ASP Survival Guide

• ASP (Active Server Pages) is a Microsoft product.
• ASPX (Active Server Pages Extended) is a Microsoft product working with MS's .Net technology.
• Web Servers that support ASP:  MS IIS  (maybe others)
• Basic Coding
  • An ASP can have HTML & ASP code.  HTML is processed by the client (browser) and ASP code is processed by the server (MS IIS).
  • Simple ASP - ASP Scripting is in the <% %> tags.
    • <h1><% = "Hello World" %></h1>
    • <% Response.Write("<h1>Hello World</h1>"); %>
  • Scripting (coding) - the scripting language supported by ASP (code between the tags <% %>) is either VBScript or JScript.
    VBScript - Like Microsoft's VB (Visual Basic).
    JScript - Microsoft's implementation of JavaScript.
• Code Execution - Remember that any code (scripting) between the tags <% %> is executed on the server side (web/application server), not the client (browser).

Home Directory

• Launch MS IIS (Start, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Internet Information Services)
• Right click on "Default Web Site" and choose Properties.
• Click on the "Home Directory" tab.
• Click - Script Source Access
• Click - Read
• Click on "Configuration"

Home Directory - Configuration - Debugging - Turn on the to Debug

• Click the "Debugging" tab
• Check - Enable ASP server-side script debugging
  Check - Enable ASP client-side script debugging
  Check - Send detailed ASP error messages to client

Home Directory - Configuration - Options

• Click the "Options" tab.
• Click - Enable session state (Session time out: 20 min)
  Click - Enable Buffering
  Click - Enable parent paths
  Default ASP language: VBScript
  ASP Script timeout: 90 seconds

• All server directives must be at the top of the ASP page.
• <%@  something %> - example of a Server directive.
• Script Language Directive
  <%@ Language = VBScript %> - Default script is VBScript
  <%@ Language = JavaScript %> - Default script is JavaScript
  The default script language can be set at the Web Server.

Defining the default script language:
(Make sure these server directives are at the top of your ASP page.)

• JavaScript - by Netscape.  JScript is Microsoft's implementation (IE) of JavaScript.
  <%@ Language=JavaScript %>
• VBScript - by Microsoft
  <%@ LANGUAGE = VBScript %>
  <% Option Explicit %>
  (Note: Option Explicit forces the declaration of variables.)

VBScript vs JavaScript

• Case Sensitivity - VBScript-NO, JavaScript-YES.
• There are many, many differences in the 2 languages.  VBScript is similar to MS Visual Basic and VBA (Visual Basic for Applications).  JavaScript was created by Netscape and has some similarity to C and Java (created by Sun).  JavaScript is NOT Java.

• Commenting (Comment / Comments)
  • // - Single line comment
  • ' - Single line comment
  • <%= %> - Cannot have comments.
  • In-line comments in multiple lines of code - DOES NOT WORK (for me atleast)
    • Example that DOES NOT Work
      strMsg = "Hello" & _ //Test Comment.
               "World"
    • Example that DOES Works
      strMsg = "Hello" & _
               "World" //Test Comment.
  • Multi-line comments (VBScript) - DOES NOT WORK
    • /* */ - does not work.
    • The best work around is to close the ASP script and make an HTML comment.
      • Example that DOES work  (Because the comment becomes an HTML comment!)
        <%
        response.write( "Before" & "<br>")
        %>
        <!--
        response.write( "Hello World" & "<br>")
        response.write( "Session.SessionID = " & Session.SessionID )
        -->
        <%
        response.write( "After" & "<br>")
        %>
      • Example that DOES NOT work.
        <%
        response.write( "Before" & "<br>")
        <!--
        response.write( "Hello World" & "<br>")
        response.write( "Session.SessionID = " & Session.SessionID )
        -->
        response.write( "After" & "<br>")
        %>
• Creating multiple lines of code.  Use the "_" character.
  MyVar = "This is test line 1" _
              & "This is test line 2"
• Declaring a variable
  • <% Option Explicit %> -  Forces declaration of variables.
  • Dim strSql ' As String - Declare a variable.
• Conditional
  • Or - don't use: ||
  • And - don't use: &&
• String Values
  • Assign a string value:  Use a double quote ( " ). 
    • DOES NOT WORK
      • Single quote ( ' ) doesn't work!
  • Adding strings (&): "String 1" & "String 2"
  • Insert a quote (") in a string.  Escape the quote by using 2 quotes.
    sText = "<font size=""3"">Hello World</font>"
    Returns:  <font size="3">Hello World</font>
• Misc Items
  • Count vs Length
    VBScript: objMy.Count
    JScript: objMy.length
• Other gotchas
  • Equality in conditional statement, use "=" and NOT "==".
  • NULL
    VBScript: NULL (notes: isNull(NULL) returns true.  isNull("") returns false.  )
    JScript: null
  • "&" vs "+" with Strings.  Use the "&" to add string values.
  • Escaping a Quote
    JScript: Escape Quote: \"
    VBScript Escape Quote: "" (2 Quotes)
  • += Doesn't exist !!!
    Use intLoop = intLoop + 1
  • not vs !
    Example #2:
    JScript: intMyVar != 1
    VBScript: not ( intMyVar = 1 )
    Example #1:
    JScript: if ( ! blnMyVar )
    VBScript: if ( not blnMyVar )
    Example #2:
    JScript: if ( intEx != 0 ) (<> is an error)
    VBScript: if ( intEx <> 0 ) (!= is an error)
  • Arrays start with 0.
    JScript Arrays start with: 0, columns with 0
    VBScript Arrays start with: 0, But columns with 1
     

