PowerShell Commands

Export-ModuleMember

Export-ModuleMember [[-Function] <String[]>] [-Alias <String[]>] [-Cmdlet <String[]>] [-Variable <String[]>][<CommonParameters>]

The Export-ModuleMember cmdlet specifies the module members that are exported from a script module (.psm1) file, or from a dynamic module created by using the New-Module cmdlet. Module members include cmdlets, functions, variables, and aliases. This cmdlet can be used only in a script module file or a dynamic module.

If a script module does not include an Export-ModuleMember command, the functions in the script module are exported, but the variables and aliases are not. When a script module includes Export-ModuleMember commands, only the members specified in the Export-ModuleMember commands are exported. You can also use Export-ModuleMember to suppress or export members that the script module imports from other modules.

An Export-ModuleMember command is optional, but it is a best practice. Even if the command confirms the default values, it demonstrates the intention of the module author.

Parameters

-Alias <String[]>

  • Default value is None
  • Accepts pipeline input ByPropertyName

Specifies the aliases that are exported from the script module file. Enter the alias names. Wildcard characters are permitted.

-Cmdlet <String[]>

  • Default value is None
  • Accepts pipeline input ByPropertyName

Specifies the cmdlets that are exported from the script module file. Enter the cmdlet names. Wildcard characters are permitted.

You cannot create cmdlets in a script module file, but you can import cmdlets from a binary module into a script module and re-export them from the script module.

-Function <String[]>

  • Default value is None
  • Accepts pipeline input ByPropertyName

Specifies the functions that are exported from the script module file. Enter the function names. Wildcard characters are permitted. You can also pipe function name strings to Export-ModuleMember .

-Variable <String[]>

  • Default value is None
  • Accepts pipeline input ByPropertyName

Specifies the variables that are exported from the script module file. Enter the variable names, without a dollar sign. Wildcard characters are permitted.

<CommonParameters>

This cmdlet supports the common parameters: Verbose, Debug,ErrorAction, ErrorVariable, WarningAction, WarningVariable,OutBuffer, PipelineVariable, and OutVariable.

Inputs
System.String
You can pipe function name strings to this cmdlet.
Outputs
None
This cmdlet does not generate any output.
Examples
  1. Export aliases and functions in a script module:
    PS C:\> Export-ModuleMember -Function * -Alias *
    

    This command exports the aliases defined in the script module, together with the functions defined in the script module.

    To export the aliases, which are not exported by default, you must also explicitly specify the functions. Otherwise, the cmdlet exports only the aliases.

  2. Export specific aliases and functions:
    PS C:\> Export-ModuleMember -Function Get-Test, New-Test, Start-Test -Alias gtt, ntt, stt
    

    This command exports three aliases and three functions defined in the script module.

    You can use this command format to specify the names of module members.

  3. Export no members:
    PS C:\> Export-ModuleMember
    

    This command specifies that no members defined in the script module are exported.

    This command prevents the module members from being exported, but it does not hide the members. Users can read and copy module members or use the call operator (&) to invoke module members that are not exported.

  4. Export a specific variable:
    PS C:\> Export-ModuleMember -Variable increment
    

    This command exports only the $increment variable from the script module. No other members are exported.

    If you want to export a variable, in addition to exporting the functions in a module, the Export-ModuleMember command must include the names of all of the functions and the name of the variable.

  5. Multiple export commands:
    PS C:\> # From TestModule.psm1
    function new-test
    
          { <function code> }
       export-modulemember -function new-test
       function validate-test
          { <function code> }
       function start-test
          { <function code> }
       set-alias stt start-test
       export-modulemember -function *-test -alias stt

    These commands show how multiple Export-ModuleMember commands are interpreted in a script module (.psm1) file.

    These commands create three functions and one alias, and then they export two of the functions and the alias.

    Without the Export-ModuleMember commands, all three of the functions would be exported, but the alias would not be exported. With the Export-ModuleMember commands, only the Get-Test and Start-Test functions and the STT alias are exported.

  6. Export members in a dynamic module:
    PS C:\> New-Module -Script {function SayHello {"Hello!"}; Set-Alias Hi SayHello; Export-ModuleMember -Alias Hi -Function SayHello}
    

    This command shows how to use Export-ModuleMember in a dynamic module that is created by using the New-Module cmdlet.

    In this example, Export-ModuleMember is used to export both the Hi alias and the SayHello function in the dynamic module.

  7. Declare and export a function in a single command:
    PS C:\> function export
    {
    
         param ([parameter(mandatory=$true)] [validateset("function","variable")] $type,
         [parameter(mandatory=$true)] $name,
         [parameter(mandatory=$true)] $value)
         if ($type -eq "function")
          {
            Set-item "function:script:$name" $value
            Export-ModuleMember $name
          }
       else
          {
            Set-Variable -scope Script $name $value
            Export-ModuleMember -variable $name
          }
       }
       export function New-Test
          {
       ...
          }
       function helper
       {
       ...
       }
       export variable interval 0
       $interval = 2

    This example includes a function named export that declares a function or creates a variable, and then writes an Export-ModuleMember command for the function or variable. This lets you declare and export a function or variable in a single command.

    To use the export function, include it in your script module. To export a function, type `export` before the Function keyword.

    To export a variable, use the following format to declare the variable and set its value:

    `export variable `

    The commands in the example show the correct format. In this example, only the New-Test function and the $Interval variable are exported.

Additional Notes
 To exclude a member from the list of exported members, add an Export-ModuleMember * command that lists all 
 other members but omits the member that you want to exclude.

 *

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International. It is attributed to Microsoft Corporation and can be found here.

PowerShell Commands