Accessing the original working directory

[Brant Bobby]

I would like to use the current directory to infer the value of an (optional) parameter. The only way I could figure out how to do this was by accessing the "private" ${*} variable like this:

param([string]$WorkDir)

Task Demo {
  # If -WorkDir was not provided, infer it from cwd
  if (-not $WorkDir) {
    $WorkDir = ${*}.CD
  }
  # ... do stuff with $WorkDir
}

Assuming I haven't missed a non-hacky way of getting this, could ${*}.CD be exposed via a built-in variable? Maybe $OriginalLocation?

[Roman Kuzmin]

You are right, ${*}.CD is currently the only way. The request for the official built-in variable looks reasonable. Let me think about this.

[Roman Kuzmin]

v5.8.1 introduces $OriginalLocation.

[GreatTeacherBasshead]

Hi,
so $BuildRoot variable points to a directory where the scripts is located;
and $OriginalLocation points to my current working directory.

Did I get it right?

Maybe it also could be added to Special Variables?

[Roman Kuzmin]

@GreatTeacherBasshead

so $BuildRoot variable points to a directory where the scripts is located;

Where the current build script is located, unless this variable is changed by the script itself in special (rare) cases.

and $OriginalLocation points to my current working directory.

Yes, your current before and after the build. But during the build the current is $BuildRoot.

Maybe it also could be added to Special Variables?

Thank you, of course! It's done. Also $Job was missing there.

[F.D.Castel]

@nightroman Sorry for necroing on this issue, but could this $OriginalLocation be added to the docs?

Let's just say that it took me a significant chunk of time to find it. 😉

Probably, here?

[Roman Kuzmin]

@fdcastel Sure, I'll take care in the place you suggested and think of other suitable. Thank you.

[Roman Kuzmin]

Done at the wiki as you suggested. It is also mentioned in help Invoke-Build, see PUBLIC VARIABLES.