• Commenting
  • // - Single line comment.
  • /* */

• <%  <ASP Server side script %>
• <%= <value or function that returns a value>  %>
• <% Response.Write ( <value> ) %>

• If you want to stop processing the .ASP page and return the results use: (Very useful to me!)
  <%
If ( false ) then
    Response.Clear
    Response.Write("query = " & query)
    Response.End
  End if
%>

Note:
If Response.Buffer has been set to TRUE, calling Response.End will flush the buffer. If you do not want output returned to the user, you should call Response.Clear first.

• Visibility of Variables
  • Web Server Variables (IIS)
    • Session - Store the variable in the Session Object.  Visible by all ASP pages requested by one user (user specific).
      Example:
      <% 
        Session("FirstName") = "John"
        Session("LastName") = "Doe" 
      %>
    • Application - Store the variable in the Application Object.  Visible by all ASP pages requested by any user (application specific).  "... an Application is a group of ASP files within as single directory, including any subdirectories"
      <% Application("AppName") = "ABC Reporting" %>
  • Global - A variable declared outside of a procedure (VBScript) or a function.
  • Local - A variable declared inside of a procedure (VBScript) or a function.

Example ASP Code to Connect to a DB:

• x
  • Open Connection string.
• MS Access 2000 MDB example.
  <%
  //Example of connecting to a Database.
  Dim dbcnUsers ' As ADODB.Connection
  Dim strDbPathname ' As String
  Dim strConnection ' As String
  
  strDbPathname = Server.MapPath("MyDbBasics.mdb")
  
  strConnection = _
  "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;" _
  & "Data Source=" & strDbPathname
  
  Set dbcnUsers = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
  dbcnUsers.Open(strConnection)
  %>

Provider attributes:

• MS Access 2000: Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;
• MS Access 97: Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.3.51;
• DSN (Data Source Name)
  DB2 Example:
  dbcnUsers.Open("DSN=Sample;UID=db2admin;PWD=<password>")

Resources

• http://www.angelfire.com/tx4/cus/notes/aspado.html - Great info on the Connection and Recordsets.
  

Dim dbcnUsers ' As ADODB.Connection
Dim strOpenDBInfo ' As String
strOpenDBInfo = "DSN=MyDbAsp;UID=mydbasp;PWD=mydbasp;"
Set dbcnUsers = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
dbcnUsers.open(strOpenDBInfo)
Dim rsUsers ' As ADODB.Recordset
Dim strSql ' As String
strSql = "select * from users order by username"
Set rsUsers = dbcnUsers.Execute( strSql ) //Returns a RecordSet

response.write( "<table border='1'>" )

' Create the column titles.
Dim itemColumn
Response.Write("<tr>" & vbCrLf )
For Each itemColumn in rsUsers.Fields
  Response.Write("<td>" & itemColumn.name & "</td>" & vbCrLf )
Next
Response.Write("</tr>" & vbCrLf )

