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[release/v7.4] Mark flaky Update-Help web tests as pending to unblock CI (#26805)
Co-authored-by: Copilot <198982749+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: TravisEz13 <10873629+TravisEz13@users.noreply.github.com>
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‎.github/instructions/pester-set-itresult-pattern.instructions.md‎

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---
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applyTo:
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- "**/*.Tests.ps1"
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---
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# Pester Set-ItResult Pattern for Pending and Skipped Tests
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## Purpose
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This instruction explains when and how to use `Set-ItResult` in Pester tests to mark tests as Pending or Skipped dynamically within test execution.
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## When to Use Set-ItResult
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Use `Set-ItResult` when you need to conditionally mark a test as Pending or Skipped based on runtime conditions that can't be determined at test definition time.
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### Pending vs Skipped
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**Pending**: Use for tests that should be enabled but temporarily can't run due to:
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- Intermittent external service failures (network, APIs)
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- Known bugs being fixed
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- Missing features being implemented
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- Environmental issues that are being resolved
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**Skipped**: Use for tests that aren't applicable to the current environment:
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- Platform-specific tests running on wrong platform
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- Tests requiring specific hardware/configuration not present
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- Tests requiring elevated permissions when not available
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- Feature-specific tests when feature is disabled
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## Pattern
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### Basic Usage
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```powershell
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It "Test description" {
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if ($shouldBePending) {
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Set-ItResult -Pending -Because "Explanation of why test is pending"
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return
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}
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if ($shouldBeSkipped) {
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Set-ItResult -Skipped -Because "Explanation of why test is skipped"
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return
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}
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# Test code here
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}
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```
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### Important: Always Return After Set-ItResult
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After calling `Set-ItResult`, you **must** return from the test to prevent further execution:
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```powershell
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It "Test that checks environment" {
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if ($env:SKIP_TESTS -eq 'true') {
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Set-ItResult -Skipped -Because "SKIP_TESTS environment variable is set"
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return # This is required!
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}
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# Test assertions
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$result | Should -Be $expected
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}
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```
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**Why?** Without `return`, the test continues executing and may fail with errors unrelated to the pending/skipped condition.
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## Examples from the Codebase
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### Example 1: Pending for Intermittent Network Issues
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```powershell
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It "Validate Update-Help for module" {
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if ($markAsPending) {
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Set-ItResult -Pending -Because "Update-Help from the web has intermittent connectivity issues. See issues #2807 and #6541."
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return
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}
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Update-Help -Module $moduleName -Force
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# validation code...
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}
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```
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### Example 2: Skipped for Missing Environment
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```powershell
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It "Test requires CI environment" {
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if (-not $env:CI) {
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Set-ItResult -Skipped -Because "Test requires CI environment to safely install Pester"
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return
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}
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Install-CIPester -ErrorAction Stop
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}
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```
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### Example 3: Pending for Platform-Specific Issue
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```powershell
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It "Clear-Host works correctly" {
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if ($IsARM64) {
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Set-ItResult -Pending -Because "ARM64 runs in non-interactively mode and Clear-Host does not work."
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return
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}
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& { Clear-Host; 'hi' } | Should -BeExactly 'hi'
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}
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```
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### Example 4: Skipped for Missing Feature
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```powershell
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It "Test ACR authentication" {
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if ($env:ACRTESTS -ne 'true') {
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Set-ItResult -Skipped -Because "The tests require the ACRTESTS environment variable to be set to 'true' for ACR authentication."
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return
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}
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$psgetModuleInfo = Find-PSResource -Name $ACRTestModule -Repository $ACRRepositoryName
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# test assertions...
