer for Windows PowerShell has been released as a release candidate recently. It is a search tool that enables you to find PowerShell scripts, modules, snippets and how-to guidance using various repositories including TechNet's Script Center, PoshCode, Bing Search and Local File System scripts.

The program displays various search related options in a sidebar. Here you can enter the search term that you are interested in. Suggestions are made automatically once you start typing, explorer for instance displays suggestions to search for Windows Explorer or Internet Explorer.

You then select a resource you are interested in, scripts, modules, snippets or how-to guidance, the repositories that you want to search, and optionally a focus area which can be an operation system or another Microsoft technology such as Exchange or Windows Azure.

The search results highlight the term you are searching for. Each result displays a title and short description in the results. When you click on a result, it is automatically opened in the lower right half of the program window so that you do not have to switch programs for that.

You can refine searches either by changing the search phrase directly, or by modifying the filter options. If you can't find a script, you may want to try searching the other resources available to see if usable information are returned by searching them instead.

Search is not the only option that you have to work with Script Explorer. You can switch to a browsing mode which displays categories that you can then browser for PowerShell related information. This includes Active Directory, App-V, Backup and System Restore or Database, each with a set of sub-categories.

The Explore Community Resources lists PowerShell Resources, learning materials, blogs and books that may aid you in your tasks.

Microsoft Script Explorer is a handy program for system administrators and users who work with PowerShell regularly or are starting to work with it.

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