Do While Not rsUsers.EOF
  ' Create the rows of data.
  Response.Write("<tr>" & vbCrLf )
  For Each itemColumn in rsUsers.Fields
    Response.Write("<td>" & rsUsers(itemColumn.name) & "</td>" & vbCrLf )
  Next
  Response.Write("</tr>" & vbCrLf )

  rsUsers.MoveNext
Loop

response.write( "</table>" )

Load an Array With the Results

arrUsers = rsUsers.GetRows
 

• MS Access Database
  • The default is to give permissions to the Group "Users"
  • To view permissions, open the database then:  Tools, Security, Users & Group Permissions.

• Response - object that returns data to the browser.
  • Response object - is used to send the output back to the client (browser) (HTTP variables, cookies, and other info about the content).
    • Response.Cookies (collection) - specify the values of cookies which will be sent back to the client browser.
    • Response.Buffer (property) A boolean value indicating whether page output is buffered or not. (true = output from the page will not be sent to the client until all the script in that page is processed). IIS 5 default is true.
    • Response.CacheControl (property) - A string specifying that the output from the ASP should be cached or not. (Pulbic = proxy server to cache the output of your ASP, Private = no)
    • Response.Charset (property) - A string which appends the name of character set to be used to HTTP-content-type header.
    • Response.ContentType (property) - A string which specifies the HTTP content type for the response. (default = MIME-type "text/html")
    • Response.Expires (property) - An integer specifying the duration of time in minutes after which the page expires in the client browser cache.
    • Response.ExpiresAbsolute (property) - Date/Time after which the page cached in the client browser expires and is no longer valid. (ex: Response.ExpiresAbsolute = #March 31, 2001 12:00:00# )
    • Response.IsClientConnected (property) - A boolean value indicating whether the client is still connected to this particular page. If this property returns false then the page's script processing can be stopped by using Response.End method.
    • Response.Pics (property) - create a PICS header (content rating)
    • Response.Status (property) - A string which specifies the value of status line of the server. (ex: "404 File Not Found".)
    • Response.AddHeader (method) - Adds a custom new HTTP header to the response. Must be used before any text or HTML is sent to the client. Does not replace a HTTP header of the same name e.g. Response.AddHeader "AUTHENTICATED", "You are now logged on."
    • Response.AppendToLog (method) - A string which is added to the end of the web server log entry for this page. (ex: Response.AppendToLog "Your custom log info.".
    • Response.BinaryWrite (method) -  writes binary data (images, etc...)
    • Response.Clear (method) - Clears the buffered output html (ex:  aborting, etc....)
    • Response.End (method) -  Abort the processing of the script and send page to client.
    • Response.Flush (method) - Sends the buffered output immediately to the client. Is used to send parts of long pages to the client when Response.Buffer is set to true.
    • Response.Redirect (method) - Redirects the browser to another page (URL)
      (ie: Response.Redirect( "http://www.google.com" ).
      (ie: Response.Redirect( "http://<yourpage>?parm1=hello&parm2=world" ).
    • Response.Write (method) - Writes the specified string to the web page
      (ie: Response.Write( "Hello World!") )
       
