Vbscript Free tutorial

Chapter 1  Introducing VBScript and the World Wide Web

• The Internet and the World Wide Web
• Browsing the World Wide Web
  • Mosaic
  • Netscape Navigator
  • Internet Explorer
  • Other Browsers
• The Elements of the World Wide Web
  • TCP/IP: The Way Data Moves Through the World Wide Web
  • HTTP: The Way Data Is Transported Through the World Wide Web
  • HTML: The Language of the World Wide Web
• Extending the World Wide Web with VBScript
• Microsoft ActiveX and ActiveX Controls
• Extending the World Wide Web with CGI
• Summary
• Q&A
• Workshop
• Quiz

Chapter 2  The Essence of VBScript

• What Is VBScript?
• What Can VBScript Do?
• Some Examples of VBScript in Action
  • Example #1: The DiscoTec Web Page
  • Example #2: The Pace Pal
  • Example #3: The Bird Feeder
• Learning VBScript
• Security and VBScript
• VBScript Versus Visual Basic and Visual Basic for Applications
• Summary
• Q&A
• Workshop
• Quiz

Chapter 3  Extending the Power of Web Pages with VBScript

• How VBScript Enhances Browsers and HTML
• Where VBScript Is Supported
  • Web Browsers
  • Other Internet Tools
• Embedding VBScript in an HTML Document
• The Structure of an HTML Document
  • Important HTML Keywords
• Summary
• Q&A
• Workshop
• Quiz

Chapter 4  Creating Variables in VBScript

• What Is a Variable?
• How Do I Create a Variable?
• What Can Variables Contain?
  • Boolean
  • Byte
  • Integer
  • Long
  • Single
  • Double
  • Date (Time)
  • String
  • Object
  • Error
  • Empty
  • Null
• Determining the Type of Data in a Variable
  • Using VarType
  • IsDate
  • IsNumeric
  • IsEmpty
  • IsNull
  • IsObject
• Changing the Type of Data in a Variable
  • CBool
  • CByte
  • CDate
  • CInt
  • CLng
  • CSng
  • CDbl
  • CStr
• Working with Constants
• The Scope and Lifetime of a Variable
• Working with Arrays
• Creating Arrays
  • Determining the Size of the Array
  • Multi-Dimensional Arrays
  • Changing the Contents of the Array
• Summary
• Q&A
• Workshop
• Quiz

Chapter 5  Putting Operators to Work in VBScript

• Working with Operators
  • Arithmetic Operators
  • Addition (+)
  • Subtraction (-)
  • Multiplication (*)
  • Division (/ and \)
  • Exponents (^)
  • Modulo Arithmetic (Mod)
  • Negation (-)
  • Comparison Operators
  • Equality (=)
  • Inequality (<>)
  • Less Than and Greater Than (< and >)
  • Less Than or Equal To and Greater Than or Equal To (<= and >=)
  • Object Equivalence (Is)
  • Logical Operators
  • Negation (Not)
  • Conjunction (And)
  • Disjunction (Or)
  • Exclusion (Xor)
  • Logical Equivalence (Eqv) and Implication (Imp)
• Working with Strings
  • String Concatenation (&)
  • String Concatenation Using the + Operator
• Operator Precedence
• Summary
• Q&A
• Workshop
• Quiz

Chapter 6  Controlling the Flow of VBScript Code

• Why Control the Flow of Code?
• Using Control Structures to Make Decisions
  • If…Then
  • If…Then…Else
  • Select Case
• Using Control Structures to Make Code Repeat
  • For…Next
  • Do…Loop
• Putting It All Together
• Summary
• Q&A
• Workshop
• Quiz

Chapter 7  Building a Home for Your Code

• Subroutines
  • Declaring a Subroutine
  • Calling a Subroutine
  • Exiting a Subroutine
• Functions
  • Declaring a Function
  • Calling a Function
  • Exiting a Function
• Passing Arguments into Procedures
• Why Are Procedures Useful?
• Event Procedures
• Method Procedures
• Procedures, Subroutines, Functions, Events, and Methods!
• Where to Put Procedures
• Summary
• Q&A
• Workshop
• Quiz

WEEK 1  In Review

WEEK 2  At a Glance

Chapter 8  Intrinsic HTML Form Controls

• An Introduction to HTML Forms
• The Button Control
• The Text Control
• The Textarea Control
• Putting It All Together
• Summary
• Q&A
• Workshop
• Quiz

