VBScript: Introduction for Beginners (1 day)

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Course Overview

In many current technology areas there is often a need to automate tasks without the need to create a large application. This can be automating system administration tasks; dynamic web page creation; creating web page testing scripts. It is in this gap that scripting (or script programming) fits. Script programming within the Windows environment is very powerful. Scripts can ease the burden of a network administrator by automating repetitive and laborious tasks. They can make information from machines in the enterprise easily available. Scripts can access databases, text files and spreadsheets. They can make websites interactive and bring powerful functionality to the website designer's armory.

The creation of scripts, however, still needs knowledge of programming methodology - specifications, design, logical breakdown of the task and programming the script itself. This course will take the scripting novice, highlight the design and task analysis procedures, before going on to instruct in the use of VBScript to create scripts.

As well as requiring knowledge of script the successful scriptwriter will need knowledge of the environment their script will run in. This course finishes with the knowledge of how to access the environment (through the object model of that environment) and show examples of some common environments e.g. in a web environment as an .ASP page or as a useful tool for the network administrator in WSH.

Audience

This course is written as an introduction to programming processes and the VBScript language. The typical attendee will be interested in starting to write their own scripts and have in mind applications they will want to create. These scripts may be for Windows Scripting Host, Active Server Pages or any other environment where VBScript it used.

Skills Gained

• Understand the thought processes of a programmer
• Build basic specifications and flowcharts
• Understand VBScript programming syntax
• Understand the benefits of procedureal programming
• Create simple scripts
• Understand objects
• Recall a few object models

Prerequisites

This course assumes little since it is an introduction. Knowledge and use of the Windows interface would be beneficial. Any delegates with good current practical experience of VB, VBA, or similar programming languages will probably find it better to go on the follow-on courses directly.

Course Outline

An Introduction To Programming

• Explanation of what a program is
• How to design a program
• Unserstanding the Specification
• Use Cases
• Flowcharts and Psuedo Code
• Logical layers
• Development LifeCycle
• Other Issues

VBScript Fundamentals

• What is scripting?
• Writing VBScript code
• Variables and constants
• Operators
• Boolean Logic
• Logical decision making
• Looping statements

Procedural Programming

• What is procedural programming
• Subroutines and Functions
• Writing and calling procedures
• Scope
• MsgBox and InputBox

VBScript in Other Environments

• Accessing environments through objects
• What is an object?
• Object syntax in VBScript
• Object models
• Standard objects in different environments

Appendix VBScript Language

• Functions provided in VBScript
• string, date and numeric functions
• Conversion Functions
• Is Functions

VBScript: Introduction for Beginners (1 day) / MVBS-1