VBScript - How to Launch a Text File

[bobross419]

Hi folks, this is my first post here at anandtech, though I've been an onlooker for many months.


I got bored at work and decided to try writing some startup scripts. I've got a basic programming background and understand the logic well enough. Here is my problem. I'm trying to get a text file to launch (2 of them actually).

I was able to get the files to launch using the following code:

==
dim objNotes

set objNotes = CreateObject("Shell.Application")
objNotes.Open("c:\shorties.txt")
==

But it is launching in the wrong place. I was able to open up a few IE browsers and have them positioned where I want, but the InternetExplorer.Application Object has top, left, and width properties that the Shell.Application apparently does not.

I've spent the better part of the last few hours at work scouring the internet for anything that might help, but the only references to text files I ever find are read/write operations that don't open the file itself.

Does anyone have any advise on another Object I might be able to use to open a text file? I'd like it to open in NotePad or WordPad, but I can't seem to find any reference to a NotePad.Application or WordPad.Application class that I can use to open text files.

If nothing else could someone point me in the right direction of a solid reference (preferably online) that will actually tell me what all the object/classes are like InternetExplorer.Application?

I've found quite a few great resources so far, but none have anything like a comprehensive list and none even show an InternetExplorer.Application except as an example.

Thanks in advance,
Bob

 

[Noobsa44]

There is no notepad object that I know of, however I do know that there are some things you can do when starting up an application. If you use WScript.Shell you can cause the application to run in various states such as minimized, maximized, etc. Between that and app activate, you should be able to do some of the things you want to do.

Dim objShell
Set objShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
objShell.Run "C:\Windows\System32\Notepad.exe",4,False ' See http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/d5fk67ky.aspx for more documentation
'objShell.AppActivate "Untitled - Notepad" ' Optional if you want to bring notepad to the front.

As for a list of Applications you can take over, that I have not seen, however I do know that applications such as Word and Excel have some controlling COM APIs. However, to get a nice full list of all COM objects (most of which I believe you can create), you can use the javascript below, taken (and modified slightly) from http://www.winscripter.com/WSH/COM/321.aspx. Just save this as a .js file and run it from the command line. It should give you a ton of COM objects which you can use in your scripts. In order to use them, I believe you must use the programid in the CreateObject function.

Last but not least, I'd suggest you consult with Hey Scripting Guys (http://www.microsoft.com/techn...ptcenter/default.mspx) as they have helped me out of many a scripting jam. In addition to my script, it looks like Hey Scripting guys actually have a more comprehensive answer for you at http://www.microsoft.com/techn...rces/begin/ss1007.mspx.

/**
* Script: ListCOM.js
* Purpose: Lists all COM objects registered on a machine
* and their associated ProgIDs (If Available).
* Author: Daren Thiel
* Date: 13 April 2005
* Note: Rename this file PackingListHTML.js
* Web: http://www.winscripter.com
* Copyright Daren Thiel 2005
**/
ListCOM( "." );

function ListCOM( computer )
{
var wmistr = "winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\\\";
wmistr += computer + "\\root\\cimv2";

var wmi = GetObject( wmistr );

var query = "SELECT * FROM Win32_ClassicCOMClassSetting";
var com = wmi.ExecQuery( query );

var ecom = new Enumerator( com );
for( ; !ecom.atEnd(); ecom.moveNext() )
{
var icom = ecom.item();
print( "name : " + icom.Caption + "\n" + "progid : " + icom.ProgID + "\n\n");
}
}

function print( msg )
{
WScript.Echo( msg );
}