Powershell - Passing a folder with a space to a script block

Question

I am using the following code to call a script with a time out:

function getHDriveSize($usersHomeDirectory) {
  $timeOutSeconds = 600

  $code = {
    & powershell.exe $args[0] -Path $args[1]
  }

  $job = Start-Job -ScriptBlock $code -ArgumentList $script:getHDriveSizePath, $usersHomeDirectory

  if (Wait-Job $job -Timeout $timeOutSeconds) {
    Receive-Job $job
  } else {
    'Timed Out'
  }
}

However when $script:getHDriveSizePath has a space in it, I get the following error:

The term 'H:\FolderNameBeforeSpace' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet,...

I have tried using "'$($args[0])'" (with an escape character before the single quotes) instead of $args[0] but then I get this error:

Unexpected token '-Path' in expression or statement.

The script works fine if $script:getHDriveSizePath contains no spaces.

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:27

Assuming $script:getHDriveSizePath holds the path to a PS1 script, you should change

& powershell.exe $args[0] -Path $args[1]

to

& powershell.exe -File $args[0] -Path $args[1]

If you don't specify the -File argument, PowerShell will assume $args[0] is a PowerShell command. Alternatively, you can do it like:

& powershell.exe "& '$($args[0])'" -Path $args[1]

This is the same issue as discussed here: How to run a PowerShell script?. HTH.

Powershell - Passing a folder with a space to a script block

1 Answers1