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In Unix, I create a lot of aliases/functions. Here is my workflow:

  • I have a file name 'aliases.txt' in my $HOME directory
  • I have a quick command to edit that file

  • I have an alias named 'sa' that sources that alias file. I.e.

    'alias sa='. $HOME/aliases.txt'

I can quickly and easily create, modify, and use new aliases.

I'm trying to re-create the same work flow in PowerShell but it doesn't work. I've got the aliases.ps1 file in my $HOME directory. I tried creating an 'sa' alias, but of course a PowerShell alias can't contain an argument. So I've tried:

function sa {. $HOME\aliases.ps1 }

I can run it but changes in my aliases.pl1 file don't get reflected in my shell session. I'm assuming it's because Windows runs the 'sa' function in a new process, which Unix runs functions and aliases in the same process. How can I get my 'sa' back?

("Type '. $HOME\aliases.ps1' at the command line each time" is not the answer I'm looking for.

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I can think of a 1000 reasons why they would not run them in the same process. Never the less, I don't think it's possible unless you reload the script. – surfasb Jul 29 '11 at 0:34
So you're saying there's no way to create a function/alias/cmdlet that will run in the same process? – jonathan Jul 29 '11 at 0:35
AFAIK, no. But I'm gonna see if we can move this question to the Serverfault audience. The Powershell experts reside there. – surfasb Jul 29 '11 at 0:43
Question on Stack Overflow: stackoverflow.com/questions/6867442/… – Gareth Jul 29 '11 at 3:45
Please don't cross-post – Sathya♦ Jul 29 '11 at 4:01
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closed as off topic by surfasb, Sathya♦ Jul 29 '11 at 4:01

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