PowerShell Export-Alias
last modified February 15, 2025
In this article, we will cover the Export-Alias cmdlet in
PowerShell. This cmdlet exports PowerShell aliases to a file for backup
or sharing purposes.
Alias basics
An alias is a shortcut name for a cmdlet, function, or executable file.
PowerShell includes many built-in aliases like ls for Get-ChildItem. Aliases
save typing but can reduce script readability. The Export-Alias
cmdlet helps manage aliases by saving them to files.
Basic Export-Alias usage
The simplest way to use Export-Alias exports all aliases to a
file. The -Path parameter specifies the output file location. By default,
the file is created in CSV format. This provides an easy way to back up
your aliases.
Export-Alias -Path "C:\temp\aliases.csv"
This command exports all current session aliases to aliases.csv. The file contains alias name, definition, and description columns. You can import these later using Import-Alias.
Export specific aliases
You can export only specific aliases using the -Name parameter. This accepts wildcards for pattern matching. It's useful when you want to export only certain types of aliases. Multiple aliases can be specified separated by commas.
Export-Alias -Path "C:\temp\get_aliases.csv" -Name "get-*"
This command exports all aliases starting with "get-". The output file will contain aliases like get-childitem, get-content, etc. Wildcards make it easy to group related aliases.
Export to different formats
The Export-Alias cmdlet supports multiple output formats. Use the
-As parameter to specify format. Supported formats are CSV, Script, and
Clixml. Each format serves different purposes for alias management.
Export-Alias -Path "C:\temp\aliases.ps1" -As Script
This exports aliases as PowerShell script commands. The script can be run later to recreate the aliases. Script format is useful for sharing aliases with others who can execute the file.
Append to existing file
By default, Export-Alias overwrites existing files. Use the
-Append parameter to add to existing files instead. This is helpful when
building alias collections from multiple sessions. The file format must
match for proper appending.
Export-Alias -Path "C:\temp\aliases.csv" -Append
This command adds new aliases to an existing aliases.csv file. If the file doesn't exist, it will be created. The -NoClobber parameter prevents overwriting existing files entirely.
Export with description
The -Description parameter includes alias descriptions in the output. This provides more context about each alias's purpose. Descriptions are particularly useful for custom aliases. They help document why aliases were created.
Export-Alias -Path "C:\temp\aliases_desc.csv" -Description
This exports all aliases with their descriptions included. The description appears as an additional column in CSV output. For script format, comments are added above each alias definition.
Export with scope
PowerShell aliases can have different scopes (Global, Local, Script). The -Scope parameter filters aliases by their scope. This helps organize aliases based on where they're available. Global scope is most common for persistent aliases.
Export-Alias -Path "C:\temp\global_aliases.csv" -Scope Global
This command exports only aliases in the Global scope. Global aliases persist across sessions when properly saved. The output file won't include local or script-scoped aliases.
Export with force
The -Force parameter allows overwriting read-only files. It also suppresses confirmation prompts for existing files. This is useful in automated scripts where interaction isn't possible. Use with caution as it can overwrite important files.
Export-Alias -Path "C:\temp\aliases.csv" -Force
This command will overwrite aliases.csv even if it's read-only. No prompts will appear if the file exists. Combine with -NoClobber to prevent any overwriting while still forcing other operations.
Source
In this article, we have covered the Export-Alias cmdlet in PowerShell.
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