Question

I have one big batch script which sets bunch of environment variables.
I want to call that batch script from powershell, that way I can get benefits of both i.e. enviorment variable set by my script and powershell.

Answer 1

The idea comes from this blog post: Nothing solves everything – PowerShell and other technologies

Here is my version of this script. It calls a batch file (or any native command) and propagates its environment:

---

UPDATE: Improved and better tested version of this script is here: Invoke-Environment.ps1

<#
.SYNOPSIS
    Invokes a command and imports its environment variables.

.DESCRIPTION
    It invokes any cmd shell command (normally a configuration batch file) and
    imports its environment variables to the calling process. Command output is
    discarded completely. It fails if the command exit code is not 0. To ignore
    the exit code use the 'call' command.

.PARAMETER Command
        Any cmd shell command, normally a configuration batch file.

.EXAMPLE
    # Invokes Config.bat in the current directory or the system path
    Invoke-Environment Config.bat

.EXAMPLE
    # Visual Studio environment: works even if exit code is not 0
    Invoke-Environment 'call "%VS100COMNTOOLS%\vsvars32.bat"'

.EXAMPLE
    # This command fails if vsvars32.bat exit code is not 0
    Invoke-Environment '"%VS100COMNTOOLS%\vsvars32.bat"'
#>

param
(
    [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)] [string]
    $Command
)

cmd /c "$Command > nul 2>&1 && set" | .{process{
    if ($_ -match '^([^=]+)=(.*)') {
        [System.Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable($matches[1], $matches[2])
    }
}}

if ($LASTEXITCODE) {
    throw "Command '$Command': exit code: $LASTEXITCODE"
}

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P.S. Here is the proposal to add similar capability to PowerShell: Extend dot sourcing concept to cmd files