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Running Scripts to Enhance and Improve Windows

Jun 11, 2009

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Using WScript for Windows-Based Scripts

The .vbs and .js file types have an open method that's associated with WScript (WScript.exe), which is the Windows-based front-end for the Windows Script Host. In other words, launching a script file named, for example, MyScript.vbs is equivalent to entering the following command in the Run dialog box:

wscript myscript.vbs

The WScript host also defines several parameters that you can use to control the way the script executes. Here's the full syntax:

WSCRIPT [filename] [arguments] [//B] [//D] [//E:engine] [//H:host] [//I] [//Job:xxxx] [//S] [//T:ss] [//X]

`filename`	Specifies the filename, including the path of the script file, if necessary.
`arguments`	Specifies optional arguments required by the script. An argument is a data value that the script uses as part of its procedures or calculations.
`//B`	Runs the script in batch mode, which means script errors and `Echo` method output lines are suppressed.
`//D`	Enables Active Debugging. If an error occurs, the script is loaded into the Microsoft Script Debugger (if it's installed), and the offending statement is highlighted.
`//E:``engine`	Executes the script using the specified scripting `engine`, which is the scripting language to use when running the script.
`//H:``host`	Specifies the default scripting host. For `host`, use either `CScript` or `WScript`.
`//I`	Runs the script in interactive mode, which displays script errors and `Echo` method output lines.
`//Job:``id`	In a script file that contains multiple jobs, executes only the job with `id` attribute equal to `id`.
`//S`	Saves the specified WScript arguments as the default for the current user; uses the following Registry key to save the settings:
	HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows Script Host\Settings
`//TT:``ss`	Specifies the maximum time in seconds (`ss`) that the script can run before it shuts down automatically.
`//X`	Executes the entire script in the Microsoft Script Debugger (if it's installed).

For example, the following command runs MyScript.vbs in batch mode with a 60-second maximum execution time:

wscript myscript.vbs //B //TT:60

Creating Script Jobs

A script job is a section of code that performs a specific task or set of tasks. Most script files contain a single job. However, it's possible to create a script file with multiple jobs. To do this, first surround the code for each job with the <script> and </script> tags, and then surround those with the <job> and </job> tags. In the <job> tag, include the id attribute and set it to a unique value that identifies the job. Finally, surround all the jobs with the <package> and </package> tags. Here's an example:

<package>
<job id="A">
<script language="VBScript">
    WScript.Echo "This is Job A."
</script>
</job>

<job id="B">
<script language="VBScript">
      WScript.Echo "This is Job B."
</script>
</job>
</package>

Save the file using the Windows Script File (.wsf) extension.

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