VBScript in a Nutshell

Running WSH Scripts

Typically, WSH scripts have a file extension of .vbs (if they are written in VBScript) or .wsf (a Windows Script File, which contains XML elements along with script written in a language defined by the XML <SCRIPT> tag), both of which are associated with the Windows Script Host executable in the registry. This allows the user to simply double-click on the file in an Explorer window in order to execute the script. If the script is a .wsf file containing multiple jobs, only the executable script in the first job (which must be delimited by the <job>...</job> tags) is executed.

It is also possible to run a script from the command line by using the syntax:

CScript.exe filename [//options] [/arguments]

or from the Run dialog or a Windows shortcut by using the syntax:

WScript.exe [//options] [/arguments]

where // options is one or more of the WSH features shown in Table 7.1, each of which must be preceded by double slashes.

Table 7-1. WSH Options Switches

Switch	Description
//B	Batch mode (prevents script errors and user interface elements such as those produced by the MsgBox and InputBox functions from displaying).
//D	Enables debugging. Automatically launches the debugger if an unhandled exception occurs.
//E: engine	Uses engine for executing script.
//H:cscript	Changes the default script host to CScript.exe.
//H:wscript	Changes the default script host to WScript.exe ; this is the default value and the opposite of //H:cscript.
//I	Interactive ...