How to build a colourful GUI for PowerShell using Winforms, Runspace Pools and Hash Tables

Table of Contents

Introduction

Are you in the process of building a GUI frontend for your PowerShell script? Have you hit a wall with your Winforms GUI freezing? Trouble nutting out Runspace Pools, Hash Tables, state sessions and garbage clean up?

Or perhaps you simply want to take your scripting game to the next level, make more than a plain old cmdlet running in a console window. Break into that AAA dev scene with a fluid app…well not quite, but we’re getting there!

Then this blog post is right up your alley as I will go through some of the key elements in implementing all of these things to supercharge your PowerShell script.

Prerequisites

A PowerShell editor. PowerShell ISE or Microsoft Visual Studio Code is fine.
Intermediate knowledge of object-oriented programming.
PowerShell 4.0 and up.
.Net framework 2.0 and up.

Agenda

Topics I’ll be covering in this article are:

Creating a main form (GUI).
Output window.
Functions.
Hash tables.
Runspace Pools.
Progress bar.

There are a few extra goodies in my code which I won’t go through specifically in this article including OpenFileDialog and an Easter egg…

Main Form (GUI)

In order to slap a GUI over our dirty PowerShell code, we must first install necessary .Net assemblies which contain the objects we need to draw our colourful display to screen.

# Install .Net Assemblies
Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms
Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Drawing

# Enable Visual Styles
[Windows.Forms.Application]::EnableVisualStyles()

Now that we have done that, we can proceed to create our first form!

#Main Form
$hash.Form = New-Object system.Windows.Forms.Form
$FormWidth="500"
$FormHeight="690"
$hash.Form.Size = "$FormWidth,$FormHeight"
$hash.Form.StartPosition = 'CenterScreen'
$hash.Form.text = "GUI Template by Hugo Gungormez $Version"
$hash.Form.Icon = [System.Drawing.SystemIcons]::Shield
$hash.Form.BackColor="CornflowerBlue"
$hash.Form.Refresh()
#Disable windows maximize feature.
$hash.Form.MaximizeBox = $False
$hash.Form.FormBorderStyle="FixedDialog"

We are effectively creating a GUI that is 500 pixels wide and 690 pixels high.

Notice how at the beginning of every variable, I have used $hash. I will explain this below.

We can now proceed to create a RichTextBox for our output display to the GUI.

$hash.outputBox = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.RichTextBox 
$hash.outputBox.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(65,350) 
$hash.outputBox.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(350,180)
$hash.outputBox.Font = "Verdana, 8"
$hash.outputBox.ReadOnly = $True
$hash.outputBox.MultiLine = $True
$hash.outputBox.ScrollBars = "Vertical"
$hash.outputBox.Anchor="top, left"

Nice! We now have our RichTextBox to display output from our script.

Lastly, we need a button to execute our main code.

$hash.buttonRun = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button
$hash.buttonRun.text = "RUN"
$hash.buttonRun.Size="300,40"
$hash.buttonRun.location = '90, 200'
$hash.buttonRun.Font="Verdana,11"
$hash.buttonRun.BackColor = "CornflowerBlue"
$hash.buttonRun.Cursor = [System.Windows.Forms.Cursors]::Hand
$hash.buttonRun.Anchor="top, left"
$hash.buttonRun.Add_Click({RunAppCode})

What this is doing is drawing a button, drawing the text “RUN” into the button. Button click is then calling the function “RunAppCode“.

Function

We are going to create a function called RunAppCode, which we call at our button click.

Function RunAppCode
{

}

That’s it! It’s as simple as that.

Hash Tables

A hash table is essentially an array of variables which can be used across your main thread and Runspaces.

Why do we need this? Because variables in our main thread (our main script) are not accessible in Runspaces.

This is how we create a hash table:

$hash = [hashtable]::Synchronized(@{})

In order to leverage this, we need to append $hash as a prefix on all our variables we intend on being accessible in both the main thread and our RunspacePool.

Example:

#Normal variable, main thread.
$variable1 = 1

#Hash table variable.
$hash.variable1 = 1

And just like that, we’ve created our hash table! You can store variables of any type, including .Net object in hash tables, thus our Form.

Runspace Pools

This is where the fun starts.

A Runspace is effectively an additional container. We create and bind a new PowerShell instance into our Runspace. This allows us to run asynchronous code in our additional Runspace, side-by-side.

A RunspacePool is a shinier version of a traditional runspace, in that it brings:

Auto-scale.
Improved performance.
Simpler garbage collection.

