Dot sourcing a PowerShell script not ending with .ps1

Question

From a PowerShell program, I can "dot source" another PowerShell program. i.e I can execute it as if it were written inside the first one.
Example:

Write-Host 'before'
. MyOtherProgram.ps1
Write-Host 'after'

MyOtherProgram in 'included' inside the main program, exactly as if its content had been copy/pasted.

The problem is: I can only dot source a filename finishing with .ps1
I can't with MyOtherProgram.lib or MyOtherProgram.whatever

Anyone have a method to dot source a PowerShell script not ending with .ps1 ?

Socowi · Accepted Answer · 2025-02-18 11:33:52Z

7

Another way would be using Invoke-Expression:

$code = Get-Content ./MyOtherProgram.lib | Out-String
Invoke-Expression $code

or shorter

Invoke-Expression "$(Get-Content ./MyOtherProgram.lib | Out-String)"

edited Feb 18 at 11:33

Socowi

27.9k4 gold badges41 silver badges72 bronze badges

answered May 11, 2012 at 7:52

Shay Levy

128k34 gold badges193 silver badges210 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

Andy Arismendi · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-10 23:53:46Z

1

I'm not aware if this is compiled into PowerShell or if it's configurable but one way to do it is just have your script temporarily rename it, import it and then rename it back.

Rename-Item C:\Path\MyScript.whatever C:\Path\MyScript.ps1
. C:\Path\MyScript.ps1
Rename-Item C:\Path\MyScript.ps1 C:\Path\MyScript.whatever

edited May 10, 2012 at 23:53

answered May 10, 2012 at 23:43

Andy Arismendi

53.2k17 gold badges113 silver badges130 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Dot sourcing a PowerShell script not ending with .ps1

2 Answers 2

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related