How do I make a Windows shortcut run an exe in a PowerShell window?

I've been recently using Blender, but it seems that some errors are only printed to the console. If I manually open PowerShell and run Blender from there, it works fine and I can read the error messages. However, I'd like to change my shortcut to do this for me.

Basically I'm trying to run an arbitrary command in PowerShell, from a shortcut. I found this question which hasn't helped; I have tried putting these in the "Target" section, to no success:

powershell "C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\blender.exe"
powershell Invoke-Expression "C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\blender.exe"
Invoke-Expression "C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\blender.exe"

The first two pop open a black command window for a moment which immediately disappears, and also powershell is replaced with C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe when I hit "Apply" but I figured I'd include the shortened version here.

The third says "The name 'Invoke-Expression' specified in the Target box is not valid.".

I also came across this question, so I tried adding -NoExit -Command:

powershell -NoExit -Command "C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\blender.exe"

This pops up a window with the message C:\Program : The term 'C:\Program' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. I find it strange that it gets stuck at the space even though I quoted the path. I also tried using a set of single quotes too:

powershell -NoExit -Command '"C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\blender.exe"'
powershell -NoExit -Command "'C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\blender.exe'"

This just results in a PowerShell window opening to a command prompt, printing out the command I wished to execute instead of actually executing it:

C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\blender.exe
PS C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender>

How do I run a command / executable in PowerShell from a shortcut?

Aaron Franke

Posted 2019-10-07T06:27:11.597

Reputation: 678

Why Powershell in first choice? Why not try with Command Prompt with /K option? – Biswapriyo – 2019-10-07T06:31:59.963

I'd prefer to use the more modern tool. CMD is ancient. – Aaron Franke – 2019-10-07T06:32:58.700

1For your question, you only want to see the error message. So, the shell (cmd or powershell) does not matter in this situation. – Biswapriyo – 2019-10-07T06:36:10.260

I want to learn, not simply have my problem solved. I want to know how to use PowerShell to launch other arbitrary commands too in the future, because I know this skill will come in handy. Please only reply if you will help answer the question. – Aaron Franke – 2019-10-07T06:47:11.023

Don't feel too bad towards @Biswapriyo. We really do try to help. Most people here are not advanced users, and Powershell is an advanced tool. I too would ask the very same question because in the end, the difference will not matter, but cmd is way easier to setup. With Command Prompt, you can just make a .bat or .cmd file and it works out of the box. With PowerShell, you make a .ps1 file, then right-click it to run, or make a .cmd file to launch powershell and execute the ps1 file. It is also possible to create a shortcut to launch the ps1 file or the command, but that is even harder. – LPChip – 2019-10-07T07:17:11.193

This causes PowerShell to open, and Blender to open, but it does not bind Blender to the PowerShell window or print any messages to the PowerShell window. – Aaron Franke – 2019-10-07T07:29:35.883

If my memory serves me correct, powershell is not in a path and will not start unless you provide the full path to powershell. – LPChip – 2019-10-07T07:31:17.627

@AaronFranke: Is Blender a console application? – harrymc – 2019-10-07T07:34:49.863

@LPChip: powershell.exe is in system32, so in my PATH. Perhaps you are referring to older systems. – harrymc – 2019-10-07T07:35:53.220

Yeah, it used to be in a different folder. OP did not mention they are using Windows 10, so I did not want to make that assumption. EDIT: never mind ,I see the tag now... – LPChip – 2019-10-07T10:10:38.267

@harrymc Blender is a 3D modeling program, but it prints out text if I go into the folder -> Open PowerShell window here -> ./blender.exe – Aaron Franke – 2019-10-07T16:42:41.020

Add to Start-Process the parameter of -NoNewWindow, defined as: "Start the new process in the current console window. By default PowerShell opens a new window." – harrymc – 2019-10-07T18:07:10.277

@harrymc shouldn't that last comment be edited in your answer though? – LPChip – 2019-10-07T20:49:28.527

@LPChip: Right. Done. – harrymc – 2019-10-08T08:16:03.343

The command that ended up working for me was powershell -NoExit Start-Process -NoNewWindow 'C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\blender.exe'. The only downside is that it doesn't move the caret/cursor down, so the PowerShell window doesn't work properly if I press Enter in it. – Aaron Franke – 2019-10-15T04:03:23.870

How do I make a Windows shortcut run an exe in a PowerShell window?

Answers