how-to-create-a-formatting-file-format-ps1xml.md

description	How to Create a Formatting File (Format.ps1xml)
ms.date	12/26/2025
title	How to Create a Formatting File (Format.ps1xml)

How to Create a Formatting File (Format.ps1xml)

This topic describes how to create a formatting file (Format.ps1xml).

Note

You can also create a formatting file by making a copy of one of the files provided by Windows PowerShell. To protect the users of your Format.ps1xml file, sign the file using a digital signature. For more information, see about_Signing.

Create a Format.ps1xml file

1. Open a new text file using a text editor such as Visual Studio Code.

2. Copy the following lines into the formatting file.

   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
   <Configuration>
   <ViewDefinitions>
   </ViewDefinitions>
   </Configuration>

   • The <Configuration></Configuration> tags define the root Configuration node. All additional XML tags will be enclosed within this node.

   • The <ViewDefinitions></ViewDefinitions> tags define the ViewDefinitions node. All views are defined within this node.

3. Save the file to a folder of your choice. If you are writing a module, save the file to a subfolder of the module folder. Use the following name format when you save the file: MyFile.Format.ps1xml. Formatting files must use the .ps1xml extension.

   You are now ready to add views to the formatting file. There is no limit to the number of views that can be defined in a formatting file. You can add a single view for each object, multiple views for the same object, or a single view that is used by multiple objects.

See also

• Formatting File Overview
• Formatting File Concepts