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external help file ISpy.dll-Help.xml
Module Name ISpy
online version https://github.com/trackd/ISpy/blob/main/docs/en-US
schema 2.0.0

Expand-Type

SYNOPSIS

Resolves methods, cmdlets, and types from pipeline input and streams decompiled C# source for the resolved members.

SYNTAX

Expand-Type [[-InputObject] <PSObject>] [-Path <String>] [-TypeName <String>] [-MethodName <String>] [-Metadata] [-IncludeXml] [-Settings <DecompilerSettings>] [-Decompiler <CSharpDecompiler>] [<CommonParameters>]

DESCRIPTION

Expand-Type accepts a variety of inputs from the pipeline and resolves them to types or method targets for decompilation. Supported input forms include System.Reflection.MethodBase, PSMethod (method group adapters), CommandInfo (cmdlet/alias), Type, delegates, and collections of these objects. When method targets are identified the cmdlet decompiles them (grouping by assembly when appropriate) and emits the resulting C# source.

This cmdlet is useful for interactively inspecting implementations discovered via tab-completion, Get-Command, Get-ChildItem, or other pipeline-producing commands.

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Decompile a method group

[math]::Truncate | Expand-Type

Resolves the Truncate overloads on System.Math and prints the decompiled C# bodies for the overloads.

Example 2: Decompile a cmdlet implementation

Get-Command Get-ChildItem | Expand-Type

Resolves the implementing type for the cmdlet and decompiles the relevant methods.

Example 3: Decompile a specific type from an assembly

Expand-Type -Path "C:\libs\MyLib.dll" -TypeName "MyNamespace.MyClass"

Decompiles the specified type from the provided assembly.

Example 3b: Decompile a loaded type without an assembly path

Expand-Type -TypeName "System.Management.Automation.LanguagePrimitives"

Resolves the type from loaded assemblies in the current PowerShell process and decompiles it.

Example 4: Emit metadata

[math]::Round | Expand-Type -Metadata

Emits a metadata object describing the resolved assembly path, declaring type, method names and metadata tokens, and does not print the source when -Metadata is specified.

Example 5: Include XML documentation comments

[System.Management.Automation.Host.PSHostUserInterface]::GetFormatStyleString | Expand-Type -IncludeXml

Includes XML documentation comments in the emitted decompiled source. By default, XML comments are not included.

PARAMETERS

-InputObject

The input object to resolve. Accepts PSObject, MethodBase, PSMethod, CommandInfo, Type, delegates, and collections of these. Accepts pipeline input by value.

Type: PSObject
Required: False
Position: 0
Accept pipeline input: True (ByValue)

-Path

Path to the assembly that contains the target type. When provided the cmdlet will resolve types and methods against the specified assembly path. Alias: PSPath, Path.

Type: String
Required: False
Position: Named
Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)

-TypeName

Full name of the type that contains the target method (for explicit lookups) or the type to decompile when -MethodName is not specified.

Type: String
Required: False
Position: Named

-MethodName

Method name to filter overloads by. If omitted, the cmdlet will decompile the resolved type (when available) or all resolved method targets.

Type: String
Required: False
Position: Named

-Metadata

When present, emits a metadata object (assembly path, declaring type, method names, metadata tokens) alongside the source text.

Type: SwitchParameter
Required: False

-IncludeXml

When present, includes XML documentation comments in decompiled output. By default, XML comments are omitted.

Type: SwitchParameter
Required: False

-Settings

Custom DecompilerSettings used when creating decompiler instances for decompilation.

When -Settings or -Decompiler is provided, Expand-Type emits the raw decompiler output and does not apply additional post-processing (for example, using-directive removal or header comment shaping).

Type: DecompilerSettings
Required: False
Position: Named

-Decompiler

Custom CSharpDecompiler instance to use instead of creating one from path-based defaults.

Type: CSharpDecompiler
Required: False
Position: Named

INPUTS

System.Object (various) — accepts method, type, command, and PS adapter objects from the pipeline.

OUTPUTS

  • Default: System.String — When called without -Metadata the cmdlet emits the decompiled C# source as plain text so it can be piped to formatters or renderers.
  • Metadata: ISpy.Models.ISpyDecompilationResult — When -Metadata is used the cmdlet emits an ISpyDecompilationResult object containing AssemblyPath, TypeName, MethodNames, MetadataTokens, Source (if present), and other metadata.

NOTES

  • The cmdlet attempts ergonomic resolution of common PowerShell pipeline objects (PSMethod, CommandInfo, MethodBase, Type).
  • When multiple method targets are resolved from the input the cmdlet groups them by assembly and performs a single decompiler pass per assembly for efficient output and to avoid repeated using directives.

RELATED LINKS

Get-DecompiledSource