How to Program with VBScript: 3 Steps (with Pictures)

2025 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2025-01-23 12:04

VBScript is a Windows native programming language that is generally used to create web server applications. VBScript is included in an HTML file, and is fairly easy to use. Keep in mind that VBScript is not the same as Visual Basic which is usually used for programming desktop applications.

Step

Part 1 of 5: Preparing the Program Development Environment

Step 1. Get a good code editor

You can use Notepad, but a better editor will make it easier for you to see the syntax of your VBScript code.

Step 2. Install Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer is the only browser that supports VBScript because VBScript is a patented Microsoft product. You need Internet Explorer installed on your computer in order to see the results of running VBScript programs.

Since Internet Explorer is only supported on Windows, you can get the best results by creating the program using a Windows computer

Step 3. Learn some basic VBScript exercises

There are some basics that will be helpful if you know them before getting into writing too deep code.

• Use ' (one quotation mark) to mark comments. Any lines starting with single quotes are marked as comments and are not processed by the script. Use comments frequently to help other app developers and yourself understand what your code is doing.
• Use _ (underscore) to continue at the end of the line. The end of one line of code is usually indicated by a move to the next line, but if the line of code you have written is too long and must be continued on the next line, put a _ at the end of the unfinished line to indicate that the line of code will be continued on the next line.

Part 2 of 5: Creating a Basic Page

Step 1. Create an HTML page

VBScript is contained in HTML websites. To see how VBScript performs, you need to create an HTML file that can be opened with Internet Explorer. Open your code editor, then enter the following code:

Step 2. Add VBScript flags

When creating web pages using VBScript, you must tell the browser which script to run. Insert the following flag into your HTML page:

Step 3. Use VBScript on the ASP server

If you are writing VBScript for an ASP server, you can mark the beginning of the script using a special flag:

     <% %>  

Part 3 of 5: Creating the "Hello World!" Program

Step 1. Enter the Write command

This command serves to display the content to the user. When using the Write command, the specified text will be displayed in the browser.

Step 2. Add the text you want to display

Inside the brackets, enter the text you want to appear on the screen. Don't forget to enclose the text with quotes to designate the text as data of type string.

Step 3. Open the HTML file with your browser

Save your code as an. HTML file. Open the file you saved using Internet Explorer. Your page should show Hello World! in plain text.

Part 4 of 5: Using Variables

Step 1. Start by declaring your variables

You can store data in variables, then you can call and manipulate them later. You need to declare variables using dim before filling them with values. You can declare multiple variables at once. Variables must start with a letter, and can be up to 255 characters long. Below, we create the "age" variable:

Step 2. Enter the value into the variable

After declaring a variable, you can enter values into it. Use the = sign to specify the value of the variable. You can use the Write command to display the variables on the screen to make sure that everything is working properly.

Step 3. Try to manipulate the variables

You can use mathematical statements to manipulate variables. The mathematical statements used work like basic algebra. All variables, including your answer, must be declared before being used.

Step 4. Create an array

In essence, an Array is a table that contains more than one value. After that, the array is handled as a single variable. Like all variables, arrays must be declared first. You must indicate the number of values the array can store (including 0 as the first number). After that, you can call the data stored in the array later.

Step 5. Create a two-dimensional array

You can create arrays of multiple dimensions to store more data. When declaring an array, you must indicate the number of rows and columns the array holds.

Part 5 of 5: Using Procedures

Step 1. Understand the difference between "sub" and "function" procedures

There are two types of procedures in VBScript: sub and function. These two types of procedures allow your program to perform actions.

• Sub procedures can perform actions, but cannot return values to the program.
• Function procedures can perform actions and return values to the program.

Step 2. Create and call the sub procedure

You can use sub procedures to create tasks that your program can call later. Use the Sub and End Sub statements to enclose the contents of the sub procedure. Use the Call statement to activate the sub procedure.

Step 3. Create a function procedure

Function procedures allow you to execute commands and return values to the program. The function procedure is where the main functionality of your program will run. Use the Function and End Function statements to enclose the contents that are executed inside the function procedure.