By Steve Endow
UPDATE: If you're interested in a convenient way to run the BcContainerHelper PowerShell commands, check out
Krzysztof's Azure Data Studio Notebook with sample BcContainerHelper commands. Jupyter Notebooks are a great way to include documentation and commands in a single convenient format.
I previously wrote about creating a simple scheduled task to automatically update NavContainerHelper.
While that simple script does work, it didn't have any logging or notification. I never knew when NavContainerHelper was updated.
I recently created a fancier PowerShell script to automatically build my Business Central Docker Containers every day, and while working on that script, I learned how to record elapsed time, log all activity, and send an email notification.
Based on that new learning, I wanted to upgrade the script that updates NavContainerHelper.
I wanted logging, elapsed time, and email notification if NavContainerHelper was updated to a new version.
 |
| Email notification when an update occurs |
Here's what I came up with. You'll need to adjust the file paths and email address, and generate your own email password file.
If you think of any other features the update could have, let me know!
#v2.0 - August 1, 2020
#
$server = $env:COMPUTERNAME
#Define date values
$simpleDate = Get-Date -Format "M/d/yy"
$dateTime = Get-Date -Format "M/d/yy HH:mm"
$fileDateTime = Get-Date -Format "yyyy-MM-dd HHmm"
$body = ""
$message = ""
$updated = $false
#Specify file location for activity transcript log file
$transcriptFile = "D:\BCPowerShell\Logs\" + $fileDateTime + " " + $server + " NavContainerHelper Update Log.txt"
#Start recording transcript
Start-Transcript -Path $transcriptFile
#Record the start time
$StartTime = $(get-date)
#Define email configuration
$emailFrom = "email@gmail.com"
$emailTo = "email@gmail.com"
$smtpServer = "smtp.gmail.com"
$port = "587"
#Email password file created using: Read-Host -AsSecureString | ConvertFrom-SecureString | Out-File -FilePath D:\BCPowerShell\Gmail.securestring
$passwordFile = "D:\BCPowerShell\Gmail.securestring"
$securePassword = ConvertTo-SecureString (Get-Content -Path $passwordFile)
$smtpCred = New-Object -TypeName PSCredential ($emailFrom, $securePassword)
$subject = $server + ": " + $simpleDate + " NavContainerHelper Update Log";
$started = "Start time: " + $StartTime
$body += $started + "`n`n"
#Define the module name
$moduleName = 'NavContainerHelper'
#Get currently installed version
$currentVersion = (Get-InstalledModule $moduleName).Version.ToString()
#Get the latest version available
$latestVersion = (Find-Module $moduleName).Version.ToString()
#If we don't have the latest version installed
If ($currentVersion -ne $latestVersion)
{
$message = "Current version: " + $currentVersion + " Latest version: " + $latestVersion;
$message += "`n`nUpdating to version " + $latestVersion;
#Remove existing version(s)
Uninstall-Module $moduleName -Force -AllVersions
#Install latest version
Install-Module $moduleName -Force
$updated = $true;
#Verify version number
$currentVersion = (Get-InstalledModule $moduleName).Version.ToString()
$message += "`nUpdate complete";
$message += "`nCurrent version is now " + $currentVersion;
$body += "`n" + $message;
Write-Output $message
}
Else
{
#If we are on the latest version, log that info
$message = "You are on the latest version of " + $moduleName + ": " + $currentVersion;
Write-Output $message
}
#Record end time
$EndTime = $(get-date)
$output = "`nEnd time: " + $EndTime
$body += "`n" + $output
Write-Output $output
#Calculate elapsed time
$elapsedTime = $EndTime - $StartTime
$totalTime = "{0:HH:mm:ss}" -f ([datetime]$elapsedTime.Ticks)
$output = "Elapsed time: " + $totalTime
$body += "`n" + $output
Write-Output $output
$body += "`n`nFull log file is attached"
#Finish the transcript recording
#The Transcript must be stopped before trying to send the email,
#otherwise the log file will be locked, causing the email to fail
Stop-Transcript
if ($updated)
{
#Send the email
Send-MailMessage -From $emailFrom -To $emailTo `
-Subject $subject `
-Body $body `
-Attachments $transcriptFile `
-SmtpServer $smtpServer `
-Credential $smtpCred `
-Port $port `
-UseSsl
}
Steve Endow is a Microsoft MVP in Los Angeles. He works with Dynamics 365 Business Central, Microsoft Power Automate, Power Apps, Azure, .NET, Dynamics GP, and SQL Server.
You can also find him on Twitter and YouTube
https://www.precipioservices.com
