VB Script

VB Script was launched in 1996 by Microsoft. In the beginning it was targeted for client side scripting on webpages, just like JavaScript. So the main users were web developers. But during a period of just over two years, vbscript advanced from a browser scripting language to a powerful and easier scripting language for the Windows System Administratots. VB Script is supported by all versions of Windows operating Systems except Windows CE. As a stand alone program it will be executed within the Windows Script Host (WSH) environment.

A VB Script program can be written using a notepad and saved with an extention ".vbs". This .vbs program can be executed in two methods.

i. Window Mode Execution using WScript.exe

You can execute the .vbs in windowed mode by just double clicking the .vbs file. Alternatively you can go to Start>Run then type WScript <program.vbs>

ii. Console Mode Execution using CScript.exe

To execute a vbscript program in console mode, open up a command window and then type CScript <program.vbs>

Even though VB Script is simple and one of the oldest programing language, it still posses power and advanced capabilities of a programing language. The following is a brief list of functionalities supported by VB Script.

1. Function and Subroutines
2. Date/Time Functions
3. String Handling
4. Mathematical Functions
5. Regular Expressions
6. File System Management
7. Can use ActiveX controls
8. Reusable Code Libraries can be created using .wsf files
9. Database Access
10. API Access
11. New ActiveX controls can be created using vbscript programs