Learn how to use Powershell with AD, Exchange and Excel

Question

Hi.
I want to learn how to script in Powershell to make my life easier at work.
Now, I'm creating Distribution Lists with cmdlets, and other simple moves, but I'd like understand and use scripts with Excel to make it easier in AD and Exchange.
Can anyone help me find out where I can learn Powershell with those tools? I've searched google and youtube, and bought books, but I'd like to learn especially about AD and Exchange through Excel.
I also have another question, I'm trying to collect the telephonenumbers in one OU in AD, and found this cmdlet:
Get-AdUser -Filter * -Properties OfficePhone | FT OfficePhone,UserPrincipalName
I lined ut the OU path before -Filter, and used * -Properties Telephones Mobile to find the phonenumber in Properties-Telephones-Mobile in Active Directory. But I'm obviously doing something wrong.
Could anyone please help me? 

Answer 1

Hi Wezcomp,
first of all, you can use Get-Help to learn how to use Cmdlets, by asking them what it is they do:
Get-Help Get-ADUser -Detailed
By Adding the -Detailed Parameter, it will explain each Parameter of Get-ADUser and what it does. Then it will show you examples on how to use the cmdlet. Very useful tool,
Get-Help, learning to use it fully ought to be your first step, as this unlocks your access all other aspects of PowerShell. With that tool in hand, you could theoretically do the rest fully autodidactically (would be frustrating though, since you'd
like to be able to do something specific right now. Don't worry, we'll gladly help anyone truly trying to learn.).
There are lots of tutorials out there that can be useful in a general way (I added my own here). But regarding Excel:
As Fausto said, CSVs are the simple most way to do this. I'd advice against delving too deep into Excel manipulation right now (lots of frustration, little immediate rewards), Csv is your friend. Notable Commands:
Import-Csv
Export-Csv
For example, if you want to create a csv list with user data in it, using your previous example, you can do this:
Get-ADUser -Filter "*" -Properties OfficePhone | Export-Csv "C:\example\users.csv" -NoTypeInformation
By the way: FT (Format-Table) is a treacherous command: It displays objects to the console, but it is a dead end where data is concerned! Only use it when you want to check something quick on the console (like whether you got the right data), before
continuing on without using a Format command.
Cheers,
Fred
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