New to PSH 2 and feel this must be a fairly simple thing to do... Am using PSH to glue several command-line apps together. I can invoke the first one, but then need to dismiss a series of questions within it so that I can do a run with the default settings. Example: prompt in app says: "Type 'help' to get help>" (I want to enter a blank line to skip this and go on). How to type that ENTER or RETURN? Likewise, next there is a series of yes/no questions. How to type the "yes" reply to each? Many thanks for any help!

Just enter:
[void] [System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName("'System.Windows.Forms")
[System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys]::SendWait("{ENTER}")

See here for all the codes:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/...31008.aspx

There are other keystroke automation methods, but they involve loading 3rd party software.

Marco --
Thanks for your reply. That's what I was looking for -- EXCEPT this particular command-line program seems to block the script completing. Here's what I have:

-----------------------------
.\Desktop\tnt\tnt.exe
[void] [System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName("'Microsoft.VisualBasic")
[Microsoft.VisualBasic.Interaction]::AppActivate("Administrator: Windows PowerShell")
[void] [System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName("'System.Windows.Forms")
Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 3000;
[System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys]::SendWait("{ENTER}")
-----------------------------

What I get:
1. TNT opens and waits for "help;" or ENTER to be input.
2. Only after manually hitting ENTER and quitting TNT does the 3 second sleep and input ENTER happen.

I'm beginning to think that it's impossible to do this with this program, for some reason. But I'm open to any other suggestions you might have.

Thanks for your help,
Brian

Are you open to trying 3rd party apps? Search for "AutoIT". It is one of the better keystroke automation programs. It provides a COM interface that PowerShell can use.

Yes, I downloaded AutoIT last night, but didn't try it yet because it seemed more involved (believe it compiles to an executable). But, I really need to figure out some way to run this sequence of apps, so sticking one more executable in the mix isn't a big deal, if it does the job. Here's hoping that an executable can circumvent whatever roadblocks TNT throws up blocking other scripts from running. Thanks, Brian

You *can* compile scripts to an executable and have the engine run them, but you can also interface directly with the engine and send it interactive commands basically.

I can show you an example in about 10 hours (later tonight) if you want...

See also this link:
http://muegge.com/blog/?p=73

Hi Marco --

Since my last email, I've been able (with not much fiddling at all) to solve the problem with AutoIt. I can now set the program in motion, do the run (answering all the lead-in questions automatically) and quit the program. Just what I needed! I haven't compiled a script yet, but did discover the ability to run it from the editor, which is very helpful for development.

Thanks for the offer of help tonight, but I think I'm on my way. I very much appreciate all your help on this!

Brian