The best way to get updated help for Windows PowerShell core commands is to type “Get-Help –Online <cmdletname>,” but that works only when you’re online and your firewall permits Internet access. For all of those other times, there’s the new Windows PowerShell 2.0 Core Help – May 2011 Update in CHM format.

The newly released CHM includes Windows PowerShell Core cmdlet help, provider help, and conceptual “About” help topics as of May 1, 2011. It’s digitally signed and packaged in an executable file to ward off the meanies. You can get it from the Microsoft Download Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=219058.

It doesn’t include help for all of the wonderful modules that you can use with Windows PowerShell, but it might get you through the next long airplane ride, dentist visit, or power outage.

Thanks to everyone who suggested and requested an update in CHM format, and to Simon Farr, Angela Patnode, and Craig Landis who helped to get it out the door. And who should you thank for the more than 100 updated files? Pat yourself on the back. More than 75% of the updates were generated in response to bugs filed on Connect, or e-mailed, sent on Facebook, or tweeted to me.

Who writes Windows PowerShell Help? We all do.

June Blender [MSFT]
Windows PowerShell Documentation
Connect: Connect.Microsoft.com\PowerShell
Twitter:  juneb_get_help