See PowerShell Verbose output in Visual Studio Code

Question

I am using Visual Studio Code 1.17.2 with the PowerShell extension (1.4.3). I have Write-Verbose statements in my code. When I run the PowerShell script, the Verbose output doesn't seem to go anywhere. How do I request that output be shown?

Answer 1

The simplest approach is to execute

$VerbosePreference = 'Continue'

in the integrated PowerShell console before invoking your script (and executing $VerbosePreference = 'SilentlyContinue' later to turn verbose output back off, if needed).

From that point on:

• running a script (starting it with ( F5 ) or without ( Ctrl+F5 ) the debugger)

• highlighting a section of code and running the selection ( F8 )

will make Write-Verbose calls produce output.

If you want to preset $VerbosePreference = 'Continue' every time the integrated console starts, put that statement in the $PROFILE file :

• If your VS Code-specific $PROFILE file already exists, simply run psedit $PROFILE from the integrated console.

• If not, create the file first from the integrated console : New-Item -Type File $PROFILE

Answer 2

Verbose output by default it not shown, you need to declare [CmdletBinding()] in your function or script to enable the -Verbose parameter to be passed through in order have the option to display Verbose output.

You can 'cheat' though and pass -Verbose to Write-Verbose "Hello Verbose" -Verbose itself and that stream will appear in the console.

(Tested with your two matching versions for VSCode and Extension on Mac (PS6 Beta 8) and can see the verbose output).

function Test-Verbose {

    # This enables the function to have '-Verbose'.
    [CmdletBinding()]
    param()

    Write-Output "Hello output!"

    # Will only be displayed if 'Test-Verbose' is passed '-Verbose'.
    Write-Verbose "Hello verbose"
}

Test-Verbose -Verbose