Create Log File in Powershell

A function that takes these principles a little further.

1. Add's timestamps - can't have a log without timestamps.
2. Add's a level (uses INFO by default) meaning you can highlight big issues.

3. Allows for optional console output. If you don't set a log destination, it simply pumps it out.

   Function Write-Log {
       [CmdletBinding()]
       Param(
       [Parameter(Mandatory=$False)]
       [ValidateSet("INFO","WARN","ERROR","FATAL","DEBUG")]
       [String]
       $Level = "INFO",
   
       [Parameter(Mandatory=$True)]
       [string]
       $Message,
   
       [Parameter(Mandatory=$False)]
       [string]
       $logfile
       )
   
       $Stamp = (Get-Date).toString("yyyy/MM/dd HH:mm:ss")
       $Line = "$Stamp $Level $Message"
       If($logfile) {
           Add-Content $logfile -Value $Line
       }
       Else {
           Write-Output $Line
       }
   }
   

I believe this is the simplest way of putting all what it is on the screen into a file. It is a native PS CmdLet so you don't have to change or install anything in your script

Start-Transcript -Path Computer.log

Write-Host "everything will end up in Computer.log"

Stop-Transcript

Put this at the top of your file:

$Logfile = "D:\Apps\Logs\$(gc env:computername).log"

Function LogWrite
{
   Param ([string]$logstring)

   Add-content $Logfile -value $logstring
}

Then replace your Write-host calls with LogWrite.