This is how we create a RunspacePool with a dynamic maximum thread count based on the number of logical CPUs in your computer.

#1. This is where we plug our script code. Most likely a Foreach method.
$scriptRun = {
        #Suppress Errors as to not interrupt the GUI experience. Comment these out when debugging.
        $script:ErrorActionPreference="SilentlyContinue"
        $script:ProgressPreference="SilentlyContinue"

        $hash.OutputBox.Selectioncolor = "Green"
        $hash.OutputBox.AppendText("`r`nRunning from runspace pool!")
    } #Close the $scriptRun brackets for the runspace


#2. Configure max thread count for RunspacePool.
    $maxthreads = [int]$env:NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS
    
    
#3. Create a new session state for parsing variables ie hashtable into our runspace.
    $hashVars = New-object System.Management.Automation.Runspaces.SessionStateVariableEntry -ArgumentList 'hash',$hash,$Null

    $InitialSessionState = [System.Management.Automation.Runspaces.InitialSessionState]::CreateDefault()
    
    #Add the variable to the RunspacePool sessionstate
    $InitialSessionState.Variables.Add($hashVars)

#4. Create our runspace pool. We are entering three parameters here min thread count, max thread count and host machine of where these runspaces should be made.
    $script:runspace = [runspacefactory]::CreateRunspacePool(1,$maxthreads,$InitialSessionState, $Host)

    
#5. Crate a PowerShell instance.
    $script:powershell = [powershell]::Create()
    
    #Open a RunspacePool instance.
    $script:runspace.Open()
            
        
    #Add our main code to be run via $scriptRun within our RunspacePool.
    $script:powershell.AddScript($scriptRun)
    $script:powershell.RunspacePool = $script:runspace
        
#6. Run our RunspacePool asynchronously.
    $script:handle = $script:powershell.BeginInvoke()

#7. Cleanup our RunspacePool threads when they are complete ie. GC.
    if ($script:handle.IsCompleted)
    {
        $script:powershell.EndInvoke($script:handle)
        $script:powershell.Dispose()
        $script:runspace.Dispose()
        $script:runspace.Close()
        [System.GC]::Collect()
    }

First, we are declaring a variable called $scriptRun. This is where we place our main code which we want to execute on our button click in the GUI.
We are then creating a variable called $maxthreads which gets the number of logical processors on your system.
Create a session state and parsing our Hash Table as a parameter. This is how we feed our Hash Table into our RunspacePool.
We are then creating our RunspacePool via the variable $script:runspace. Notice the parameters we are feeding in are (minThreadCount, maxThreadCount, sessionState, host).
Next, we are creating a new PowerShell instance and feeding in our main code $scriptRun.
Execute our RunspacePool asynchronously with line $script:handle = $script:powershell.BeginInvoke().
1. Notice we are using prefix $script:. This is to ensure our variable is available both inside and outside of the function.
2. We are binding the variable $handle or more rather $script:handle, so that we can control our asynchronously running RunspacePools. We EndInvoke $script:handle once the runspace state becomes IsCompleted.
Finally, we are checking our RunspacePool status. If the status is complete, we clean up and remove our lingering threads.

Progress Bar

A progress bar is going to add a nice touch to our application.

We first need to create a .Net object of type ProgressBar to add to our GUI form.

#Progress bar.
$hash.progressBar1 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.ProgressBar
$hash.progressBar1.Name="progressBar1"
$hash.progressBar1.Value = 0
$hash.progressBar1.Style="Blocks"
$hash.progressBar1.Size = "254, 30"
$hash.progressBar1.location = '160, 550'
$hash.progressBar1.Anchor="bottom, left"

In order to make the progress bar move, add the below code into your loop.

#Calculate progress
        $i++
        [int]$progressCount = ($i/$serverList.Count)*100
        $hash.progressBar1.Value = $progressCount
        $hash.Form.Refresh()

Finish.

