Windows Script Host Object Model (original) (raw)

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Windows Script Host Object Model

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The Windows Script Host object model consists of 14 objects. The root object is the WScript object.

Object Model Illustration

The illustration that follows represents the Windows Script Host Object Model hierarchy.

The Windows Script Host Object Model Hierarchy

The Windows Script Host object model provides a logical, systematic way to perform many administrative tasks. The set of COM interfaces it provides can be placed into two main categories:

WSH Objects and Associated Tasks

The following table is a list of the WSH objects and the typical tasks associated with them.

Object What you can do with this object
WScript Object Set and retrieve command line arguments Determine the name of the script file Determine the host file name (wscript.exe or cscript.exe) Determine the host version information Create, connect to, and disconnect from COM objects Sink events Stop a script's execution programmatically Output information to the default output device (for example, a dialog box or the command line)
WshArguments Object Access the entire set of command-line arguments
WshNamed Object Access the set of named command-line arguments
WshUnnamed Object Access the set of unnamed command-line arguments
WshNetwork Object Connect to and disconnect from network shares and network printers Map and unmap network shares Access information about the currently logged-on user
WshController Object Create a remote script process using the Controller method CreateScript()
WshRemote Object Remotely administer computer systems on a computer network Programmatically manipulate other programs/scripts
WshRemoteError Object Access the error information available when a remote script (a WshRemote object) terminates as a result of a script error
WshShell Object Run a program locally Manipulate the contents of the registry Create a shortcut Access a system folder Manipulate environment variables (such as WINDIR, PATH, or PROMPT)
WshShortcut Object Programmatically create a shortcut
WshSpecialFolders Object Access any of the Windows Special Folders
WshUrlShortcut Object Programmatically create a shortcut to an Internet resource
WshEnvironment Object Access any of the environment variables (such as WINDIR, PATH, or PROMPT)
WshScriptExec Object Determine status and error information about a script run with Exec() Access the StdIn, StdOut, and StdErr channels

In addition to the object interfaces provided by Windows Script Host, administrators can use any ActiveX control that exposes automation interfaces to perform various tasks on the Windows platform. For example, administrators can write scripts to manage the Windows Active Directory Service Interface (ADSI).

Change History

Date History Reason
April 2009 Added links to listed objects. Customer feedback.

Additional resources

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