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📖 [Docs]: .INPUTS and .OUTPUTS corrected to type-name-only format#69

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fix-ps-inputs-outputs-type-only
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📖 [Docs]: .INPUTS and .OUTPUTS corrected to type-name-only format#69
Marius Storhaug (MariusStorhaug) wants to merge 2 commits into
mainfrom
fix-ps-inputs-outputs-type-only

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PowerShell comment-based help standards now correctly require type name only in .INPUTS\ and .OUTPUTS\ — no inline description, no description after a blank line.

Fixed: .INPUTS/.OUTPUTS\ description guidance removed

Both previously documented approaches for including a description fail markdownlint in PlatyPS-generated docs:

  • \System.String. Description.\ on one line → MD026 (trailing period in ###\ heading)
  • Description indented 4 spaces → MD046 (indented code block style)
  • Description after blank line → PlatyPS already generates {{ Fill in the Description }}\ for this

The canonical format is type name only:

\\powershell
.INPUTS
None

.OUTPUTS
System.Management.Automation.PSCustomObject
\\

Descriptions belong in the generated Markdown file, not in the source comment-based help.

Technical Details

Related issues

Both blank-line+description and 4-space-indented description fail
markdownlint in PlatyPS-generated docs (MD046 indented code block, or
description leaking into the ### heading). The correct format is type
name alone - descriptions belong in the generated markdown placeholder.

Co-authored-by: Copilot App <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
Marius Storhaug (MariusStorhaug) added a commit to PSModule/Template-PSModule that referenced this pull request Jul 25, 2026
## What

Updates the scaffold function to use the blank-line description format
for `.INPUTS` and `.OUTPUTS` comment-based help:

```powershell
.INPUTS
None

You cannot pipe objects to this function.

.OUTPUTS
System.String

A greeting string for the given name.
```

## Why

The type-name-only format works but gives callers no useful context.
Descriptions are required — they should say what is actually piped in or
returned, not just repeat the type name.

This PR is also a **CI verification**: confirming that the blank-line
format (type → blank line → description paragraph) passes PlatyPS +
markdownlint in Build-Docs. Previous attempts failed with:
- Single-line `System.String. Description.` → MD026 (trailing `.` in
heading)
- 4-space-indented description → MD046 (indented code block)

The blank-line format should produce a clean `### type` heading with the
description as body text below — no linting violations.

## Informs

- [MSXOrg/docs#69](MSXOrg/docs#69) — if CI
passes here, #69 should be closed and the docs updated to require
descriptions in this format.

Co-authored-by: Copilot App <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
@MariusStorhaug

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Superseded by verified finding: the blank-line format (type → blank line → description paragraph) passes PlatyPS + markdownlint in CI. See PSModule/Template-PSModule#34. Will open a replacement PR requiring descriptions in that format.

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