Import-Module from GAC for PowerShell Usage

Question

I have created a powershell module that works just fine if I load it like this

Import-Module "C:\temp\My.PowerShell.DocumentConversion.dll"

I did register the module in the global assembly cache as well but can't load it from there. I have verified that the module in fact is loaded in the gac. I figured that it would be sufficient to load the module like this

Import-Module My.PowerShell.DocumentConversion.dll

Obviously I was wrong, how do one do to run powershell modules from gac?

Answer 1

Try the Add-Type cmdlet:

Add-Type -Assembly My.PowerShell.DocumentConversion

If it's not working try the LoadWithPartialName method:

[System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName('My.PowerShell.DocumentConversion')

Or using the full path:

[System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadFile(...)

Answer 2

As long as the assembly is in the GAC, just use the strong name to reference the assembly. To get the path to the GAC be aware it has changed in .Net 4.0 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Assembly_Cache

$assemblyPath = 'path to the assembly file in the gac'
$fullName = [System.Reflection.AssemblyName]::GetAssemblyName($assemblyPath).FullName
[System.Reflection.Assembly]::Load($fullName)