Microsoft WSH and VBScript Programming for the Absolute Beginner

by Jerry Lee Ford Jr.

"Microsoft WSH and VBScript for the Absolute Beginner, Second Edition," fills the need for a beginner level text on the WSH programming environment and the VBScript scripting language, and is a follow up to the best selling first edition. In recent years, programming has experienced a surge unlike any other technical skill, due to both advancements in technology and the declining cost of computer hardware and software. This boom has created a need for more programmers. Targeted at the entry-level reader with little, if any, previous programming or scripting experience, the book provides beginner level programming instruction using WSH and VBScript as a foundation. "Microsoft WSH and VBScript for the Absolute Beginner, Second Edition," uses a games-based instructional approach and also provides real-world examples in the form of notes placed throughout the book, making programming accessible, simple, and fun. The book provides a programming foundation which the reader can build on by learning more programming languages and more complex scripts.

Genres: Programming

520 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would say that this is a definite must-read for anyone completely new to VBScripting and WSH. Being familiar with programming certainly helps in grasping this material more quickly but it's not a necessity. What really helps keep novices interested and engaged is the application of basic scripting concepts to the creation of simple and fun-to-play games. The book guides users in the creation of scripts to play Hangman, Tic-Tac-Toe, Black Jack and an assortment of other favorites. There are two things that continue to bother about this book: 1. The author doesn't really push the reader to put the teachings to the test (i.e. to write any code on their own), but rather lays out the complete script at the end of every chapter, 2. Because the focus is on games, the crux of scripting (administration, automation of simple tasks, mapping drives, printers etc.) gets put on the backburner and this essential application of scripting gets relegated to a small appendix section at the end. I'd have been much happier had the focus been more on the everyday tasks of scripting and with a little more challenge and incentive to write the code by myself. Granted, I might have an issue with this but the title does say "for the absolute beginner" so take this complaint with a grain of salt. I still learned a lot from the book and I'm sure I'll be reviewing it now and then in the future to refresh myself.

Note: The book was written in 2003 so keep in mind that some of the object model/WSH stuff might need to be researched and updated in certain scripts for the desired outcome since there have been multiple new iterations of the Windows OS since the publication of this book.

[Jason Emmerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the assistance of this book I was able to go from knowing nothing about VBScript to being decent at it within a couple of weeks (Note: I am familiar with other scripting languages, so that probably helped). There are some sections where things aren't always clear, but I was able to figure it out after re-reading the chapter.

[Topilno]

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