Sebastopol, CA--Lightweight yet powerful, Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript) from Microsoft is used by developers in four main areas: server-side web applications using Active Server Pages (ASP), client-side web scripts using Internet Explorer, code behind Outlook forms, and the automation of repetitive tasks using Windows Script Host (WSH). In spite of the popularity and utility of the language, the documentation that accompanies VBScript can be described as lean, at best. VBScript in a Nutshell, Second Edition, by Paul Lomax, Matt Childs, and Ron Petrusha (O'Reilly, US $34.95), remedies this documentation vacuum by delivering a current and complete reference for programmers and system administers who want to develop effective scripts in any of these four areas.
"VBScript is now a much more capable and powerful language than we ever imagined it would be, and having a reference guide to all the language features becomes even more important," writes Andrew Clinic, Senior Program Manager, Microsoft Corporation, in a foreword to the book. "'VBScript in a Nutshell' is a great reference to the language, and I hope it makes your scripting even more enjoyable and productive."
Completely updated for VBScript 5.6, WSH 5.6, and ASP 3.0, the new edition of "VBScript in a Nutshell" includes introductory chapters to help readers keep current with the significant changes since the first edition was published. A new chapter introduces the Windows Script Component for creating binary COM components, and an appendix documents the Script Encoder. The main part of the book is a comprehensive alphabetical reference to the VBScript language and the Scripting Runtime Library. Each entry has a standardized listing with the following information:
The keyword's syntax and parameters
A discussion of how and where the keyword should be used within the scripting environment
The differences between the operation of the keyword in VBScript and in Visual Basic 6.0 or VBA
Programming Tips & Gotchas--a section containing notes, solutions to real-world challenges, and undocumented behaviors and aspects of the language that will help readers avoid potential problems.
Regardless of a reader's level of experience in programming with VBScript, "VBScript in a Nutshell, Second Edition" will be a valuable asset--the most complete, up-to-date, and easy-to-use language reference available.
"Whether you're writing script on clients or servers, 'VBScript in a Nutshell' is a handy guide to the ins, outs, and quirks of the VBScript language."
--Eric Lippert, Software Design Engineer, Microsoft Corporation
Praise for the first edition:
"...a valuable learning resource and reference."
--CompBookReview.com"Because it applies the concise and popular Nutshell format to Microsoft's preferred scripting language, 'VBScript in a Nutshell' is a valuable learning resource and reference. Focusing on the core language, instead of on any specific application, this book teaches how to write clear, efficient VBScript code."
--Richard Dragan, Teri Kieffer, and Ara Jane Olufson, Amazon.com Delivers: Computer Programming
Additional Resources:
Chapter 7, Windows Script Host 5.6, is available free online
More information about the book, including Table of Contents, index, author bios, and samples
VBScript in a Nutshell, Second Edition
Paul Lomax, Matt Childs, and Ron Petrusha
ISBN 0-596-00488-5, 491 pages, $34.95 (US), $54.95 (CAN), 24.95 (UK)
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