VBScript in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly)) |
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Paul Lomax, Matt Childs, Ron Petrusha
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Pages: 552 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0596004885
Pub: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
Pub date: 2003-03-20
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 27186
Editorial Review:
Visual Basic is the most popular programming language, even though it runs almost exclusively on Windows. The cut-down Scripting Edition was intended for use in browsers, but with Netscape refusing to support it, it has made little impact in that context. It found a new lease of life as a server-side script engine for Active Server Pages, and has also turned up in Outlook and as a shell script for Windows, so despite early setbacks it is now widely used.
This title falls neatly into two parts. About half of the book is taken up by a language reference, which gives the syntax, description, and an example for each language element. Many entries have an interesting section headed "Programming Tips & Gotchas", with comments that you will not find in the official documentation. The other chapters deal with how to use VBScript both generally and in four specific contexts. These are Active Server Pages, Outlook forms, the Windows Scripting Host, and in Internet Explorer. VBScript is almost infinitely extensible, since it has the ability to program objects presented by its host or by other applications, so in each case the main focus is on what objects are available in each different environment. Two objects are considered so important that they are fully documented in the reference section, and these are the Dictionary object and the File System Object.
VBScript is an easy language to learn, so readers may wonder if they need this book. Also, this Nutshell title does not come close to detailed documentation for topics like Active Server Pages. However, it is subtitled "A Desktop Quick Reference", and this is where it comes into its own. Developers working with VBScript will find this a handy guide, and pick up some useful tips along the way. --Tim Anderson
Reader Reviews:
A MUST have ... (3/4 people found this helpful)
Small and easy to carry - but packed with info. Solved a problem for me which I had been working on for weeks ! The layout of the book showing syntax and practical examples makes easy readng. Not a book for beginers but a must have for anybody working on web page designs where wizards wont or cant do it for you !
Excellent quick reference (1/1 people found this helpful)
Great book if you are already familiar with the basic of writing scripts, or even working with existing scripts.
The tutorials in the early chapters of the book do not impress much - if you don't already have knowledge of script application in Outlook, or IE, etc.. they will be awkward to grasp.
However, I have found the latter half of the book - which carries the VBScript reference pages, and a small Windows Script Host reference invaluable. The information is concise, easily understood, and well linked to other functions to increase understanding and use of the language.
Reference-tastic (4/6 people found this helpful)
Brilliant reference, but not a tutorial.
1st section details scripting in IE, Outlook, ASP etc, and has an overview of the object models in each. Sorted out my Outlook form scripting issues!
2nd section is a brilliant reference to all VB Script functions, what version they came about, how to use them, code snippets, related functions.
Having bought quite a few useless "IT books" recently, usually for >30 squids, I'm happy to say this one at least has a place on my desk!
A good reference book (8/8 people found this helpful)
Like most of the O'Reilly's publications this book isn't for the feint hearted. This is most definitely a reference book and I would not recommend its use as a tutorial. However, there comes a time when you've learnt the basics and you need to be able to have the information at your fingertips. This is the best reference book that I've found on VB Scripting and WSH so far.
Compact and very useful (9/9 people found this helpful)
DO NOT EXPECT TO LEARN VBSCRIPT FROM THIS BOOK!!! This is a book solely intended for people with some knowledge of vbscript programming as a quick-reference guide and as such - its excellent. Compared to Microsoft's own online reference guide this will explain how to use vbscript to your advantage and is an easy to use reference. Personally I use it mainly for vbs scripts for enterprise apps
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