_OLD-SimpleFunctionTemplate-ArgsOnly.ps1

#region License ####################################################################
# Copyright 2025 Frank Lesniak
#
# Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this
# software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software
# without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify,
# merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to
# permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following
# conditions:
#
# The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies
# or substantial portions of the Software.
#
# THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,
# INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A
# PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT
# HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF
# CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE
# OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
#endregion License ####################################################################

# Function template version: 1.2.20250215.0

function Invoke-SimpleFunction {
    #region FunctionHeader #####################################################
    ################### PUT A DESCRIPTION OF THIS FUNCTION ON THE FOLLLOWING LINE; ADD LINES AS NECESSARY ###################
    # Description of Function
    #
    ################### DESCRIBE THE NUMBER OF POSITIONAL ARGUMENTS REQUIRED ###################
    # X positional arguments are required:
    #
    ################### DESCRIBE WHAT EACH ARGUMENT IS ###################
    # The first argument is a reference to a <object type> that will be used to
    # store output.
    #
    # The second argument is a string representing ...
    #
    # The third argument is an array of characters that represent ...
    #
    # The fourth argument is a boolean value that indicates whether ...
    #
    # The fifth argument is a boolean value that indicates whether ...
    #
    # The sixth argument is a string representation of ...
    #
    # The seventh argument is a boolean value that indicates whether ...
    #
    # If supplied, the eighth argument is a string representation of ...
    #
    ################### OR DESCRIBE THE FUNCTION PARAMETERS ###################
    # This function uses the following parameters:
    #
    ################### MODIFY THE FOLLOWING LINE TO DESCRIBE THE EXPECTED OUTPUT, WHICH SHOULD BE USED TO INDICATE SUCCESS OR FAILURE; ###################
    ################### $true/$false works well for a binary situation; otherwise an integer may be more appropriate with 0 indicating success ###################
    # The function returns $true if the process completed successfully; $false
    # otherwise
    #
    ################### PROVIDE EXAMPLE USAGE ###################
    # Example usage:
    # $hashtableConfigIni = $null
    # $intReturnCode = Invoke-SimpleFunction ([ref]$hashtableConfigIni) ".\config.ini" @(";") $true $true "NoSection" $true
    #
    ################### DESCRIBE THE FUNCTION'S VERSION ###################
    # Version: 1.0.YYYYMMDD.0
    #endregion FunctionHeader #####################################################

    #region License ############################################################
    # Copyright (c) 20xx First Last
    #
    # Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
    # of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
    # in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
    # to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
    # copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
    # furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
    #
    # The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
    # all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
    #
    # THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
    # IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
    # FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
    # AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
    # LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
    # OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
    # SOFTWARE.
    #endregion License ############################################################

    #region Acknowledgements ###################################################
    ################### GIVE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO ANYONE ELSE THAT CONTRIBUTED AND INCLUDE ORIGINAL LICENSE IF APPLICABLE ###################
    # This function is derived from Get-FooInfo at the website:
    # https://github.com/foo/foo
    # retrieved on YYYY-MM-DD
    #endregion Acknowledgements ###################################################

    #region Original Licenses ##################################################
    ################### INCLUDE ORIGINAL LICENSE FROM DERIVED WORKS IF APPLICABLE ###################
    # Although substantial modifications have been made, the original portions of
    # Get-FooInfo that are incorporated into Invoke-SimpleFunction are subject to
    # the following license:
    #
    # Copyright 20xx First Last
    #
    # Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
    # of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
    # in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
    # to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
    # copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
    # furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
    #
    # The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
    # all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
    #
    # THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
    # IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
    # FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
    # AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
    # LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
    # OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
    # SOFTWARE.
    #endregion Original Licenses ##################################################