Code

Alright, let’s get into the meat of it. If you plan to run the below code, save it as a PowerShell ps1 file (but you already knew that…)

$Author = "Hugo S. Gungormez."
$AuthorDate = "21/10/2021."
$Version = "1.0.0"
<#Description: GUI Template

Changelog
===
Hash table working.
RunspacePool working.
GUI Working.
Functions working.
#>
#Suppress Errors
$script:ErrorActionPreference="SilentlyContinue"
$script:ProgressPreference="SilentlyContinue"
#Set-ExecutionPolicy unrestricted
$getPowerShellVersion = $PSVersionTable.PSVersion

#Hash table for runspaces
$hash = [hashtable]::Synchronized(@{})


#Desktop path
$DesktopPath = [Environment]::GetFolderPath("Desktop")

#Working Path
$script:workingPath = Get-Location

#Date
$script:datestring = (Get-Date).ToString("s").Replace(":","-")


#FUNCIONS

#Append output to browse box display.
Function Add-BrowseBoxLine 
{
    Param ($Message)
    $browseBox.AppendText("`r`n$Message")
    $browseBox.Refresh()
    $script:browseBox.ScrollToCaret()
    $hash.Form.Refresh()
}

#Append output to text box display.
Function Add-OutputBoxLine 
{
    Param ($Message)
    $hash.outputBox.AppendText("$Message")
    $hash.outputBox.Refresh()
    $script:hash.OutputBox.ScrollToCaret()
    $script:hash.OutputBox.SelectionStart = $hash.outputBox.Text.Length
    $hash.outputBox.Selectioncolor = "WindowText"
    $hash.Form.Refresh()
}

#File browse function.
Function fileBrowser
{
    try {
        
        $lineList = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.OpenFileDialog -Property @{ InitialDirectory = [Environment]::GetFolderPath('Desktop') }
        $lineList.Title = "Select a TEXT file."
        $lineList.filter = "Txt (*.txt)| *.txt|Csv (*.csv)| *.csv"
        $script:inputfile = $lineList.ShowDialog()
        $script:lineList = Get-Content -Path $lineList.FileName
        $hash.lineList = $script:lineList
        $totalServers = Get-Content $lineList.FileName | Measure-Object
        $totalServers = $totalServers.Count
        
            #Empty browse box when we get file, then append file path from our selection.
            $browseBox.Text = ""
            $browseBox.ForeColor = "WindowText"
            Add-BrowseBoxLine -Message $lineList.FileName

            #Check to ensure more than 0 computer objects in text file.
            If($totalServers -le 0)
            {
                $hash.outputBox.Selectioncolor = "Red"
                Add-OutputBoxLine -Message "`r`nMust select a valid input file containing at least one line. Click Browse and select a text/csv file containing a valid list."
            }
            else
            {
            $hash.outputBox.Selectioncolor = "Green"
            Add-OutputBoxLine -Message "`r`nTotal lines in file: $totalServers"
            $hash.outputBox.Selectioncolor = "Green"
            Add-OutputBoxLine -Message "`r`nFile loaded. Click RUN to begin."
            }

    }
    catch {
        $hash.outputBox.Selectioncolor = "Red"
        Add-OutputBoxLine -Message "`r`nMust enter info in first textbox OR select a valid input file. Click Browse and select a text/csv file containing your list."

        }
    $hash.Form.Refresh()
}


Function RunAppCode{

    $scriptRun = {
        #Suppress Errors as to not interrupt the GUI experience. Comment these out when debugging.
        $script:ErrorActionPreference="SilentlyContinue"
        $script:ProgressPreference="SilentlyContinue"

        $hash.OutputBox.Selectioncolor = "Green"
        $hash.OutputBox.AppendText("`r`nRunning from runspace pool!")



    } #Close the $scriptRun brackets for the runspace
    
    #Configure max thread count for RunspacePool.
    $maxthreads = [int]$env:NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS
    
    #Create a new session state for parsing variables ie hashtable into our runspace.
    $hashVars = New-object System.Management.Automation.Runspaces.SessionStateVariableEntry -ArgumentList 'hash',$hash,$Null
    $InitialSessionState = [System.Management.Automation.Runspaces.InitialSessionState]::CreateDefault()
    
    #Add the variable to the RunspacePool sessionstate
    $InitialSessionState.Variables.Add($hashVars)

    #Create our runspace pool. We are entering three parameters here min thread count, max thread count and host machine of where these runspaces should be made.
    $script:runspace = [runspacefactory]::CreateRunspacePool(1,$maxthreads,$InitialSessionState, $Host)

    
    #Crate a PowerShell instance.
    $script:powershell = [powershell]::Create()
    
    #Open a RunspacePool instance.
    $script:runspace.Open()
            
        
        #Add our main code to be run via $scriptRun within our RunspacePool.
        $script:powershell.AddScript($scriptRun)
        $script:powershell.RunspacePool = $script:runspace
        
        #Run our RunspacePool.
        $script:handle = $script:powershell.BeginInvoke()

        #Cleanup our RunspacePool threads when they are complete ie. GC.
        if ($script:handle.IsCompleted)
        {
            $script:powershell.EndInvoke($script:handle)
            $script:powershell.Dispose()
            $script:runspace.Dispose()
            $script:runspace.Close()
            [System.GC]::Collect()
        }
        
        

 } #Closing the function.


