1. The Basics

   1. Chapter 1 Introduction

      1. VBScript's History and Uses
      2. What VBScript Is Used For: Gluing Together Objects
      3. Differences Between VBScript and VBA

   2. Chapter 2 Program Structure

      1. Functions and Procedures
      2. Classes
      3. Global Code
      4. Reusable Code Libraries

   3. Chapter 3 Data Types and Variables

      1. VBScript Data Types: The Many Faces of the Variant
      2. Variables and Constants

   4. Chapter 4 Error Handling and Debugging

      1. Debugging
      2. Error Handling
      3. Common Problem Areas and How to Avoid Them

   5. Chapter 5 VBScript with Active Server Pages

      1. How ASP Works
      2. Active Server Pages Object Model

   6. Chapter 6 Programming Outlook Forms

      1. Why Program Outlook Forms?
      2. The Form-Based Development Environment
      3. Running Your Code
      4. Program Flow
      5. The Outlook Object Model
      6. Accessing Other Object Models

   7. Chapter 7 Windows Script Host 5.6

      1. Why Use WSH?
      2. Running WSH Scripts
      3. Program Flow
      4. The WSH Object Model
      5. WSH Language Elements
      6. Accessing Other Object Models

   8. Chapter 8 VBScript with Internet Explorer

      1. The <SCRIPT> Tag
      2. What Can You Do with Client-Side Scripting?
      3. Understanding the IE Object Model

   9. Chapter 9 Windows Script Components

      1. The Script Component Wizard
      2. Writing Component Code
      3. Using the Component
      4. WSC Programming Topics

2. Reference

   1. Chapter 10 The Language Reference

3. Appendixes

   1. Appendix A Language Elements by Category

      1. Array Handling
      2. Assignment
      3. Comment
      4. Constants
      5. Data Type Conversion
      6. Date and Time
      7. Dictionary Object
      8. Error Handling
      9. File System Objects
      10. Information Functions
      11. Mathematical and Numeric
      12. Miscellaneous
      13. Object Programming
      14. Program Structure and Flow
      15. String Manipulation
      16. User Interaction
      17. Variable Declaration

   2. Appendix B VBScript Constants

      1. Color Constants
      2. Comparison Constants
      3. Date and Time Constants
      4. Date Format Constants
      5. Error Constant
      6. Logical and TriState Constants
      7. Message Box Constants
      8. String Constants
      9. Variable Type Constants

   3. Appendix C Operators

      1. Arithmetic Operators
      2. String Operator
      3. Comparison Operators
      4. Logical and Bitwise Operators
      5. Operator Precedence

   4. Appendix D Locale IDs

   5. Appendix E The Script Encoder

      1. How Encoding and Decoding Works
      2. Script Encoder Syntax
      3. Encoding Examples

1. Colophon

Our look is the result of reader comments, our own experimentation, and feedback from distribution channels. Distinctive covers complement our distinctive approach to technical topics, breathing personality and life into potentially dry subjects. The animal on the cover of VBScript in a Nutshell, Second Edition is a miniature pinscher. Known only to have existed in Germany up until about 100 years ago, the miniature pinscher is said to have descended from the German pinscher or is possibly a cross between the Italian greyhound and the dachshund. He is not a small Doberman pinscher, as some may think. He was bred to be a ratter and a good barking watchdog.

The miniature pinscher is considered the smallest breed of guard dog. It is classified in Group 2, which also includes the Doberman pinscher, rottweiler, mastiff, boxer, and Great Dane.

The miniature pinscher has been characterized as having a heroic demeanor and a striking personality. Pinscher owners commonly affirm that the dog is small and fragile only in appearance, not in temperament. Mary Brady was the production editor and proofreader for VBScript in a Nutshell, Second Edition. Emily Quill and Claire Cloutier provided quality control. Jamie Peppard and Derek Di Matteo provided production support. Brenda Miller wrote the index.

Ellie Volckhausen designed the cover of this book, based on a series design by Edie Freedman. The cover image is a 19th-century engraving from the Dover Pictorial Archive. Emma Colby produced the cover layout with QuarkXPress 4.1 using Adobe's ITC Garamond font.

Bret Kerr designed the interior layout, based on a series design by David Futato. This book was converted by Mike Sierra to FrameMaker 5.5.6 with a format conversion tool created by Erik Ray, Jason McIntosh, Neil Walls, and Mike Sierra that uses Perl and XML technologies. The text font is Linotype Birka; the heading font is Adobe Myriad Condensed; and the code font is LucasFont's TheSans Mono Condensed. The illustrations that appear in the book were produced by Robert Romano and Jessamyn Read using Macromedia FreeHand 9 and Adobe Photoshop 6. The tip and warning icons were drawn by Christopher Bing. This colophon was written by Maureen Dempsey.