Windows Script Host  

Windows Script Host Object Model

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

The illustration that follows represents the Windows Script Host Object Model hierarchy. Click an object in the diagram to see its associated Help topic.

WshScriptExec ObjectWshSpecialFolders CollectionWshEnvironment CollectionWshUrlShortCut ObjectWshShortCut ObjectWshShell ObjectWshNetwork ObjectWshRemoteError ObjectWshRemote ObjectWshController ObjectWshUnnamed CollectionWshNamed CollectionWshArguments CollectionWScript Object

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
  • 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 Access the entire set of command-line arguments
WshNamed Access the set of named command-line arguments
WshUnnamed Access the set of unnamed command-line arguments
WshNetwork
  • Connect to and disconnect from network shares and network printers
  • Map and unmap network shares
  • Access information about the currently logged-on user
WshController Create a remote script process using the Controller method CreateScript()
WshRemote
  • Remotely administer computer systems on a computer network
  • Programmatically manipulate other programs/scripts
WshRemote Error Access the error information available when a remote script (a WshRemote object) terminates as a result of a script error
WshShell
  • 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 Programmatically create a shortcut
WshSpecialfolders Access any of the Windows Special Folders
WshURLShortcut Programmatically create a shortcut to an Internet resource
WshEnvironment Access any of the environment variables (such as WINDIR, PATH, or PROMPT)
WshScriptExec 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).