Chapter 9  More Intrinsic HTML Form Controls

• The Radio Button Control
• The Check Box Control
• The Password Control
• Intrinsic HTML Form Controls at a Glance
• Summary
• Q&A
• Workshop
• Quiz

Chapter 10  An Introduction to Objects and ActiveX Controls

• Objects
  • Why Objects Are Needed
  • Object Definition
  • Object Attributes
  • Object Parameters
• ActiveX Technology
  • ActiveX Control Overview
• The Label Control
  • Properties, Methods, and Events Supported by the Label
• Summary
• Q&A
• Workshop
• Quiz

Chapter 11  More ActiveX Controls

• The New Item Control
  • Object Definition
  • Attributes
  • Properties
  • Methods and Events
  • Setting Properties for the New Item Control
  • Dynamically Adjusting Program Feedback with the New Item Control
• Timer Control
  • Object Declaration
  • Properties
  • Event
  • Methods
• Setting Properties for the Timer Control
• Providing Dynamic Feedback in Your Web Page with the Timer Control
• Other ActiveX Controls
• Summary
• Q&A
• Workshop
• Quiz

Chapter 12  Advanced Objects: ActiveX, Java, and ActiveVRML

• Working with Objects
• The ActiveX Chart Control
• Integrating Java Applets
• The ActiveVRML Viewer Object
• Component Downloading Issues
• Summary
• Q&A
• Workshop
• Quiz

Chapter 13  VBScript Standards and Conventions

• Advantages of Standards and Conventions
  • Code Maintenance Advantage
  • Improved Team Communication
  • Easier Debugging
  • Faster, More Effective Code Implementation
  • The Dangers of Not Using Standards
• Standards to Use
  • Worldwide Standards?
  • Adopting Standards That Are Right for You and Your Company
• Variables
  • Descriptive Variable Names
  • Mixed-Case Variable Names
  • Variable Name Prefix
  • Scope Prefix
  • Comments
  • Constants
• Objects
  • Procedure Declarations
  • Descriptive Names for Procedures
  • Prefixes for Procedures
  • Procedure Comments
  • Good Procedure Conventions in Action
• Within Your Code
• Script Structure
• Concerns
  • Myth: The Overhead Penalty Outweighs the Advantages of Standards
  • Myth: Standards Slow Me Down
  • The Non-Myth: Standards Constrain Me!
• Summary
• Q&A
• Workshop
• Quiz

Chapter 14  Working with Documents and User Interface Functions

• Giving the User the Message Through Message Boxes
  • Line Separation
  • Buttons and Titles
• Input Boxes
• Documents
  • The document Object and the form Object
  • The document.write Method
  • The HTML Body ONLOAD Event Procedure and Restrictions on Using document.write
  • Using document.write from VBScript at Page Load Time
  • Why Should You Use document.write?
• Summary
• Q&A
• Workshop
• Quiz

WEEK 2  In Review

WEEK 3  At a Glance

Chapter 15  Extending Your Web Pages with Strings

• Asc and Chr
  • Miscellaneous Functions: Ucase, Lcase, LTrim, RTrim, Trim, Left, and Right
  • InStr
• Len and Mid
  • Space and String
  • Even More String Functions: IsEmpty, Cstr, Val, Hex, Oct, and StrComp
• Summary
• Q&A
• Workshop
• Quiz

Chapter 16  Extending Your Web Pages with Dates and Advanced Math

• Dates
  • Working with Dates and Times
  • Date, Time, and Now
  • Year, Month, Chapter, WeekChapter, Hour, Minute, and Second
  • DateSerial and TimeSerial
  • Date and Time Comparisons and DateValue/TimeValue
  • Understanding Date and Time Formats
  • CDate and IsDate
• Math
  • What Does VBScript Let You Do with Math?
  • Abs and Sgn
  • The Logarithmic Functions-Log and Exp
  • The Square Root Function-Sqr
  • The Trig Functions-Sin, Cos, Tan, and Atn
  • Extending the Power of VBScript Through the Log and Trig Functions
  • Rounding and the Integer Functions-Fix and Int
  • Randomize and Rnd
  • Working with Non-Decimal Systems-Hex and Oct
  • The Mod Operator
  • Variable Representation of Numeric Data
• Summary
• Q&A
• Workshop
• Quiz

