Creating powershell modules from multiple files, referencing with module

Question

I creating a PowerShell script module using separate source files. What is the canonical way to reference source functions internal to the module from other internal source fil

Answer 1

Since I recently had to do this myself, I am sharing my solution. I have recently started grouping functions in psm1 files. These can be compiled into a single module with a single manifest.

This allows me to have groups of functions that can be packaged with multiple modules.

Write-BarFunctions.psm1

Function Write-Bar {
  return "Bar"
}

Function Write-Baz {
    return "Baz"
}

Write-FooFunctions.psm1

Function Write-Foo {
    return "Foo"
}

Function Write-FooBar {
    $foo = Write-Foo
    $bar = Write-Bar
    return ("{0}{1}" -f $foo, $bar)
}

Function Write-FooBarBaz {
    $foobar = Write-FooBar
    $baz = Write-Baz
    return ("{0}{1}" -f $foobar, $baz)
}

Which are combined into a single module like this: (formatted for readability)

New-ModuleManifest 
    -Path .\Write-FooBarBazCombos 
    -NestedModules @('.\FooFunctions\Write-FooFunctions.psm1', '.\BarFunctions\Write-BarFunctions.psm1') 
    -Guid (New-Guid) 
    -ModuleVersion '1.0.0.0' 
    -Description 'demonstrate multiple psm1 files as 1 powershell module with 1 powershell module manifest' 
    -PowerShellVersion $PSVersionTable.PSVersion.ToString() 
    -FunctionsToExport @('Write-Foo', 'Write-Bar','Write-FooBar', 'Write-FooBarBaz')

PowerShell output:

PS C:\LWC\scripting-misc\module-manifest-multiple-files-example> New-ModuleManifest -Path .\Write-FooBarBazCombos.psd1
-NestedModules @('.\Write-FooFunctions.psm1', '.\Write-BarFunctions.psm1') -Guid (New-Guid) -ModuleVersion '1.0.0.0' -D
escription 'demonstrate multiple psm1 files as 1 powershell module with 1 powershell module manifest' -PowerShellVersio
n $PSVersionTable.PSVersion.ToString() -FunctionsToExport @('Write-Foo', 'Write-Bar','Write-FooBar', 'Write-FooBarBaz')

PS C:\LWC\scripting-misc\module-manifest-multiple-files-example> Import-Module .\Write-FooBarBazCombos.psd1
PS C:\LWC\scripting-misc\module-manifest-multiple-files-example> Get-Command -Module Write-FooBarBazCombos

CommandType     Name                                               Version    Source
-----------     ----                                               -------    ------
Function        Write-Bar                                          1.0.0.0    Write-FooBarBazCombos
Function        Write-Foo                                          1.0.0.0    Write-FooBarBazCombos
Function        Write-FooBar                                       1.0.0.0    Write-FooBarBazCombos
Function        Write-FooBarBaz                                    1.0.0.0    Write-FooBarBazCombos

• note that Write-Baz is not exposed in the imported module as it is excluded from the FunctionsToExport parameter so Write-FooBarBaz will error (intentional to show behavior).

PS C:\LWC\scripting-misc\module-manifest-multiple-files-example> Write-FooBar
FooBar

What you're left with in the directory:

PS C:\LWC\scripting-misc\module-manifest-multiple-files-example> Get-ChildItem | Select-Object Name

Name
----
Write-BarFunctions.psm1
Write-FooBarBazCombos.psd1
Write-FooFunctions.psm1

Addendum - I expanded on this answer in another question - here:

https://stackoverflow.com/a/56171985/7710456