    #region FunctionsToSupportErrorHandling ####################################
    function Get-ReferenceToLastError {
        # .SYNOPSIS
        # Gets a reference (memory pointer) to the last error that
        # occurred.
        #
        # .DESCRIPTION
        # Returns a reference (memory pointer) to $null ([ref]$null) if no
        # errors on on the $error stack; otherwise, returns a reference to
        # the last error that occurred.
        #
        # .EXAMPLE
        # # Intentionally empty trap statement to prevent terminating
        # # errors from halting processing
        # trap { }
        #
        # # Retrieve the newest error on the stack prior to doing work:
        # $refLastKnownError = Get-ReferenceToLastError
        #
        # # Store current error preference; we will restore it after we do
        # # some work:
        # $actionPreferenceFormerErrorPreference = $global:ErrorActionPreference
        #
        # # Set ErrorActionPreference to SilentlyContinue; this will suppress
        # # error output. Terminating errors will not output anything, kick
        # # to the empty trap statement and then continue on. Likewise, non-
        # # terminating errors will also not output anything, but they do not
        # # kick to the trap statement; they simply continue on.
        # $global:ErrorActionPreference = [System.Management.Automation.ActionPreference]::SilentlyContinue
        #
        # # Do something that might trigger an error
        # Get-Item -Path 'C:\MayNotExist.txt'
        #
        # # Restore the former error preference
        # $global:ErrorActionPreference = $actionPreferenceFormerErrorPreference
        #
        # # Retrieve the newest error on the error stack
        # $refNewestCurrentError = Get-ReferenceToLastError
        #
        # $boolErrorOccurred = $false
        # if (($null -ne $refLastKnownError.Value) -and ($null -ne $refNewestCurrentError.Value)) {
        #     # Both not $null
        #     if (($refLastKnownError.Value) -ne ($refNewestCurrentError.Value)) {
        #         $boolErrorOccurred = $true
        #     }
        # } else {
        #     # One is $null, or both are $null
        #     # NOTE: $refLastKnownError could be non-null, while
        #     # $refNewestCurrentError could be null if $error was cleared;
        #     # this does not indicate an error.
        #     #
        #     # So:
        #     # If both are null, no error.
        #     # If $refLastKnownError is null and $refNewestCurrentError is
        #     # non-null, error.
        #     # If $refLastKnownError is non-null and $refNewestCurrentError
        #     # is null, no error.
        #     #
        #     if (($null -eq $refLastKnownError.Value) -and ($null -ne $refNewestCurrentError.Value)) {
        #         $boolErrorOccurred = $true
        #     }
        # }
        #
        # .INPUTS
        # None. You can't pipe objects to Get-ReferenceToLastError.
        #
        # .OUTPUTS
        # System.Management.Automation.PSReference ([ref]).
        # Get-ReferenceToLastError returns a reference (memory pointer) to
        # the last error that occurred. It returns a reference to $null
        # ([ref]$null) if there are no errors on on the $error stack.
        #
        # .NOTES
        # Version: 2.0.20250215.0

        #region License ################################################
        # Copyright (c) 2025 Frank Lesniak
        #
        # Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person
        # obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation
        # files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without
        # restriction, including without limitation the rights to use,
        # copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
        # copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
        # Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following
        # conditions:
        #
        # The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be
        # included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
        #
        # THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
        # EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES
        # OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND
        # NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT
        # HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY,
        # WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
        # FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR
        # OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
        #endregion License ################################################

        if ($Error.Count -gt 0) {
            return ([ref]($Error[0]))
        } else {
            return ([ref]$null)
        }
    }