#Menu GUI begins.

# Install .Net Assemblies
Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms
Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Drawing
 
# Enable Visual Styles
[Windows.Forms.Application]::EnableVisualStyles()


#Main Form
$hash.Form = New-Object system.Windows.Forms.Form
$FormWidth="500"
$FormHeight="690"
$hash.Form.Size = "$FormWidth,$FormHeight"
$hash.Form.StartPosition = 'CenterScreen'
$hash.Form.text = "GUI Template by Hugo Gungormez $Version"
$hash.Form.Icon = [System.Drawing.SystemIcons]::Shield
$hash.Form.BackColor="CornflowerBlue"
$hash.Form.Refresh()
#Disable windows maximize feature.
$hash.Form.MaximizeBox = $False
$hash.Form.FormBorderStyle="FixedDialog"

#Xmas easter egg
$date = (get-date)
$year = (get-date).Year
$newYear = (get-date).AddYears(1).Year
$xmas = Get-Date -Month 12 -Day 25 -Year $year
$nye = Get-Date -Month 01 -Day 02 -Year $newYear
If(($date -ge $xmas) -and ($date -le $nye))
{
    $hash.Form.text = "GUI Template by Hugo Gungormez $Version - Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"
    $hash.Form.BackColor="FireBrick"
    $hash.Form.Refresh()
}


$Description = New-Object system.Windows.Forms.Label
$Description.text = "GUI Template by Hugo Gungormez"
$Description.AutoSize = $false
$Description.width = 450
$Description.height = 30
$Description.location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(20,40)
$Description.Font="Verdana,13"
$Description.Anchor="top, left"

$moto = New-Object system.Windows.Forms.Label
$moto.text = "A brief synopsis about your app."
$moto.AutoSize = $false
$moto.width = 450
$moto.height = 50
$moto.location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(20,70)
$moto.Font="Verdana,10"

#Input single computer or FQDN textbox
$hash.serverBox = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.TextBox 
$hash.serverBox.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(90,110) 
$hash.serverBox.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(300,40)
$hash.serverBox.Font="Verdana,9"
$hash.serverBox.ReadOnly = $False
$WatermarkText = "Watermark."
$hash.serverBox.ForeColor="Gray"
$hash.serverBox.Anchor="top, left"
$hash.serverBox.Text = $WatermarkText
#If we have focus then clear out the text
$hash.serverBox.Add_GotFocus(
    {
        If($hash.serverBox.Text -eq $WatermarkText)
        {
            $hash.serverBox.Text=""
            $hash.serverBox.ForeColor="WindowText"
        }
    }
)
#If we have lost focus and the field is empty, reset back to watermark.
$hash.serverBox.Add_LostFocus(
    {
        If($hash.serverBox.Text -eq '')
        {
            $hash.serverBox.Text = $WatermarkText
            $hash.serverBox.ForeColor="Gray"
        }
    }
)

$hash.serverBox.Add_KeyDown({
    if ($_.KeyCode -eq "Enter") {
        runAppCode
    }
})

#Browse text box displaying file path.
$browseBox = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.TextBox 
$browseBox.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(89,152) 
$browseBox.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(192,50)
$browseBox.Font = "Verdana, 9"
$browseBox.Anchor="top, left"
#Must configure BackColor in a ReadOnly textbox in order for ForeColor to work.
$browseBox.BackColor="White"
$browseBox.ForeColor="Gray"
$browseBox.ReadOnly = $True
$browseWatermark = "Click Browse to select file."
$browseBox.Text = $browseWatermark



<# Output Box which is below all other buttons and displays PS Output #>
$hash.outputBox = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.RichTextBox 
$hash.outputBox.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(65,350) 
$hash.outputBox.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(350,180)
$hash.outputBox.Font = "Verdana, 8"
$hash.outputBox.ReadOnly = $True
$hash.outputBox.MultiLine = $True
$hash.outputBox.ScrollBars = "Vertical"
$hash.outputBox.Anchor="top, left"
#$hash.outputBox.AppendText("KVT Tool ready.")
#$hash.Form.Controls.Add($hash.outputBox)