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}
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```
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## Alternative: Static -Skip and -Pending Parameters
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For conditions that can be determined at test definition time, use the static parameters instead:
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```powershell
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# Static skip - condition known at definition time
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It "Windows-only test" -Skip:(-not $IsWindows) {
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# test code
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}
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# Static pending - always pending
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It "Test for feature being implemented" -Pending {
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# test code that will fail until feature is done
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}
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```
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**Use Set-ItResult when**:
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- Condition depends on runtime state
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- Condition is determined inside a helper function
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- Need to check multiple conditions sequentially
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**Use static parameters when**:
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- Condition is known at test definition
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- Condition doesn't change during test run
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- Want Pester to show the condition in test discovery
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## Best Practices
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1. **Always include -Because parameter** with a clear explanation
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2. **Always return after Set-ItResult** to prevent further execution
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3. **Reference issues or documentation** when relevant (e.g., "See issue #1234")
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4. **Be specific in the reason** - explain what's wrong and what's needed
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5. **Use Pending sparingly** - it indicates a problem that should be fixed
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6. **Prefer Skipped over Pending** when test truly isn't applicable
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## Common Mistakes
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### ❌ Mistake 1: Forgetting to Return
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```powershell
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It "Test" {
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if ($condition) {
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Set-ItResult -Pending -Because "Reason"
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# Missing return - test code will still execute!
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}
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$value | Should -Be $expected # This runs and fails
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}
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```
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### ❌ Mistake 2: Vague Reason
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```powershell
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Set-ItResult -Pending -Because "Doesn't work" # Too vague
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```
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### ✅ Correct:
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```powershell
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It "Test" {
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if ($condition) {
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Set-ItResult -Pending -Because "Update-Help has intermittent network timeouts. See issue #2807."
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return
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}
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$value | Should -Be $expected
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}
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```
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## See Also
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- [Pester Documentation: Set-ItResult](https://pester.dev/docs/commands/Set-ItResult)
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- [Pester Documentation: It](https://pester.dev/docs/commands/It)
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- Examples in the codebase:
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- `test/powershell/Host/ConsoleHost.Tests.ps1`
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- `test/infrastructure/ciModule.Tests.ps1`
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- `tools/packaging/releaseTests/sbom.tests.ps1`

‎test/powershell/engine/Help/UpdatableHelpSystem.Tests.ps1‎

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@@ -191,7 +191,8 @@ function RunUpdateHelpTests
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param (
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[string]$tag = "CI",
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[switch]$useSourcePath,
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[switch]$userscope
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[switch]$userscope,
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[switch]$markAsPending
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)
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foreach ($moduleName in $modulesInBox)
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It ('Validate Update-Help for module ''{0}'' in {1}' -F $moduleName, [PSCustomObject] $updateScope) -Skip:(!(Test-CanWriteToPsHome) -and $userscope -eq $false) {
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if ($markAsPending) {
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Set-ItResult -Pending -Because "Update-Help from the web has intermittent connectivity issues. See issues #2807 and #6541."
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return
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}
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# Delete the whole help directory
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Remove-Item ($moduleHelpPath) -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
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[hashtable] $UICultureParam = $(if ((Get-UICulture).Name -ne $myUICulture) { @{ UICulture = $myUICulture } } else { @{} })
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[hashtable] $sourcePathParam = $(if ($useSourcePath) { @{ SourcePath = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot assets } } else { @{} })
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Update-Help -Module:$moduleName -Force @UICultureParam @sourcePathParam -Scope:$updateScope -ErrorAction Stop
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Update-Help -Module:$moduleName -Force @UICultureParam @sourcePathParam -Scope:$updateScope
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[hashtable] $userScopeParam = $(if ($userscope) { @{ UserScope = $true } } else { @{} })
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ValidateInstalledHelpContent -moduleName:$moduleName @userScopeParam
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{
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try
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{
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$saveHelpFolder = Join-Path $TestDrive (Get-Random).ToString()
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New-Item $saveHelpFolder -Force -ItemType Directory > $null
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$saveHelpFolder = if ($TestDrive) {
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Join-Path $TestDrive (Get-Random).ToString()
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} else {
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$null
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}
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if ($saveHelpFolder) {
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New-Item $saveHelpFolder -Force -ItemType Directory > $null
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}
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## Save help has intermittent connectivity issues for downloading PackageManagement help content.
