Home > Store

Managing Windows with VBScript and WMI

Register your product to gain access to bonus material or receive a coupon.

Managing Windows with VBScript and WMI

Book

  • Sorry, this book is no longer in print.
Not for Sale

About

Features

The definitive guide to scripting for all Windows administrators, helping them to simplify their work and make their network more secure.

° Demystifies scripting for administrators, showing how VBScript and WMI can help ease repetitive or complex tasks

° Organized around tasks, and heavily cross-referenced, allowing quick access to information of immediate value

° Based on the author's years of experience teaching and training

° Most other books on scripting focus on developers, not administrators

Description

  • Copyright 2004
  • Edition: 1st
  • Book
  • ISBN-10: 0-321-21334-3
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-321-21334-1

"Finally, a step-by-step VBScripting book to make you look like a programmer without the time and sweat! Don't waste your time searching the Internet for examples--this book does it for you!"

--Greg A. Marino, Senior Systems Engineer/Consultant, Westtown Consulting Group, Inc.

Visual Basic Scripting (VBScript) and Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) are vital tools for systems administrators grappling with the increasing complexity of Windows technologies. However, busy admins have been without a straightforward guide to scripting...until now.

Managing Windows® with VBScript and WMI explains how Windows administrators can effectively use VBScript to automate common administrative tasks and simplify complex ones. Detailed coverage of security concerns provides admins with the means for safely using VBScript in Windows environments. The book is organized around the problems you face daily, with reusable examples and coverage of Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows 2003.

This user-friendly reference demystifies scripting and then shows you how to produce new scripts from scratch. You will be producing useful scripts right away as you study the VBScript language and learn how to control nearly every aspect of the Windows operating system with WMI and the Active Directory Services Interface (ASDI). You will be able to build your own administrative Web pages and use advanced scripting technologies such as script encryption, scripting components, and script security. The book closes with still more ready-made example scripts accompanied by complete line-by-line explanations. The CD includes all the code from the book and trial versions of PrimalScript 3.0 and VbsEdit. A companion Web site provides updates and errata.

Inside you will find answers to such questions as:

  • How do you write effective logon scripts? Chapter 11
  • How do you write scripts that query and modify user and group information? Chapter 16
  • How can you query the IP addresses from multiple network adapters in multiple remote computers? Chapter 19
  • How can you design, write, run, test, and debug your own administrative Web pages? Chapter 24
  • How can you reuse code between various scripts? Chapter 25


Extras

Related Article

Using WSH Scripts with the Windows Management Interface

Author's Site

Click for the Author's Web Site related to this title.

Sample Content

Online Sample Chapter

Putting It All Together: Your First WMI/ADSI Script

Downloadable Sample Chapter

Download the Sample Chapter related to this title.

Table of Contents

Preface xxi
Acknowledgments xxxv
About the Author xxxvii

PART I--INTRODUCTION TO WINDOWS ADMINISTRATIVE SCRIPTING 1

Chapter 1 Scripting Concepts and Terminology 3

What Is Scripting? 3
Script Hosts 4
ActiveX Scripting Languages 6
The Component Object Model (COM) 9
Critical Scripting Security Issues 9
Review 10

Chapter 2 Running Scripts 11

Windows Script Host 11
Command-Line Scripts 13
Notepad and Script Editors 16
Bare Bones: Notepad 16
A Step Up: Programmer's File Editor 17
Script-Specific: VBScript Editors 18
Writing Your First Script 23
Running Your First Script 25
Debugging Your First Script 25
Review 26

Chapter 3 The Components of a Script 29

A Typical VBScript 29
Functions 32
Subroutines 33
Main Script 34
Using Custom Functions and Subroutines 36
Using Intrinsic Functions and Statements 38
Making Decisions in a Script 40
Comments and Documentation 40
Review 45

Chapter 4 Designing a Script 47

Creating a Task List 48
Selecting the Appropriate Tools 50
Displaying a Message 51
Mapping a Drive 53
Checking Group Membership 54
Mapping a Printer 54
Getting the Local IP Address 54
Getting the Third Octet from the IP Address 56
All Tasks Accounted For 56
Creating Modules to Perform Tasks 57
Validating User Input 63
Planning for Errors 63
Creating Script Libraries 66
Review 66

PART II--VBSCRIPT TUTORIAL 69

Chapter 5 Functions, Objects, Variables, and More 71

What Are Variables? 72
Declaring Variables 76
Understanding Data Types 78
Assigning Data to Variables 79
Data Coercion 80
What Are Functions? 82
Input Parameters 82
Output Values 84
Intrinsic versus Custom Functions 85
What Are Statements and Subroutines? 89
Functions, without the Output 89
What Are Objects? 92
Properties 92
Methods 93
Collections 93
A Sample Object 94
Scripting with Objects 95
Review 97

Chapter 6 Input and Output 99

Displaying Messages 99
The MsgBox Statement and Function 100
More Complex Messages 104
MsgBox Best Practices 105
Go Generic with WScript.Echo 106
Asking for Input 107
Graphical Input 107
Command-Line Input 109
Command-Line Parameters as Input 110
Running Command-Line Scripts 110
Parsing Parameters 110
Review 114

Chapter 7 Manipulating Numbers 117

Numbers in VBScript 117
Basic Arithmetic 118
Advanced Arithmetic 121
Boolean Math 124
Converting Numeric Data Types 129
Converting Other Data Types to Numeric Data 130
Review 130

Chapter 8 Manipulating Strings 133

Strings in VBScript 133
Working with Substrings 135
Concatenating Strings 139
Changing Strings 141
Formatting Strings 143
Converting Other Data Types to String Data 144
Review 145

Chapter 9 Manipulating Other Types of Data 147

Working with Dates and Times 147
Dates and Times in VBScript 148
Getting the Date or Time 148
Converting Date and Time Data 149
Working with Past and Future Dates 150
Working with Arrays 150
Arrays in VBScript 151
Creating and Manipulating Arrays 152
Working with Array Data 154
Working with Bytes 155
Bytes in VBScript 155
Converting Byte Data 156
Review 156

Chapter 10 Controlling the Flow of Execution 157

Conditional Execution 158
If...Then 158
Select...Case 163
Loops 164
Do While...Loop and Do...Loop While 164
Do Until...Loop and Do...Loop Until 166
For...Next 166
For Each...Next 167
Exiting Loops 169
Putting It All Together 170
Review 173

Chapter 11 Built-in Scripting Objects 175

The WScript Object 175
The Net

Index

Download the Index file related to this title.

Updates

Submit Errata

More Information

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020