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IE Interface wizard for scripts

Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:31 am
by ronkupper
Hello,
Just a little idea of mine -
IE can be beautifully used as a Graphical Interface for scripts.
It's a neat technique using the "InternetExplorer.Application" object to dynamically create (usually seamless) IE windows and continually reading/updating them - ala GUI! :-)
(Check out -
http://nerds-central.blogspot.com/2007/ ... cript.html
http://www.jansfreeware.com/articles/vbs-forms.html)

Wouldn't it be great if PrimalScript could offer a wizard to dynamically create the code for an IE based GUI for VBScript,JScript,PowerShell,etc..?

Maybe even allow users to drag & drop/Draw their own controls AND attach code to them ;P

What a fine way to bring current scripting knowledge to a whole new exciting level of functionality, isn't it!?

Best Regards,

Ron Kuper
ronkupper@gmail.com


Edit -
HTA is also a good option.
nice example for an HTA wrapper for vbscript -


(from http://heidelbergit.blogspot.com/2007/0 ... elias.html)
ronkupper2008-03-11 15:48:07

IE Interface wizard for scripts

Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:52 am
by donj
For VBScript or JScript users, HTAs offer a much more sophisticated way of leveraging HTML to create a GUI. For PowerShell, WinForms accomplishes much the same thing. It's significantly less awkward and more flexible than using the InternetExplorer.Application object, and enables you to use event-driven programming rather than a loop to continually check for input (for example).

Just in case you're interested :). We have a forum for HTAs (and PowerShell, for that matter) on ScriptingAnswers.com; "Advanced VBScript for Windows Administrators" (MS Press) covers HTAs, too. "Windows PowerShell: TFM (2nd Edition)" covers using WinForms in PowerShell. HTAs/WinForms were specifically designed to do this, though, and they're quite powerful.

(BTW, I realize you mention HTAs - just wanted to point that out for other folks; HTAs don't utilize InternetExplorer.Application). donj2008-03-11 15:52:56

IE Interface wizard for scripts

Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:17 am
by ronkupper
But.... do you have a wizard? :O

Thanks for replying!!

IE Interface wizard for scripts

Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:47 am
by donj
There's no wizard for producing HTAs; it's on our wish list - it's been requested by others, too :). It'd more likely take the form of a graphical forms editor, as you suggested, than a "wizard," since I imagine there would be a need to go back and edit a form and then re-produce the code.

IE Interface wizard for scripts

Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:02 pm
by ronkupper
Great you are the best!!