Chapter 3: Programming Windows XP with Scripts

Overview

In this chapter, you’ll learn how to:

• Create and execute scripts.

• Program objects and use their properties and methods.

• Display text to the user.

• Run applications.

• Read, add, and delete registry keys and values.

• Control Internet Explorer via scripting.

Microsoft Windows XP comes with the welcome ability to run scripts that can deal with many aspects of the system, including drives, folders, files, and the registry; scripts can also interact with Windows programs via Automation. Scripts enable you to automate many routine tasks that would otherwise require tedious effort on your part. For example, you can enhance your system privacy by creating a script to automatically delete the items in your Recent Documents list when you shut down your computer. The power of these scripts lies in the Windows Script Host (WSH), an administration tool that allows you to use virtually any scripting language to exercise extensive control of most Windows components and many Windows-based applications. This chapter introduces you to the Windows Script Host, shows you how to execute scripts, and runs through the most useful elements in the Windows Script Host object model. This will help you understand and use the WSH scripts that appear throughout the rest of the book.