Microsoft Windows Shell Script Programming for the Absolute Beginner (For the Absolute Beginner (Series)) [Paperback]

Jr., Jerry Lee Ford (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1592000851 | ISBN-13: 978-1592000852 | Publication Date: October 16, 2003 | Edition: 1

If you are new to programming with Windows Shell Script and are looking for a solid introduction, this is the book for you. Developed by computer science instructors, books in the for the absolute beginner? series teach the principles of programming through simple game creation. You will acquire the skills that you need for more practical Shell Script programming applications, and you will learn how these skills can be put to use in real-world scenarios. Best of all, by the time you finish this book you will be able to apply the basic principles you?ve learned to the next programming language you tackle. With the instructions in this book, you?ll learn to: * Store and retrieve information in variables * Apply conditional logic and create conditional logic tests * Improve script organization with procedures * Debug your scripts and handle errors * Create loops to process collections of data

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jerry Lee Ford, Jr. is an author, educator, and IT professional with more than 17 years of experience in information technology, including roles as an automation analyst, technical manager, technical support analyst, automation engineer, security analyst, and instructor. He is the author of 16 books and co-author of 2 additional books. His published works include Microsoft Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition Programming for the Absolute Beginner, VBScript Professional Projects, Learn VBScript in a Weekend, Microsoft Windows Shell Scripting for the Absolute Beginner, and Learn JavaScript in a Weekend.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Course Technology PTR; 1 edition (October 16, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592000851
• ISBN-13: 978-1592000852
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,445,786 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jerry Lee Ford, Jr. is an author, educator, and an IT professional with over 18 years of experience in information technology, including roles as an automation analyst, technical manager, technical support analyst, automation engineer, and security analyst. He is the author of 23 other books and co-author of two additional books. His published works include AppleScript Studio Programming for the Absolute Beginner, Microsoft Windows PowerShell Programming for the Absolute Beginner, Visual Basic 2005 Express Programming for the Absolute Beginner, VBScript Professional Projects, Microsoft Windows Shell Scripting and WSH Administrator's Guide, Microsoft Windows Shell Scripting for the Absolute Beginner, Learn JavaScript in a Weekend, and Microsoft Windows XP Professional Administrator's Guide.

Ford has a master's degree in business administration from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia and has over five years of experience as an adjunct instructor teaching networking courses in information technology.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Useful for Beginners., January 18, 2005

By 

John A. Faulkner "signalsnatcher" (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Microsoft Windows Shell Script Programming for the Absolute Beginner (For the Absolute Beginner (Series)) (Paperback)

This book is suitable only for those who are complete newcomers to shell scripting in general and Microsoft systems in general.

Shell scripting is a useful skill to learn if you are a systems administrator or simply want to automate tasks. Most operating systems provide a scripting language and it is preferred in many ways to those scripting languages that have to have interpreters installed before you can use them (Python, Perl, Rebol, Tcl/tk etc) because the operating system is primed for its use.

Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 and later MS operating systems offer a simple scripting language that expands on the .BAT and >CMD files language of MS-DOS, Windows 95 and 98. That language was far too limited to be of any real use, but the latest incarnation provides a powerful tool.

This book will provide a gentle introduction to Windows shell scripting at a level that is probably sufficient for the power user, but too low for the sysadmin. You can learn the elements of programming from this book, although its much easier if you already have experience.

The examples chosen are something of a compromise, but that's to be expected in any text. My real criticism comes from the presentation of the example scripts. There is too much white space and every ECHO used to produce a blank line on screen is reproduced. This makes the scripts very hard to comprehend and makes the book longer than it needs to be. All the text examples are provided on CD-ROM, so there is no need to type it in. The book is very weak in not providing useful examples for the type of user it tries to target - power users and sysadmins. They will learn very little from this.

If you want a thorough grounding in Windows shell scripting then read William Stanek's "Microsoft Windows Command-Line" published by Microsoft Press ISBN 0-7356-2038-5 and learn the full capabilities of this mode.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Excellent Guide for the 1st Time Programmers, July 20, 2005

By 

Richard D. (VA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft Windows Shell Script Programming for the Absolute Beginner (For the Absolute Beginner (Series)) (Paperback)

Contrary to what some may say, windows shell scripting is far from dead. In fact, with each new operating system that Microsoft unleashes on the world, Microsoft continues to develop and expand Windows Shell Scripting's capabilities.

As the title says, this book is designed for 1st time programmers who are interesting in getting started with Windows Shell Scripting. However, the book can also be used by more experienced readers with previous programming experience who want to quickly ramp up on Windows Shell Scripting. The author teaches his subject and makes things interesting by demonstrating how to create computer games. This book is definately not for hardcore System Administrators.... but everybody else should benefit from it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Review, February 8, 2006

By 

E. Sims - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Microsoft Windows Shell Script Programming for the Absolute Beginner (For the Absolute Beginner (Series)) (Paperback)

Some of this book is helpful but for the most part I felt like it was a waste of time. There are numerous type-Os that are sometimes confusing and misleading. Some major concepts are not explained at all. The chapter ending projects are pretty much all the same. Most only use one or two of the new functions covered and ignore the rest. The code is written in double-spaced sections broken up by paragraphs of explanation. Then the whole example is written out again double-spaced. The material could have been presented in a way that is just as understandable in 100 less pages. It seems like a written assignment done over the weekend by a lazy student with an assignment of X-pages due on Monday.