    function Test-ErrorOccurred {
        # .SYNOPSIS
        # Checks to see if an error occurred during a time period, i.e.,
        # during the execution of a command.
        #
        # .DESCRIPTION
        # Using two references (memory pointers) to errors, this function
        # checks to see if an error occurred based on differences between
        # the two errors.
        #
        # To use this function, you must first retrieve a reference to the
        # last error that occurred prior to the command you are about to
        # run. Then, run the command. After the command completes, retrieve
        # a reference to the last error that occurred. Pass these two
        # references to this function to determine if an error occurred.
        #
        # .PARAMETER ReferenceToEarlierError
        # This parameter is required; it is a reference (memory pointer) to
        # a System.Management.Automation.ErrorRecord that represents the
        # newest error on the stack earlier in time, i.e., prior to running
        # the command for which you wish to determine whether an error
        # occurred.
        #
        # If no error was on the stack at this time,
        # ReferenceToEarlierError must be a reference to $null
        # ([ref]$null).
        #
        # .PARAMETER ReferenceToLaterError
        # This parameter is required; it is a reference (memory pointer) to
        # a System.Management.Automation.ErrorRecord that represents the
        # newest error on the stack later in time, i.e., after to running
        # the command for which you wish to determine whether an error
        # occurred.
        #
        # If no error was on the stack at this time, ReferenceToLaterError
        # must be a reference to $null ([ref]$null).
        #
        # .EXAMPLE
        # # Intentionally empty trap statement to prevent terminating
        # # errors from halting processing
        # trap { }
        #
        # # Retrieve the newest error on the stack prior to doing work
        # if ($Error.Count -gt 0) {
        #     $refLastKnownError = ([ref]($Error[0]))
        # } else {
        #     $refLastKnownError = ([ref]$null)
        # }
        #
        # # Store current error preference; we will restore it after we do
        # # some work:
        # $actionPreferenceFormerErrorPreference = $global:ErrorActionPreference
        #
        # # Set ErrorActionPreference to SilentlyContinue; this will
        # # suppress error output. Terminating errors will not output
        # # anything, kick to the empty trap statement and then continue
        # # on. Likewise, non- terminating errors will also not output
        # # anything, but they do not kick to the trap statement; they
        # # simply continue on.
        # $global:ErrorActionPreference = [System.Management.Automation.ActionPreference]::SilentlyContinue
        #
        # # Do something that might trigger an error
        # Get-Item -Path 'C:\MayNotExist.txt'
        #
        # # Restore the former error preference
        # $global:ErrorActionPreference = $actionPreferenceFormerErrorPreference
        #
        # # Retrieve the newest error on the error stack
        # if ($Error.Count -gt 0) {
        #     $refNewestCurrentError = ([ref]($Error[0]))
        # } else {
        #     $refNewestCurrentError = ([ref]$null)
        # }
        #
        # if (Test-ErrorOccurred -ReferenceToEarlierError $refLastKnownError -ReferenceToLaterError $refNewestCurrentError) {
        #     # Error occurred
        # } else {
        #     # No error occurred
        # }
        #
        # .INPUTS
        # None. You can't pipe objects to Test-ErrorOccurred.
        #
        # .OUTPUTS
        # System.Boolean. Test-ErrorOccurred returns a boolean value
        # indicating whether an error occurred during the time period in
        # question. $true indicates an error occurred; $false indicates no
        # error occurred.
        #
        # .NOTES
        # This function also supports the use of positional parameters
        # instead of named parameters. If positional parameters are used
        # instead of named parameters, then two positional parameters are
        # required:
        #
        # The first positional parameter is a reference (memory pointer) to
        # a System.Management.Automation.ErrorRecord that represents the
        # newest error on the stack earlier in time, i.e., prior to running
        # the command for which you wish to determine whether an error
        # occurred. If no error was on the stack at this time, the first
        # positional parameter must be a reference to $null ([ref]$null).
        #
        # The second positional parameter is a reference (memory pointer)
        # to a System.Management.Automation.ErrorRecord that represents the
        # newest error on the stack later in time, i.e., after to running
        # the command for which you wish to determine whether an error
        # occurred. If no error was on the stack at this time,
        # ReferenceToLaterError must be a reference to $null ([ref]$null).
        #
        # Version: 2.0.20250215.0

        #region License ################################################
        # Copyright (c) 2025 Frank Lesniak
        #
        # Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person
        # obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation
        # files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without
        # restriction, including without limitation the rights to use,
        # copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
        # copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
        # Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following
        # conditions:
        #
        # The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be
        # included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
        #
        # THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
        # EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES
        # OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND
        # NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT
        # HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY,
        # WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
        # FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR
        # OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
        #endregion License ################################################
        param (
            [ref]$ReferenceToEarlierError = ([ref]$null),
            [ref]$ReferenceToLaterError = ([ref]$null)
        )

        # TODO: Validate input

        $boolErrorOccurred = $false
        if (($null -ne $ReferenceToEarlierError.Value) -and ($null -ne $ReferenceToLaterError.Value)) {
            # Both not $null
            if (($ReferenceToEarlierError.Value) -ne ($ReferenceToLaterError.Value)) {
                $boolErrorOccurred = $true
            }
        } else {
            # One is $null, or both are $null
            # NOTE: $ReferenceToEarlierError could be non-null, while
            # $ReferenceToLaterError could be null if $error was cleared;
            # this does not indicate an error.
            # So:
            # - If both are null, no error.
            # - If $ReferenceToEarlierError is null and
            #   $ReferenceToLaterError is non-null, error.
            # - If $ReferenceToEarlierError is non-null and
            #   $ReferenceToLaterError is null, no error.
            if (($null -eq $ReferenceToEarlierError.Value) -and ($null -ne $ReferenceToLaterError.Value)) {
                $boolErrorOccurred = $true
            }
        }

        return $boolErrorOccurred
    }
    #endregion FunctionsToSupportErrorHandling ####################################

    trap {
        # Intentionally left empty to prevent terminating errors from halting
        # processing
    }

    ################### ASSIGN EACH POSITIONAL ARGUMENT TO A VARIABLE TO AVOID SCOPING ISSUES ###################
    $refOutput = $args[0]
    $strFilePath = $args[1]

    ################### IF WARRANTED, VALIDATE INPUT HERE ###################

    ################### THE FOLLOWING LINES CONTROL SIMPLE ERROR/WARNING/VERBOSE/ETC OUTPUT; REPLACE OR DELETE AS NECESSARY ###################

