VBScript
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VBScript (short form of Visual Basic Scripting Edition) is an Active Scripting language interpreted via Microsoft's Windows Script Host. The language's syntax reflects its pedigree as a variation of Microsoft's Visual Basic programming language. It has initially gained support from Windows administrators seeking an automation tool more powerful than the batch language first developed in the late 1970s.
VBScript is interpreted by a script engine vbscript.dll, which can be invoked by ASP engine asp.dll in a web environment, wscript.exe in a Windows GUI environment, and cscript.exe in a command-line environment. When VBScript source code is contained in stand-alone files, they have the file extension .vbs.
When employed in Microsoft Internet Explorer, VBScript is very similar in function to JavaScript –- it processes code embedded in HTML. VBScript can be also used to create stand-alone HTML applications (file extension .hta) which require Internet Explorer 5 or later to run. Web developers may prefer to use JavaScript instead for better compatibility with web browsers other than Internet Explorer.
VBScript is the language used to write some notable e-mail worms, such as ILOVEYOU. Although the language is not inherently insecure, the Scripting Host has little or no security features. The scroll-like icon representing VBS files may lure users with little Windows experience to think that it is a text file. As VBScript has tight integration into Windows, a basic e-mail worm can be written in VBScript in just a few lines of code.
More productive examples of how VBScript can be used is the SYDI project, or in software packaging, where VBScript can be used to automate slipstreaming, and other aspects of the process.
[edit] External links
- VBScript User's Guide
- The Script Center - Script Repository
- W3Schools - Thorough VBScript Tutorial
- Tizag - Introduction to VBScript
- VBScript Debugger
- VisualBasicScript.com (VBScript community)
- ScriptingAnswers (VBScript community)
- VBS Book adv.
- DevGuru - VBScript quick reference
- VBScript Tips & Trick
