Windows Script Host [Paperback]

Peter G. Aitken (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0130287016 | ISBN-13: 978-0130287014 | Publication Date: March 4, 2001 | Edition: 1

Windows Script Host (WSH) gives anyone, from intermediate users to experienced systems administrators, the ability to save time and reduce errors by automating many system, application, and file-related tasks in Windows 9x, Windows ME, and Windows 2000. In this book, expert developer and best-selling author Peter G. Aitken offers in-depth coverage of Windows scripting with both VBScript and JScript. Master the Windows file system and scripting object models; learn the most effective ways to run, schedule, and distribute scripts; and discover practical techniques for scripting virtually every aspect of the Windows environment. For all intermediate to advanced-level Windows users, including both administrators and power users.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Introduction

The Windows Script Host, or WSH, is a wonderful tool that is available to all users of the Windows operating system. In a nutshell, WSH is used to create scripts that automate operating system-related tasks. Which tasks are these? Anything you do with the Windows operating system, as opposed to an application program, falls into this category. Examples include copying and deleting files, logging onto network drives and printers, and executing programs. But WSH is not limited to operating system tasks - thanks to Microsoft's Component Object Model, scripts can also control many applications programs, such as Word and Excel. Almost anything you can do sitting at your computer's keyboard, you can also program a script to do for you.

So, what's the big deal? There are two factors:

Saving time. With a couple of clicks, you can execute a script that carries out a complex series of action that would take a considerable time to perform manually.

Preventing errors. Once tested and debugged, a script will carry out a precise sequence of actions error-free every time. Few people can say the same thing about their keyboard skills!

Either of these factors by itself would make a strong argument for scripting. Together, they are overpowering. Any Windows user who has gone beyond casual computing is a candidate to benefit from using WSH. Network administrators and other computer professionals can derive even more benefit.Who This Book Is For

The intended audience for this book is anyone who wants to automate repetitive or time-consuming tasks under the Windows operating system. This includes both computer users, for whom the computer is a tool, as well as network professionals and systems administrators, who are responsibile for maintaining computer systems used by others. I assume no prior knowledge on the part of the reader beyond a reasonable familiarity with Windows. Specifically, no programming experience is needed. If, however, you do have some programming experience, certain parts of the book will likely go faster for you.What You Need

The requirements for using this book are quite simple: a computer running Windows 95, 98, ME, NT 4.0, or 2000. As you will learn in Chapter 1, WSH is installed along with some of these operating systems, but must be installed separately with others (Windows 95 and NT). Details on obtaining the free install are also included in Chapter 1.Resources

You will find my Web page for this book at this URL:pgacon/scripthost.htm

This page lets you download a compressed archive containing all of the book's scripts, and there is also a link for reporting any errors, problems, or suggestion. I will also post a list of corrections and updates as they become available. Additional Internet resources for the Windows Script Host programmer can be found in Appendix 7.Peter G. Aitken
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
January 2001

From the Back Cover

Automate Windows system administration, application control, file management, and more!

• Scripting solutions for Windows 2000, Windows 9x, and Windows ME
• Covers both VBScript and JScript
• Step-by-step coverage of cre ating, running, scheduling, and distributing scripts
• System administration, application control, file management, messaging, database access, and more
• Creating high-performance WSH script components
• Covers both VBScript and J Script!
• Syntax, data storage, operators, strings, dates, times, objects, error handling, and more
• Automating system administration, file management, database access, and messaging
• Creating high-performance WSH components
• Extending Windows' power by scripting Microsoft Office components
• Appendices include detailed VBScript and JScript references
• For every intermediate to advanced-level Windows user and administrator

Microsoft's W indows Script Host (WSH) offers system administrators and users powerful opportunities to save time and improve efficiency. In Windows Script Host, expert developer and best-selling author Peter G. Aitken covers WSH from start to finish, giving you all the skills you need to automate a wide range of system, application, and file-related tasks on Windows ME/9x and Windows 2000/NT platforms.

Aitken offers in-depth coverage of both widely used WSH scripting languages — VBScript and JSc ript. You'll start by mastering the Windows file system and scripting object models. Next, you'll learn the most effective ways to run, schedule, and distribute scripts. Once you've mastered the basics, Aitken presents practical techniques for scripting v irtually every aspect of the Windows environment, from messaging to file management, database access to system and Web administration.

Aitken presents step-by-step coverage of testing and debugging WSH scripts, demonstrates how to create fast, efficient Windows Script Components, and even shows how to extend Windows' power by scripting Microsoft Office components.

WSH gives you greater control over Windows than ever before. With Peter G. Aitken's help, you'll master that power—and dynamically improve your productivity every day you run Windows!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1 edition (March 4, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130287016
• ISBN-13: 978-0130287014
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,787,076 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Some good parts, but . . ., November 26, 2002

By 

Robert J Wozniak (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Windows Script Host (Paperback)

I liked the book's explanations of the WSH and FSO object hierarchies but it was short on details when it comes to common scripting practices such as passing and securing script parameters, scheduling jobs, and using constants. I did not find the section on ADO very useful because I had to consult additional references to get my code to work.

2.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful...but..., June 26, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Windows Script Host (Paperback)

As a beginning scripter, I was able to take a great deal from Peter's book. However, as I progressed, I started to get distracted by the number of typos and errors throughout. While leaving off an "s" is not the end of the world, I found more than one occasion where the sample programs would not run correctly due to an out-of-place or omitted character. As a first-time programmer, I'm pretty much putting all my faith in Mr. Aitken over there, and by the end of the book I was almost suprised when something worked. So, yeah, nice little book for the novice, but the errors range from innocent to kind of severe.

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the one book you need for WSH!!!, April 4, 2002

By 

"hallmd" (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Windows Script Host (Paperback)

This book covers everything concerning the Windows Script Host,
VBScript and JScript(Microsoft's version of JavaScript). Whether you're an experienced Windows programmer looking to learn scripting quickly or a Windows user with little or no programming background, this is the one book you need to get started writing script.

Peter Aitken covers WSH, VBScript, and JScript in exhaustive detail in a well ordered fashion with helpfull examples and code listings. Because he covers both VBScript and JScript together by
task rather than their individual features or differences, you can read through this book and get a fair understanding of both.
For this reason, and because of the clarity and detail with which the topics are presented, you won't have to buy two more books that cover VBScript or JScript separately.

I definately recommend this as part of a good programmer's reference library.