WMI classes often have several different associated or related classes; for example, each instance of Win32_Process has an associated class, CIM_DataFile.

Associations between two classes are expressed by a third class. In the case of Win32_Process and CIM_DataFile, the relationship is expressed by the CIM_ProcessExecutable class.

The relationship is defined by using the antecedent and dependent properties, as shown in the following example:

PS> Get-CimInstance CIM_ProcessExecutable |
>>     Where-Object Dependent -match $PID |
>>     Select-Object -First 1


Antecedent         : CIM_DataFile (Name = "C:WINDOWSSystem32WindowsPowerShellv...)
Dependent          : Win32_Process (Handle = "11672")
BaseAddress        : 2340462460928
GlobalProcessCount : 
ModuleInstance     : 4000251904
ProcessCount       : 0
PSComputerName     : 

This CIM_ProcessExecutable class does not need to be used directly.