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## Hence the test has been marked as Pending.
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}
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finally
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{
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Remove-Item $saveHelpFolder -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Recurse
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if ($saveHelpFolder) {
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Remove-Item $saveHelpFolder -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Recurse
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}
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}
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}
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}
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$ProgressPreference = $SavedProgressPreference
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}
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RunUpdateHelpTests -Tag "CI"
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## Update-Help from the web has intermittent connectivity issues that cause CI failures.
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## Tests are marked as Pending to unblock work. See issues #2807 and #6541.
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RunUpdateHelpTests -Tag "CI" -MarkAsPending
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}
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Describe "Validate Update-Help from the Web for one PowerShell module for user scope." -Tags @('CI', 'RequireAdminOnWindows', 'RequireSudoOnUnix') {
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$ProgressPreference = $SavedProgressPreference
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}
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RunUpdateHelpTests -Tag "CI" -UserScope
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## Update-Help from the web has intermittent connectivity issues that cause CI failures.
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## Tests are marked as Pending to unblock work. See issues #2807 and #6541.
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RunUpdateHelpTests -Tag "CI" -UserScope -MarkAsPending
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}
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Describe "Validate Update-Help from the Web for all PowerShell modules." -Tags @('Feature', 'RequireAdminOnWindows', 'RequireSudoOnUnix') {
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$ProgressPreference = $SavedProgressPreference
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}
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RunUpdateHelpTests -Tag "Feature"
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RunUpdateHelpTests -Tag "Feature" -MarkAsPending
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}
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Describe "Validate Update-Help from the Web for all PowerShell modules for user scope." -Tags @('Feature', 'RequireAdminOnWindows', 'RequireSudoOnUnix') {
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$ProgressPreference = $SavedProgressPreference
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}
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RunUpdateHelpTests -Tag "Feature" -UserScope
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RunUpdateHelpTests -Tag "Feature" -UserScope -MarkAsPending
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}
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Describe "Validate Update-Help -SourcePath for one PowerShell module." -Tags @('CI', 'RequireAdminOnWindows', 'RequireSudoOnUnix') {
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$ProgressPreference = $SavedProgressPreference
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}
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RunUpdateHelpTests -Tag "CI" -useSourcePath
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RunUpdateHelpTests -Tag "CI" -useSourcePath -MarkAsPending
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}
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Describe "Validate Update-Help -SourcePath for one PowerShell module for user scope." -Tags @('CI', 'RequireAdminOnWindows', 'RequireSudoOnUnix') {
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$ProgressPreference = $SavedProgressPreference
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}
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RunUpdateHelpTests -Tag "CI" -useSourcePath -UserScope
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RunUpdateHelpTests -Tag "CI" -useSourcePath -UserScope -MarkAsPending
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}
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Describe "Validate Update-Help -SourcePath for all PowerShell modules." -Tags @('Feature', 'RequireAdminOnWindows', 'RequireSudoOnUnix') {
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$ProgressPreference = $SavedProgressPreference
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}
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RunUpdateHelpTests -Tag "Feature" -useSourcePath
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RunUpdateHelpTests -Tag "Feature" -useSourcePath -MarkAsPending
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}
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Describe "Validate Update-Help -SourcePath for all PowerShell modules for user scope." -Tags @('Feature', 'RequireAdminOnWindows', 'RequireSudoOnUnix') {
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$ProgressPreference = $SavedProgressPreference
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}
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RunUpdateHelpTests -Tag "Feature" -useSourcePath -UserScope
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RunUpdateHelpTests -Tag "Feature" -useSourcePath -UserScope -MarkAsPending
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}
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Describe "Validate 'Update-Help' shows 'HelpCultureNotSupported' when thrown" -Tags @('Feature') {
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$ProgressPreference = $SavedProgressPreference
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}
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RunSaveHelpTests -Tag "Feature"
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}
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}

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