Review

VBScript is one of many available ActiveX Scripting Languages. The scripts that you write are executed by the Windows Script Host (WSH), which is physically implemented as WScript.exe and available for (or included with) all 32-bit Windows operating systems. VBScript-like other ActiveX Scripting Languages-is especially powerful because it can interface with COM, Microsoft's Component Object Model. COM allows VBScript to be infinitely extended to perform other functions, including the majority of the Windows operating system's functions. In fact, COM integration sets VBScript apart from other so-called scripting technologies like old MS-DOS-style batch files.

However, VBScript does bring up some important security issues that you'll need to learn to deal with in your environment. Microsoft's regrettable lack of planning when it comes to scripting has resulted in a huge number of script-based viruses, making scripting a tool for both good and evil. Nonetheless, you can learn to configure your environment so that only approved ("good") scripts run, allowing you to use the power and flexibility of script-based administration, while protecting your environment from malicious scripts.

COMING UP

Chapter 2 focuses on running scripts, editing scripts, and writing scripts. You'll learn about basic and more advanced script authoring tools, and the various ways that you can launch scripts within Windows.