Windows Script 101.ppt

Windows Script 101 VBScript for Sysadmins What is VBScript? VBScript = Visual Basic Scripting Edition Subset of VB language – “VB Lite” Less GUI oriented ? Easier for beginning programmers to use … ? Intermediate step between batch files and “real” programming… maybe? VBS (and JScript) support built into OS How do you make VBScripts? Regular ol’ text. No compiling. Notepad suffices, other IDE’s are available. Try jEdit () or PrimalScript () Run with wscript.exe or cscript.exe. Debugger available too. VBS also used in MS Office docs ? Visual Basic for Applications (use the Visual Basic Editor, under View ? Toolbars) What can I do with VBScripts? VBS = object-oriented. Depends on object model you are scripting. VBS is just the “glue.” Some object models: Windows Script Host, Office, Internet Explorer, WMI, ADSI Can read / write files, modify the registry, change pc name, collect system data, manage user accounts / services, send data over web, reboot, create Excel charts, start processes on remote computers, automate OS installs, create your own “dll’s,**” etc.… What are objects? Objects are just things with properties and methods. Described by “dot” syntax. Set myIE=CreateObject(“InternetExplorer.Application”) myIE.IsVulernable=True myIE.SpawnVirus(“ILoveYou”) Object model = all the objects + methods + properties “exposed” by a particular app or package Syntax examples Set objShl=CreateObject(“WScript.Shell”)objShl.Run “notepad.exe”,1,True strOutfile=“C:\Temp\1.txt”Set objFso=CreateObject(“Scripting.FileSystemObject)Set objFil=objFso.OpenTextFile(strOutfile,2,True)objFil.WriteLine “Hello world”objFil.Close Which objects / models are most important? Depends on what you want to do… Windows Script Host (Network, Environment variables, Special Folders) Scripting.FileSystemObject WScript.Shell ADSI ? service / user mgt. WMI ? tricky but very powerful system admin interfaces How do I learn more? Online documentation, especially downloadable “Windows Script