This FAQs Guide takes you on a beginner's journey to understanding VB Scripting and the concepts surrounding scripting in the first place. Consisting of more than 50 pages in Adobe Acrobat format, this guide will be updated in the future to progress into intermediate and expert concepts. Click here to download the full guide.
Below is an excerpt from the guide:
Q: What's the best way to learn to script?
A: This question comes up quite a bit on Web forums and e-mail discussion lists. When individuals finally decide that they are ready to start on the path to scripting, they turn to someone who would know where to begin. If you notice, everyone will give a slightly different answer. Some will give a long list of scripting books, others will copy and paste links to their favorite scripting Web sites. But, despite the laundry list, one point rings through every time: You learn by doing.
Remember when you started learning how to drive a car? You probably gave your parents quite a few heart attacks, but they knew the only way you were going to understand driving was to sit behind the wheel and work out your own rhythm. Your dad gave you the basics: "The brake pedal is on your left and the gas pedal is on your right," "That's the turn signal -- no, no on the other side. Those were the wiper blades."
But, better than learning to drive, you won't have to worry about needing a licensed scripter sitting in the passenger seat. You're on your own, doing your own thing, learning at your own pace and getting your own rhythm. And, unless you write a script that reboots the file servers and test the script in a production environment, you won't cause too many heart attacks.
There is no licensing fee for a script. As you are surfing the Web, finding scripting Web sites and reviewing script code, grab it all and save it somewhere on your hard drive. Be as script-hungry as you like, and no one will care.
There are several resources available for learning scripting. Grabbing scripts from these resources is the most important key to understanding the languages. One of the most exciting aspects of the scripting community is each individual's willingness to share what he has done. A couple quick changes here, an addition of a line or two and a script you found or received from someone is ready to work in your environment. But, remember, other people will be just like you -- chomping at the bit to learn how to script. Don't be stingy and keep your scripts locked up in a box somewhere. By sharing what solutions you have scripted, you not only help the "newbies" get up to speed, but you help keep a community growing and going strong.
For the rest of the answer and the complete guide, click here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rod Trent, manager of myITforum.com and Microsoft MVP is a leading expert on Microsoft Systems Management Server. He has more than 18 years of IT experience -- eight of which have been dedicated to SMS. He is the author of such books as Microsoft SMS Installer, Admin911:SMS, and IIS 5.0: A Beginner's Guide, and has written literally thousands of articles on technology topics.