#PowerShell version check.
If($getPowerShellVersion -ge "4.0")
{
        $hash.outputBox.AppendText("Your PowerShell version is $getPowerShellVersion. `nGUI Template is ready.")
}
else
{
        $hash.outputBox.Selectioncolor = "Red"
        $hash.outputBox.AppendText("Your PowerShell version is $getPowerShellVersion. `nGUI Template may not run correctly on your computer.")
}

#Browse Button
$hash.buttonBrowse = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button
$hash.buttonBrowse.text = "Browse"
$hash.buttonBrowse.Size="80,30"
$hash.buttonBrowse.location = '310, 147'
$hash.buttonBrowse.Font="Verdana,9"
$hash.buttonBrowse.Anchor="top, left"
$hash.buttonBrowse.Add_Click({fileBrowser})


$hash.buttonRun = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button
$hash.buttonRun.text = "RUN"
$hash.buttonRun.Size="300,40"
$hash.buttonRun.location = '90, 200'
$hash.buttonRun.Font="Verdana,11"
$hash.buttonRun.BackColor = "CornflowerBlue"
$hash.buttonRun.Cursor = [System.Windows.Forms.Cursors]::Hand
$hash.buttonRun.Anchor="top, left"
$hash.buttonRun.Add_Click({RunAppCode})

#Close button
$exitButton = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button
$exitButton.Location = '190,270'
$exitButton.Size="100,40"
$exitButton.FlatStyle="Flat"
$exitButton.BackColor="Brown"
$exitButton.Font="Verdana, 9"
$exitButton.Anchor="top, left"

# Font styles are: Regular, Bold, Italic, Underline, Strikeout
#$exitButton.Font = $cancelFont
$hash.Form.Controls.Add($exitButton)
$exitButton.Text="Exit"
$exitButton.tabindex = 0
$exitButton.Add_Click({
    $hash.Form.Tag = $hash.Form.close()
    $script:powershell.EndInvoke($script:handle)
    #$script:powershell.Close()
    $script:powershell.Dispose()
    $script:runspace.Close()
    $script:runspace.Dispose()
    [System.GC]::Collect()
    })
$hash.Form.CancelButton = $exitButton


#Progress status Heading
$StatusHeading = New-Object system.Windows.Forms.Label
$StatusHeading.text = "Progress: "
$StatusHeading.AutoSize = $false
$StatusHeading.width = 80
$StatusHeading.height = 20
$StatusHeading.location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(70,558)
$StatusHeading.Anchor="bottom, left"
$StatusHeading.Font="Verdana,10"

#Progress bar.
$hash.progressBar1 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.ProgressBar
$hash.progressBar1.Name="progressBar1"
$hash.progressBar1.Value = 0
$hash.progressBar1.Style="Blocks"
$hash.progressBar1.Size = "254, 30"
$hash.progressBar1.location = '160, 550'
$hash.progressBar1.Anchor="bottom, left"



#File Menu
$menuClose = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem
$menuClose.Name = "Close"
$menuClose.Text = "Close"
$menuClose.Add_Click({$hash.Form.Close()
    $script:powershell.EndInvoke($script:handle)
    #$script:powershell.Close()
    $script:powershell.Dispose()
    $script:runspace.Dispose()
    $script:runspace.Close()
    [System.GC]::Collect()})

#File Menu continued
$menuFile = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem
$menuFile.Name = "File"
$menuFile.Text = "File"
$menuFile.DropDownItems.AddRange(@($menuClose))


#ABOUT FORM
 $FormAbout = New-Object system.Windows.Forms.Form
 $FormAboutWidth="800"
 $FormAboutHeight="500"
 $FormAbout.MinimumSize = "$FormAboutWidth,$FormAboutHeight"
 $FormAbout.StartPosition = 'CenterScreen'
 $FormAbout.text = "About"
 $FormAbout.Icon = [System.Drawing.SystemIcons]::Shield
 #Autoscaling settings
 $FormAbout.AutoScale = $true
 $FormAbout.AutoScaleMode = "Font"
 $ASsize = New-Object System.Drawing.SizeF(7,15)
 $FormAbout.AutoScaleDimensions = $ASsize
 $FormAbout.BackColor="CornflowerBlue"
 $FormAbout.Refresh()
 #Disable windows maximize feature.
 $FormAbout.MaximizeBox = $False
 

 $AboutHeading = New-Object system.Windows.Forms.Label
 $AboutHeading.text = "About"
 $AboutHeading.AutoSize = $false
 $AboutHeading.width = 450
 $AboutHeading.height = 70
 $AboutHeading.location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(20,20)
 $AboutHeading.Font="Verdana,14"
 $AboutHeading.Anchor="top, left"