Chapter 17  Exterminating Bugs from Your Script

• VBScript Error Handling Support (or Lack Thereof!)
  • Syntax Errors: Say What You Mean!
  • Semantic Errors: Mean What You Say!
• Effective Error Hunting
  • The Brute Force MsgBox Approach
  • Soothing the Wounds with the On Error Statement
  • If You Object to Errors, Use the err Object!
  • More on Error Handling with err and on error
• Tracing Your Code
  • Traditional Debug Environments Versus VBScript
  • Visual Basic 4.0 Trace Capabilities
  • Secret Strategy for Visual Basic Programmers Who Are Debugging VBScript Code
• HTML Trace Capabilities
• VBScript Trace Capabilities
  • The Message Box Trace Approach
  • More Tools to Make Debugging Easier
  • The Message Box Saturation Trace Approach
  • The Message Box Variable Watch Approach
  • Breaking Apart Complex Statements to Uncover the Slimy Bug!
• Ensuring That the Bug Is Dead
  • The Do-It-Yourself Trace Debug Window Approach
• Building Your Own Trace Routines
  • Sample Variant Variable Analysis Routine
• Error Handling to Include in Your Final Script
• More Reasons Why VBScript Can Be Tough to Debug
• The Moral of the Story
• Summary
• Q&A
• Workshop
• Quiz

Chapter 18  Advanced User Interface and Browser Object Techniques

• 2-D Forms, the Layout Control, and the ActiveX Control Pad
• Loading Graphics in Advance with the ActiveX preload Control
  • Caching Considerations When Using preload
  • Putting preload to Work in Your Script
  • Maintenance Considerations When Using preload
• Anchor Clicks on Images and Text
  • The Anchor ID
  • The Anchor MouseMove Event
  • The Anchor Click Event
  • Redirecting a Link to Another Location
  • Directly Linking to Another Location
• Browser Objects
• Summary
• Q&A
• Workshop
• Quiz

Chapter 19  Dynamic Page Flow and Server Submittal

• The Advantage of Validating Server-Bound Data
• Reducing Traffic by Scripting Dynamic Pages
• Summary
• Q&A
• Workshop
• Quiz

Chapter 20  Porting Between Visual Basic and VBScript

• How Do Visual Basic and VBScript Compare?
• Finding Differences When You Port Code
• Syntax Elements in Visual Basic 4.0 but Not in VBScript
  • Constants
  • File I/O
  • Database Support/Data Access Objects
  • Classes and Property let/get/set Procedures
  • Financial Functions
  • String Functions
  • Variable Types
  • Intrinsic Objects-Print, Clipboard, and Debug
  • Error Handling, Gotos, and Labels
  • Program Control
  • Other Syntax Not Supported
• Other Visual Basic and VBScript Differences
  • Arrays
  • Intrinsic Browser Objects
  • Multiple Form Architecture
• Summary
• Q&A
• Workshop
• Quiz

Chapter 21  Security, Stability, and Distributed Source Control Issues

• Stability Issues
  • Guarding Against Catastrophic Error Scripts
• Security Issues
  • Guarding Against Malicious Scripts
  • Safe Components
  • Distributed Source Control
• Summary
• Q&A
• Workshop
• Quiz

WEEK 3  In Review

Appendix A  VBScript Syntax Quick Reference

Appendix B  Information Resources

• Update Information for This guide
  • Sams.net Home Page
  • DoubleBlaze Software Consortium Home Page
• The Internet Services Provider
• General Information Resources
  • Carl & Gary's Visual Basic Home Page
  • CGI Specification
  • Lynx
  • Macmillan Computer Publishing
  • Microsoft
  • Microsoft ActiveX Control Kit
  • Microsoft Internet Download Toolbox
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • Microsoft VBScript Information
  • Microsoft VBScript Language Reference
  • ncSA Mosaic
  • Netscape
  • Unofficial VBScript Information Page
  • Visual Basic CGI Programming
  • VBScript Observations and Samples
  • World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Drafts
  • W3C Objects: "Inserting Objects into HTML" Working Draft

Appendix C  Answers to Quiz Questions

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10
• Chapter 11
• Chapter 12
• Chapter 13
• Chapter 14
• Chapter 15
• Chapter 16
• Chapter 17
• Chapter 18
• Chapter 19
• Chapter 20
• Chapter 21