PowerShell – GUI, Forms, Labels, Text, Input, Image, Icon – Lab Core

This is simple ping utility that will demonstrate some of PowerShell’s form capabilities, which are fairly easy to implement, once you know how to do it.

This will create a basic form (a canvas for you to add items to). In the example, I have included labels, an input box, a background image, a button, an action to a button, title bar icon, etc. No extra tools or software are necessary; I created this in the PowerShell ISE (you could even use notepad).

Check out this training video at Channel 9, if you want to learn more: Link

I’ve made Part II, which is built upon Part I, a Microsoft page: Link, or this pdf, if the MS page goes missing.

Screenshots

Code

[void] [System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName("System.Windows.Forms")
[void] [System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName("System.Drawing")

# form specs
$objForm = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Form
$objForm.Text = "Check Network Status"
$objForm.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(300,170)
$objForm.StartPosition = "CenterScreen"
$objForm.KeyPreview = $True
$objForm.MaximumSize = $objForm.Size
$objForm.MinimumSize = $objForm.Size

# form icon
$objIcon = New-Object system.drawing.icon ("C:\Windows\Installer\{FFD1F7F1-1AC9-4BC4-A908-0686D635ABAF}\installer.ico")
$objForm.Icon = $objIcon

$objImage = [system.drawing.image]::FromFile("c:\setup\psform_background.jpg")
$objForm.BackgroundImage = $objImage
$objForm.BackgroundImageLayout = "None"
# None, Tile, Center, Stretch, Zoom

$objForm.Width = $objImage.Width
$objForm.Height = $objImage.Height

# label
$objLabel = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.label
$objLabel.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(7,10)
$objLabel.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(130,15)
$objLabel.BackColor = "Transparent"
$objLabel.ForeColor = "yellow"
$objLabel.Text = "Enter Computer Name"
$objForm.Controls.Add($objLabel)

# input box
$objTextbox = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.TextBox
$objTextbox.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(10,45)
$objTextbox.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(120,20)
$objForm.Controls.Add($objTextbox)

# ok button
$objButton = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button
$objButton.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(140,44)
$objButton.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(75,23)
$objButton.Text = "OK"
$objButton.Add_Click($button_click)
$objForm.Controls.Add($objButton)

# return status
$returnStatus = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.label
$returnStatus.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(8,70)
$returnStatus.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(130,30)
$returnStatus.BackColor = "Transparent"
$returnStatus.Text = ""
$objForm.Controls.Add($returnStatus)

# action item here - you could add your own actions
$button_click =
{

$returnStatus.Text = ""
$objStatusBar.Text = "Checking status..."
$computerName = $objTextbox.Text

# output - online
if (Test-Connection $computerName -quiet -Count 2){
Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green "$computerName is online"
$returnStatus.BackColor = "Transparent"
$returnStatus.ForeColor = "lime"
$returnStatus.Text = "Status: Online"
}
Else{
# output - offline
Write-Host -ForegroundColor Red "$computerName is offline"
$returnStatus.ForeColor= "Red"
$returnStatus.Text = "Status: Offline"
}

$objStatusBar.Text = "Done"

}

# form status bar
$objStatusBar = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.StatusBar
$objStatusBar.Name = "statusBar"
$objStatusBar.Text = "Ready"
$objForm.Controls.Add($objStatusBar)

$objForm.Add_KeyDown({if ($_.KeyCode -eq "Enter"){&amp; $button_click}})
$objForm.Add_KeyDown({if ($_.KeyCode -eq "Escape")
{$objForm.Close()}})

# modal
$objForm.Topmost = $True
$objForm.Add_Shown({$objForm.Activate()})
[void] $objForm.ShowDialog()