PowerShell Format-Table

last modified February 15, 2025

In this article, we will cover the Format-Table cmdlet in PowerShell. This cmdlet formats command output as a table with selected properties.

Format-Table basics

The Format-Table cmdlet formats output as a table. It displays selected properties of objects in columns. By default, PowerShell uses Format-Table for many cmdlets. You can customize which properties appear and their order.

Format-Table is particularly useful when you want to view specific object properties in a clean tabular format. It helps organize output for better readability. The cmdlet supports various parameters for customization.

Basic Format-Table usage

The simplest way to use Format-Table is by piping output to it. This formats the output as a table with default properties. The table will auto-size columns based on content. This is useful for quick viewing of object properties.

format1.ps1

Get-Process | Format-Table

This command retrieves all processes and formats them as a table. The output shows default properties like Name, Id, and CPU usage. The table format makes it easier to scan the information.

Selecting specific properties

You can choose which properties to display using the -Property parameter. This lets you customize the table columns. Multiple properties can be specified in a comma-separated list. The order determines column sequence.

format2.ps1

Get-Process | Format-Table -Property Name, Id, CPU, WorkingSet

This command shows only Name, Id, CPU, and WorkingSet columns. The output is more focused than the default view. WorkingSet displays memory usage in bytes.

PS C:\> .\format2.ps1

Name                     Id        CPU WorkingSet
----                     --        --- ----------
chrome                6784   0.328125   27262976
chrome                6792   0.281250   26615808
explorer              6824   0.109375   35799040

Customizing column widths

The -AutoSize parameter adjusts column widths to fit content. Without it, columns may be truncated. For wide tables, -Wrap can display all content. These parameters help optimize table layout.

format3.ps1

Get-Process | Format-Table -Property Name, Path -AutoSize

This command ensures all process names and paths are fully visible. The -AutoSize parameter prevents truncation of long paths. This is useful when viewing items with variable-length properties.

Grouping output

The -GroupBy parameter organizes output by a property value. This creates separate tables for each unique value. Grouping helps analyze data by categories. The grouped property appears as a header above each section.

format4.ps1

Get-Service | Format-Table -Property Name, Status -GroupBy StartType

This command groups services by their StartType (Automatic, Manual, etc.). Each group shows services with that start type. The output is more organized than a flat list.

Calculated properties

You can create custom columns using calculated properties. These use script blocks to transform or combine data. The @{label="Name";expression={...}} syntax defines them. This enables powerful output customization.

format5.ps1

Get-Process | Format-Table Name, 
    @{label="Memory(MB)";expression={$_.WorkingSet/1MB -as [int]}}

This command adds a custom column showing memory usage in MB. The expression converts bytes to megabytes. The -as [int] formats the result as an integer. This makes memory usage easier to interpret.

Hiding headers

The -HideTableHeaders parameter removes column headers from output. This is useful when piping to other commands. Headers can interfere with further processing. The output becomes just the data rows.

format6.ps1

Get-Process | Select-Object -First 3 | Format-Table -HideTableHeaders

This command shows three processes without column headers. The output is cleaner for scripts that process the data. Headers are typically only needed for human-readable output.

Combining formatting options

You can combine multiple formatting options for optimal output. This example shows processes with selected properties, auto-sizing, and custom columns. Complex formatting makes output more informative and readable.

format7.ps1

Get-Process | 
    Format-Table -Property Name, 
        @{label="PID";expression={$_.Id}},
        @{label="CPU(s)";expression={$_.CPU}},
        @{label="Memory(MB)";expression={[math]::Round($_.WorkingSet/1MB,1)}} -AutoSize

This command creates a comprehensive process table with custom columns. Memory is shown in MB with one decimal place. The -AutoSize ensures all data is visible. This format is useful for system monitoring.

Source

PowerShell documentation

In this article, we have covered the Format-Table cmdlet in PowerShell.

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