Schongar P.VBScript unleashed.1997
.pdf
VBScript™
UNLEASHED
Petroutsos, Schongar, et al.
CONTENTS
Chapter 1 Introducing HTML Scripting
Introduction
Designing Web Pages
Definitions
First Things First-HTML
The <HEAD> Tag
The <TITLE> Tag
The <BODY> Tag
Headings
Paragraphs
The <FONT> Tag
Links in Your Documents
Graphics
Multimedia in HTML
Tables
Forms in HTML
Using CGI Scripts in HTML
Other HTML Tags
Frames
Scripting
Objects
ActiveX Controls
Review
Chapter 2 The VBScript Language
Introduction
Differences Between Visual Basic and VBScript
Programming in VBScript
Creating a Test Page
What a Program Is
Concepts You Should Understand: Variables and Procedures
The Anatomy of VBScript Code
Data Types
Subtypes of Variant Types
Using Variables
Constants
Program Flow
Operators
Decision-Making in Programs
If...Then...Else
For...Next
Do...Loop
For Each...Next
While...Wend
Review
Chapter 3 VBScript Functions
Introduction
Procedures in Scripts
Sub Procedures and Function Procedures
Arguments to Procedures
Creating and Calling Functions
Intrinsic Functions
Basic Functions
InputBox
len
MsgBox
VarType
String Functions
Asc
Chr
InStr
LCase
Left
LTrim
Mid
Right
RTrim
Str()
StrComp
String
Trim
UCase
Val
Conversion Functions
CByte
CDbl
CInt
CLng
CStr
CVErr
Math Functions
Abs
Array
Atn
Exp
Hex
Int
Fix
Log
Oct
Rnd
Sgn
Sqr
Sin
Tan
Time and Date Functions
Date
DateSerial
DateValue
Day
Hour
Year
Weekday
Minute
Month
Now
Second
Time
TimeSerial
TimeValue
Boolean Functions
Review
Chapter 4 Intrinsic Controls
Introduction
Events in VBScript
Messages in a GUI Environment
Placing Controls in HTML
Intrinsic Controls
Button
Checkbox
Hidden
Text
Textarea
Select
Using Controls in Your Documents
Review
Chapter 5 VBScript in Web Pages
Using VBScript and HTML
Using the onLoad Event
Embedding VBScript in the HTML
Creating a New Page with VBScript
Using VBScript and CGI/ISAPI
Providing Database Access
Defining an ODBC Datasource
Creating the IDC Script File
Creating the Output Template File
Viewing the Results
Review
Chapter 6 The Scripting Model
Windows, Documents, and Frames
The window Object's Properties
Methods
The document Object
The document Object's Properties
The document Object's Methods
Using the document Properties and Methods
A Self-Modifying Document
Color Cycling
A Yearly Calendar
The history Object
The HistoryObject Project
The navigator Object
The BrowserInfo Project
The NavigatorObject Project
The location Object
The LocationObject Project
The link Object
The LinksObject Project
Review
Chapter 7 Using ActiveX Controls
Looking at a Brief History of Custom Controls
Examining the Anatomy of an ActiveX Control
Registering Your ActiveX Controls
Putting an ActiveX Control in Your Web Page
Installing and Distributing ActiveX Controls
Examining ActiveX Controls
Animated Button Control
Chart Control
Label
Popup Menu Control
Preloader Control
StockTicker Control
Timer Control
Using Third-Party Controls
Using Signed Controls
Creating ActiveX Controls
Using the Control Wizard to Create the Skeleton Files
Compiling a Control
Registering Your Control
Testing Your Control
Creating Non-MFC ActiveX Controls
Signing Your Objects for Internet Use
Review
Chapter 8 The ActiveX Control Pad
Taking a Tour of the ActiveX Control Pad
Text Editor
Object Editor
Page Editor
Script Wizard
Using ActiveX Controls
Creating VBScript with the Script Wizard
Using HTML Layouts
Looking at the Available Controls
Adding Controls to the Toolbox
Creating Interactive Content
Using VBScript with ActiveX Layouts
Review
Chapter 9 More ActiveX Controls
The Popup Menu and Menu Controls
The Popup Menu
The Menu Control
The Popup Window Control
The Marquee Control
The Chart Control
The Chart Example
Review
Chapter 10 Error Handling
Handling Errors in Your VBScript Pages
Syntax Errors
Errors with ActiveX Controls
Runtime Errors
Coding to Avoid Errors
Using the ActiveX Control Pad
Using Option Explicit
Using Coding Conventions
Coding to Handle Errors
Specifying Error Trapping
Using the Err Object
Looking at Examples of Error Handling
Trapping Runtime Errors
Using the Raise Method
Review
Chapter 11 Optimizing Code
Organizing Your Code
Chaos Theory 101
Code Behind the Scenes
Error Checking and Debugging
Use of Functions and Syntax
Variables Versus References
Data Types
ActiveX Controls
Quality, Not Quantity
Divide and Conquer
Development Tools
Still Using a Text Editor?
ActiveX Control Pad
Visual Basic to VBScript Converters
Future Integrated Development Environments?
Review
Chapter 12 Debugging
Handling VBScript Errors
Syntax Errors: Say What You Mean!
Semantic Errors: Mean What You Say!
