Windows: Scripting Secrets (Paperback)

by Tobias Weltner (Author) "Scripts are plain text files (see Figure 1-1), so you can use any text editor to develop them..." (more)
Key Phrases: open cdaudio, full window drag, close cdaudio, Internet Explorer, Visual Basic, Private Const (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The most comprehensive book on the market, Windows Scripting Secrets uncovers the never-before-documented features and hidden system functions that make the new Windows Scripting Host a more powerful tool. The book includes more than 200 ready-to-use scripts, and the CD-ROM contains ready-to-use libraries and examples from the book, as well as numerous scripting tools.

A few of the insights inside include

• Kick-starting WSH and VBScripts
• "Kidnapping" and creating COM objects
• Tweaking your Registry, and monitoring system status
• Powering up with Kodak Imaging
• Running a Windows network with ADSI scripts

You can automate almost any system task or enhance your current functionality using the scripting solutions detailed here. From the CD-ROM, sample more than 450 scripts, or try looking for an answer in the fully searchable electronic version of the book.

From the Publisher
Unleash the Power of Windows Scripting:

Give yourself a WSH and VBScript kick-start "Kidnap" and create useful COM objects Learn about events, type libraries, and secret Windows API commands Get backdoor access to the file system Take control of links, software, and windows Tweak the Registry and monitor your system status Enhance your Visual Basic Apps with Internet, FTP, TWAIN access, file system, and shell dialogs Leverage the power of Kodak Imaging with scripts Make multimedia devices work the way you do Control running software and access databases Administer a Windows network with ADSI scripts

HUNDREDS OF SCRIPTS, PROJECTS, AND UTILITIES ON CD-ROM: 450+ ready-to-run Windows Scripts More than 40 complete software projects from the book Microsoft Windows Script Technologies Trial, including valuable scripting utilities and documentation Plus a fully searchable electronic version of the book

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Product Details

• Paperback: 751 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (May 4, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764546848
• ISBN-13: 978-0764546846
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #759,143 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Secret is - He does it all in Visual Basic, June 7, 2001

By	Jase T. Wolfe - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Many things about this book I enjoyed a great deal. There is an abundance of dialog giving you tips, hints and help, great script examples showing proper scripting syntax and form, many sections that open you up to new possibilities with scripting by showing you COM object usage, as well as some invaluable development tools on the included CD-ROM.

However, the books primary focus is on using VBScript as the control mechanism for other objects (ActiveX, COM, etc.). This is, of course, an important part of VBScript and without it one might as well script BAT files. But so much of this book is dedicated to teaching the reader how to use the many custom ActiveX control the author has written/included on the CD-ROM, as well as creating your own (using the Microsoft Visual Basic Control Creation Editor), that the book appears to be more of a manual for the ActiveX controls than a book on scripting. An ideal script is one where the script is a stand alone file and can run on a large number of computers using industry standard components when needed - not a script that requires you to create your own ActiveX components to do all of the work and distribute all of it with an installation package before it will run. So many of the author's "solution scripts" provided said solutions by calling Visual Basic controls rather than actual scripting - that at some points it would have been simpler to just write an application in VB and be done with it.

The book does touch on some industry standard objects, such as Internet Explorer, File System Object, WScript object, ADO, etc., but falls short of being a reference for the demonstrated objects, and at times raises more questions than it answers.

To sum up, the book is handy, a great resource for learning how to use ActiveX / COM objects in your scripts, and does have a lot of valuable information and included tools. I would not recommend this book if your goal is to learn more about the base language itself, but if your looking for a book that will teach you about using objects, this is a great title.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Actually Fun to Read, September 17, 2000

By	Scott Bicknell (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews

The author is German and his english is a little rough (the editor's fault, not his), but he obviously enjoys his topic. His first sentance, in the preface, is "Windows Scripting is exciting!" His enthusiasm permeates the entire book and is infectious. That alone makes this book worth the price.

But that is only the beginning. Page 6 introduces the first useful script. This book is packed with useful scripts, useful scripting techniques, and in-depth information. The fourth paragragh of the preface states, "This book is like an exciting adventure game and hundreds of scripts provide you with ready-to-run examples... You will see results in a matter of minutes rather than having to study theoretical background for weeks. This book won't just scratch the surface, either. It goes deep into subjects such as DLLs, COM objects, the Windows API..., and more." See what I mean about his enthusiasm? Best of all, he delivers on his promises.

The book includes all of the source code for the scripts, the complete text of the book, utilities, and documentation on the included CD.

If you buy no other book on scripting, buy this one.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Packed with tips on undocumented features, February 25, 2001

By	Jason Fossen (Dallas, Tx) - See all my reviews

I unfortunately own three books on VBScript: two that I regret, and Weltner's book, which I should have just bought in the first place. I would have saved a hundred bucks.

Weltner's book is packed with tips, undocumented features of WSH, 500 scripts on the CD-ROM, and lots of information about more advanced uses of VBScript such as Win32 access and using COM objects from scripts. Other books do not let you see the real power of the Windows Script Host, and they're so BORING. Weltner is fun to read.

I have to disagree with another reviewer: the lack of JScript in Weltner's book is such a GOOD thing. Keep in mind that if a WSH book does both VBScript and JScript, then there is wasted duplication (maybe half the book is just repeating the same thing but in JScript). You definitely want to learn VBScript instead so that your skills will port over to straight Visual Basic and IIS ASP pages. If you want JScript for client-side HTML pages, then you're looking for a different kind of book anyway. Besides, VBScript is easier for beginners to learn.