How to "Make instance visible" for Powershell and CMD?

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Posted on by drake

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The Launch Excel action includes a "Make instance visible" option:

The Run Powershell script and Open CMD session actions do not include this option, however. This makes it difficult to debug CMD and Powershell sessions (can't see the commands running, etc.) Is there some workaround available to make working with CMD and Powershell sessions easier? Or is a "Make Instance visible" option planned for a future release? Thanks!

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Power Automate Desktop

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Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

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You can try 'Run Application' action under System group. In parameters, application path, use 'C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe' (usual path). You can also choose a maximized window in 'Window style' option.

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drake 139 on at

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Thanks @Anonymous that gets us half way there (writing data to the window).

I wonder if there is a way in Power Automate Desktop to read from the window too?

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Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

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Couldn't find a command to directly capture text from cmd window.
Best way to get the text is use 'Send keys' actions for 'Select All' shortcut (I work in a non-english Windows, so here the shortcut is Ctrl+A) and then shortcut for 'Copy' (here is Enter). You can find the correct shortcuts in CMD window: right-click top of window and then Edit.

After that, use 'Get Clipboard Text' action under Clipboard group to get the text and work with it.

If this solved your problem, please mark this post as solution 😉

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