 $AboutDescription = New-Object system.Windows.Forms.Label
 $AboutDescription.text = "Credits.`r`nAuthor: $Author Build date: $AuthorDate Version: $Version"
 $AboutDescription.AutoSize = $false
 $AboutDescription.width = 500
 $AboutDescription.height = 70
 $AboutDescription.location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(20,410)
 $AboutDescription.Font="Verdana,10"
 $AboutDescription.Anchor="bottom, left"

 $Description2Heading = New-Object system.Windows.Forms.Label
 $Description2Heading.text = "GUI Template."
 $Description2Heading.AutoSize = $false
 $Description2Heading.width = 450
 $Description2Heading.height = 50
 $Description2Heading.location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(20,100)
 $Description2Heading.Font="Verdana,12"

$AboutDescription2 = New-Object system.Windows.Forms.Label
$AboutDescription2.text = "By Hugo Gungormez AKA KamikazeAdmin ;)"
$AboutDescription2.AutoSize = $false
$AboutDescription2.width = 620
$AboutDescription2.height = 200
$AboutDescription2.location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(20,150)
$AboutDescription2.Font="Verdana,10"

$AboutLinkLabel = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.LinkLabel
$AboutLinkLabel.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(320,400)
$AboutLinkLabel.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(150,20)
$AboutLinkLabel.LinkColor = "BLUE"
$AboutLinkLabel.ActiveLinkColor = "RED"
$AboutLinkLabel.Text = "https://kamikazeadmin.net"
$AbouLinkLabel.Anchor="top, left"
$AboutLinkLabel.add_Click({[system.Diagnostics.Process]::start("https://kamikazeadmin.net")})

#About Close Button
$aboutClose = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button
$aboutClose.text = "Close"
#$buttonClose.Size="80,30"
$aboutClose.Size="80,30"
$aboutClose.location = '350, 360'
$aboutClose.Font="Verdana,9"
$aboutClose.Anchor="Bottom,Left"
$aboutClose.Add_Click({$FormAbout.Close()})

#Add our controls ie labels and buttons into our Abou form.
$FormAbout.Controls.AddRange(@($AboutHeading, $AboutDescription, $Description2Heading, $AboutDescription2, $AboutLinkLabel, $aboutClose))

#Help ToolStrip Menu
$helpAbout = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem
$helpAbout.Name = "About"
$helpAbout.Text = "About"
$helpAbout.Add_Click({$FormAbout.ShowDialog()})

$menuHelp = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem
$menuHelp.Name = "Help"
$menuHelp.Text = "Help"
$menuHelp.DropDownItems.AddRange(@($helpAbout))

$menuMain = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.MenuStrip
$menuMain.Items.AddRange(@($menuFile, $menuHelp))

#Display form
$hash.Form.Controls.AddRange(@($menuMain, $hash.serverBox, $hash.buttonBrowse, $hash.buttonRun, $Description, $moto, $hash.outputBox, $browseBox, $StatusHeading, $hash.progressBar1))
$result = $hash.Form.ShowDialog()

if($result -eq [System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::Cancel)
    {
        Exit
    }

#Ensure a text file containing server list is entered.
while(!$lineList)
{
    $hash.outputBox.Selectioncolor = "Red"
    Add-OutputBoxLine -Message "`r`nMust enter a String in top bar OR select a valid input file. Click Browse and select a text/csv file."
    $hash.buttonBrowse.enabled = $true
    $hash.buttonRun.enabled = $true
}

Output

What’s Next?

Congratulations! You’ve now learned the essential concept of Winform GUIs, Hash Tables, RunspacePools and progress bars.

What’s next is entirely up to you; test out your old script code using the above supercharged shell, add a 2nd GUI, report output in a DataGridView, the possibilities are endless.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.windows.media.colors?view=windowsdesktop-5.0 is great if you wish to pick a colour pallet for your GUI.

How to build a colourful GUI for PowerShell using Winforms, Runspace Pools and Hash Tables

Introduction

Prerequisites

Agenda

Main Form (GUI)

Function

Hash Tables

Runspace Pools

Progress Bar

Code

Output

What’s Next?

Like this:

Related

Projesh Kar

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Introduction

Prerequisites

Agenda

Main Form (GUI)

Function

Hash Tables

Runspace Pools

Progress Bar

Code

Output

What’s Next?

Share this:

Like this:

Related

Projesh Kar

Leave a Comment Cancel reply