How to use powershell transcript?

[michaelfarino]

Hello,

I am new to ServiceNow but I am trying to automate some AD account provisioning processes which require some advanced logic.   So I am creating a workflow which executes a PowerShell script to do all the AD queries, account creation, etc.   When I typically write some PowerShell scripts and I want to log the activity, I simply use the Start-Transcript command which works nicely.

However the Start-Transcript doesn't seem to work when the command is executed from within a Service Now workflow.   Running the PowerShell script locally works fine.   Here is the code in the Run PowerShell activity:

$LogFile = "C:\Data\Scripts\Logs\LogFile.txt"

Start-Transcript -Path $LogFile

Write-Host "host"

Write-Output "output"

"Test" | Out-Default

"Another"

Here is the contents of the logfile after the activity runs:

**********************

Windows PowerShell transcript start

Start time: 20151201170402

Username   : TESTMSF\svcSN

Machine   : MID01 (Microsoft Windows NT 6.3.9600.0)

**********************

**********************

Windows PowerShell transcript end

End time: 20151201170402

**********************

As you can see, it does start the Transcript but just doesn't log any of the output.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Michael

[Sanjeev Kumar1]

Hi,

check following it's helpful.

1. PowerShell Probe and Utility for ServiceNow-John Andersen
2. How to run a PowerShell script ?

Thanks,

Sanjeev Kumar

[conmic]

Hi Sanjeev Kumar,

The PowerShell Probe Utility that you're pointing too is out-dated and not working anymore since package calls have been removed. Fortunately I have updated it, even to include MID server script files if needed: PowerShell Utility V2 - execute Powershell scripts directly from your instance

[conmic]

Hello Michael,

I tested this with the PowerShell Utility (PowerShell Utility V2 - execute Powershell scripts directly from your instance ) and I got the proper outputs into the log file (see below).

I can only explain this behavior with missing access rights even though the log-file was created... Please confirm that it has well been created by the activity and not been appended?

Check if your user "TESTMSF\svcSN" has proper access rights to "C:\Data\Scripts\Logs" and try to use the parameter "-Force" on Start-Transcript.

**********************
Windows PowerShell transcript start
Start time: 20151202103017
Username: C**\Admin***
RunAs User: C**\Admin***
Machine: **-**-SNOWMID** (Microsoft Windows NT 6.3.9600.0)
Host Application: C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe -executionpolicy unrestricted -noninteractive -command & {& 'scripts\PowerShell\PSScript.ps1' -computer '127.0.0.1'   -script 'C:\Users\ADMINS~1\AppData\Local\Temp\script.4617265080828112512.PS1'   -useCred $false -isDiscovery $true -debug $false; exit $LASTEXITCODE}
Process ID: 11580
**********************
Transcript started, output file is C:\temp\LogFile.txt
output
Test
Another
**********************
Windows PowerShell transcript end
End time: 20151202103017
**********************

[michaelfarino]

Thanks for the info however I just couldn't get it to work but I didn't try using the PowerShell Utility...   But the bottom line is that it would need to run from a Run PowerShell activity in a workflow and it just won;t work properly.

Not a big deal as I am using another method to just write to a log file for key events...