    ################### REPLACE THIS WITH A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THIS FUNCTION IS DOING; IT'S USED IN ERROR/WARNING OUTPUT ###################
    $strDescriptionOfWhatWeAreDoingInThisFunction = "getting some data"

    ################### SET THIS TO $true IF YOU WANT TO OUTPUT A NON-TERMINATING ERROR (Write-Error) WHEN THE FUNCTION RUNS OUT OF RETRIES AND GIVES UP ###################
    $boolOutputErrorOnError = $false

    ################### SET THIS TO $false IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO OUTPUT A WARNING (Write-Warning) WHEN THE FUNCTION RUNS OUT OF RETRIES AND GIVES UP ###################
    $boolOutputWarningOnError = $false

    ################### SET THIS TO $true IF YOU WANT TO OUTPUT VERBOSE INFORMATION (Write-Verbose) WHEN THE FUNCTION RUNS OUT OF RETRIES AND GIVES UP ###################
    $boolOutputVerboseOnError = $false

    ################### SET THIS TO $true IF YOU WANT TO OUTPUT DEBUGGING INFORMATION (Write-Debug) WHEN THE FUNCTION RUNS OUT OF RETRIES AND GIVES UP ###################
    $boolOutputDebugOnError = $false

    ################### PLACE ANY RELIABLE CODE HERE THAT SETS UP THE REAL WORK WE ARE DOING IN THIS FUNCTION ###################
    # <Placeholder>

    # Retrieve the newest error on the stack prior to doing work
    $refLastKnownError = Get-ReferenceToLastError

    # Store current error preference; we will restore it after we do the work of
    # this function
    $actionPreferenceFormerErrorPreference = $global:ErrorActionPreference

    # Set ErrorActionPreference to SilentlyContinue; this will suppress error
    # output. Terminating errors will not output anything, kick to the empty trap
    # statement and then continue on. Likewise, non-terminating errors will also
    # not output anything, but they do not kick to the trap statement; they simply
    # continue on.
    $global:ErrorActionPreference = [System.Management.Automation.ActionPreference]::SilentlyContinue

    # Do the work of this function...
    ################### REPLACE THE FOLLOWING LINE WITH WHATEVER REQUIRES ERROR HANDLING. WHATEVER YOU PLACE HERE MUST BE A ONE-LINER FOR ERROR HANDLING TO WORK CORRECTLY! ###################
    $output = @(Get-DataFromSampleUnreliableCmdlet $strFilePath)

    # Restore the former error preference
    $global:ErrorActionPreference = $actionPreferenceFormerErrorPreference

    # Retrieve the newest error on the error stack
    $refNewestCurrentError = Get-ReferenceToLastError

    if (Test-ErrorOccurred -ReferenceToEarlierError $refLastKnownError -ReferenceToLaterError $refNewestCurrentError) {
        # Error occurred
        if ($boolOutputErrorOnError) {
            Write-Error ("An error occurred " + $strDescriptionOfWhatWeAreDoingInThisFunction + ".")
        } elseif ($boolOutputWarningOnError) {
            Write-Warning ("An error occurred " + $strDescriptionOfWhatWeAreDoingInThisFunction + ".")
        } elseif ($boolOutputVerboseOnError) {
            Write-Verbose ("An error occurred " + $strDescriptionOfWhatWeAreDoingInThisFunction + ".")
        } elseif ($boolOutputDebugOnError) {
            Write-Debug ("An error occurred " + $strDescriptionOfWhatWeAreDoingInThisFunction + ".")
        }

        ################### PLACE ANY RELIABLE CODE HERE THAT NEEDS TO RUN AFTER THE WORK IN THIS FUNCTION WAS *NOT* SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED ###################
        # <Placeholder>

        # Return failure indicator:
        ################### UPDATE WITH WHATEVER WE WANT TO RETURN INDICATING A FAILURE ###################
        return $false
    } else {
        # No error occurred
        ################### PLACE ANY RELIABLE CODE HERE THAT NEEDS TO RUN AFTER THE WORK IN THIS FUNCTION WAS SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED BUT BEFORE THE OUTPUT OBJECT IS COPIED ###################
        # <Placeholder>

        # Return data by reference:
        $refOutput.Value = $output

        ################### PLACE ANY RELIABLE CODE HERE THAT NEEDS TO RUN AFTER THE WORK IN THIS FUNCTION WAS SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED AND AFTER THE OUTPUT OBJECT IS COPIED ###################
        # <Placeholder>

        # Return success indicator:
        ################### UPDATE WITH WHATEVER WE WANT TO RETURN INDICATING A SUCCESS ###################
        return $true
    }
}