Using Simple Debugging Techniques
Using the MsgBox Statement
Using the On Error Resume Next Statement
Using the Err Object
Taking the Err Object Further
Using Advanced Debugging Techniques
Tracing Your Code Using the Message Box
Saturating Your Code with the Message Box
Watching Your Code Using Variables and the Message Box
Breaking Apart Complex Statements to Find Bugs
Using Other Tools to Help You with the Debugging Task
Using VBScript Versus Traditional Debugging Environments
Using Visual Basic to Debug VBScript Applications
Using Visual Basic 4.0 Trace Capabilities
Debugging VBScript Code Within Visual Basic
Handling HTML Errors
●Making Sure the Bugs Are Dead
●Creating Your Own Debug Window for Tracing
●Building Your Own Tracing Routines
●Looking at a Sample Variable Analysis Routine
●Looking at More Reasons Why VBScript Can Be Tough to Debug
●The Moral of the Story
●Review
Chapter 13 Dynamic Web Page Building
●Using the Internet Explorer Document Object
Properties and Collections
Methods
●Using the ActiveX Timer Control
●Writing the Current Date and Time to the Page
●Creating a Random Frame Using Client-Side Refresh
●Changing the Document's Colors
●Using Cookies to Maintain User Information
●Review
Chapter 14 Customize Your Web Page with Cookies
●Safety Considerations
●What Are Cookies?
Creating Cookies
How to Test Pages with Cookies
●The Cookie Folder
●Extracting the Cookie Values
●Review
Chapter 15 Creating Active Documents for Corporate Intranets
●Client-Side Processing
●Distributed Applications
Databases
●Functionality and Flexibility
Native Document Hosting
Component Architecture
Third-Party Innovation
●Return on Investment (ROI)
Maintenance
Expansibility and Integration
Standards
Investment Protection
Employee Efficiency
Company Image
●Review
Chapter 16 Controlling MS Office Documents in Web Pages
●ActiveX
●ActiveX Scripting
●ActiveX Control Pad
●Leveraging Your Investment
●Microsoft Office Suite
●Relevant Web Sites
●Review
Chapter 17 Animation
●ActiveX Controls Capable of Animation
●Frame Animation with Image and Timer Controls
●Rotating Text with the Label Control
●Using Active Movie for Digital Audio and Video
●The Marquee Control for Scrolling Pages
●Other HTML Tags that Provide Multimedia Playback
Chapter 18 VBScript and Java
●What Is Java?
●Java, Java Applets, and JavaScript
●Java Classes
●JavaScript Objects
●JavaScript Language Structure
JavaScript Operators
JavaScript Flow of Control Statements
●VBScript Language Structure
VBScript Examples
VBScript Variables
VBScript Operators
VBScript Err Object
VBScript Variant Data Type
VBScript Constants
VBScript Flow of Control Statements
VBScript Functions
VBScript Procedures
ActiveX
●Standards and Conventions
●Comparing Java, JavaScript, and VBScript: A Summary
●Examples
●Relevant Web Sites
●Review
Chapter 19 VBScript and DLLs
● Static Versus Dynamic Library
●Structure of a DLL
The Entry Function
The LibMain Function
The Exit Function
●Programmer-Defined Functions
Exported Functions
Non-Exported (Internal) Functions
●Why Use DLLs?
●Disadvantages of Using DLLs
●A Sample DLL
●VBScript and DLLs
●Relevant Web Sites
●Review
Chapter 20 CGI and VBScript
●Understanding CGI
●CGI Specification
●CGI Environment Variables
●Architecture of a CGI Application
●CGI Versus VBScript
●Examples
●Relevant Web Sites
●Review
Chapter 21 Safety and Security
●A Matter of Trust…
Can VBScript Security Hold Up?
●VBScript's Built-In Safeguards
●Flirting with Danger-ActiveX Components
Authentic Controls-Friend or Foe?
Rogue Controls
Defending Against Friendly Fire and Nasties
●Paranoia, Self-Defense, and Reasonable Risk
Chapter 22 VBScript as a Component in Other Applications
●Porting VBScript to VBA and Visual Basic
●All About ActiveX Scripting
Script Engines
Script Hosts
Communications Between Scripting Engines and Hosts
●Licensing
The Binary Route
Source Code
●Putting It All Together-Microsoft's "Spruuids" Example
●Future Hosts
Chapter 23 Conversions and Calculations
Metric Conversions
The User Interface
The TabStrip Control
Implementing the Conversions Utility
Programming the Application
A Financial Calculator
The User Interface
A Math Calculator
The User Interface
Programming the Application
Improving the Calculator
Further Improvements
Review
Chapter 24 WWW Personal Information Manager
Overview
How It Works
Creating the Page
Working with Cookies
Creating Dynamic HTML
Presenting Information
Tying It All Together
Review
Chapter 25 Order Entry
Ensuring Secure Transactions on the Web
Authenticating the Merchant
Authenticating the Purchaser
Encrypting Web Communications
Reviewing Cookies
Designing the Order Entry Form
Creating the Order Entry Form
Examining the VBScript Code
Testing the Application
Review
Chapter 26 RTFEditor
Using OCX Controls with VBScript
The RTFEditor Application
The Rich Textbox Control
Designing the User Interface
The Code Behind the Scenes