• Request - object that contains data sent by the browser (html parms, forms, cookies, client certificates (if SSL) etc...).
  • Request.ServerVariables (collection) - Contains a collection of predetermined environment variables plus a collection of all the HTTP header values sent from the client browser to the server.
    Request.ServerVariables("SERVER_NAME") - returns the server name.
    Request.ServerVariables("QUERY_STRING") - returns the complete URL parm string as a string.
    Request.ServerVariables("selSearchCities") - returns the URL parm value for "selSearchCities".
    (Note: You can do the following also: Request("selSearchCities")  )
  • Request.QueryString (collection) - Collection of variables which are stored in the HTTP query string.
    Ex: Request.QueryString("myurlparm")
    (Note: You can do the following also: Request("myurlparm")  )
  • Request.Form (collection) - Collection of all the values of Form element in the HTTP request.
    Ex: Request.Form("selSearchCities")
  • Request.ClientCertificate (collection) - Makes us available a collection of values stored in the client certificate that is sent to the HTTP request.
  • Request.Cookies (collection) - cookies stored in the client browser for this domain.
  • Request.TotalBytes (property) total number of bytes in this request.
  • Request.BinaryRead (method) - Retrieves data sent to the server from the client in raw format as part of the POST request. It saves all this data in a SafeArray.
• Server - the methods and properties of our server ( IIS ).
  • Server.ScriptTimeout (property) - script timeout abort value in seconds.
    ex: Server.ScriptTimeout = 90 'In Seconds
    Warning:  Requires an IIS reset (restart) before the ASP pages will use the new value if it is changed from the IIS Manager screen (ASP Script timeout).
  • Server.CreateObject (method) - Creates an instance of the object ( a component, application or a scripting object ).
  • Server.Execute (method) - Executes the given .asp page and then returns the control to the page who called the method.
  • Server.HTMLEncode (method) - Provides HTML encoding to a given string.
  • Server.MapPath (method) - Maps the specified virtual or relative path into physical path of the server.
  • Server.Transfer (method) - Transfers the control of the page to another page specified in the URL.
  • Server.URLEncode (method) - Provides URL encoding .
• Application
  • The Application object is created when the first .asp page is requested after starting the IIS and remains there until the server shuts down. All the variables created with application object have application level scope meaning there by that they are accessible to all the users. All .asp pages in a virtual directory and its subdirectories come under the application scope. So application level variables are shared by more than one user at a time.
  • Application.Contents (collection) - all application objects.
  • Application.StaticObjects (collection)
  • Contents.Remove (method) - removes item from Application.Contents.
  • Contents.RemoveAll (method) - removes all item from Application.Contents.
  • Application.Lock (method) - lock so one user at a time can modify the values.
  • Application.UnLock (method)
  • Application_OnEnd (event) - This event occurs when the IIS is shut down after Session_OnEnd event. All the variables are destroyed after that.
  • Application_OnStart (event) - This event occurs when the first .asp page is called after starting the IIS. Application level variables can be declared here.
• Session - user specific object that has persistence across web pages and is stored by IIS.
  • Session(<session name>) = <value>
  • Session object - created every time client browser access pages from your web site. Session object is specific for every user and varies from user to user. It can be used to store variables specific for a user and IIS will maintain these variables when the client moves across pages within your site.
  • Session.Contents (collection) - Contains all the items which have been added to the Session object. You can iterate through the Contents collection and retrieve a list of all the items added or you can retrieve a specific item. Note that it contains all the Session items except the ones created using <object> element.
  • Session.StaticObjects (collection) - Contains all the items which have Session scope created using <object> element.
  • Session.CodePage (property) - An integer which defines the code page to be used to display content to the client browser (1252= American English)
  • Session.LCID (property) - locale identifier.
  • Session.SessionID (property) - session identifier for this client browser.
  • Session.Timeout (property) - time out period in minutes. If the client doesn't refresh or request any page of your site within this time out period then the server ends the current session. (default - 20 minutes).
    Ex: Session.Timeout = 120 'In Minutes
• ASPError - (starting in IIS v5)
  • ASPError.ASPCode (property) - A string which contains the error code generated by the server .
  • ASPError.Number (property) - A long integer which contains the error code returned by the COM component. A standard COM error code.
  • ASPError.Source (property) - A string which contains the actual source code which caused the error, if available.
  • ASPError.Category (property) - A string which indicates if the error was caused by IIS, scripting language or some component.
  • ASPError.File (property) - A string, name of the .asp page which caused the error.
  • ASPError.Line (property) - An integer which indicates the number of line in .asp page that caused the error.
  • ASPError.Column (property) - An integer indicating the column position within the .asp page which caused the error.
  • ASPError.Description (property) - A string , short description of the error.
  • ASPError.ASPDescription (property) - Detailed description of the error if it is ASP related.
• ObjectContext - objects for Transaction processing.
  • SetAbort (method) -  Aborts the transaction initiated by the ASP script.
  • SetComplete (method) - if all components report complete then the transaction will complete.
  • OnTransactionAbort (event) - This event occurs when the transaction is aborted.
  • OnTransactionCommit (event) - This event occurs when the transactional script's transaction is committed.

Example #1:
On Error Resume Next
Set rsMyResultSet = mydatabase.execute(strSql)

if ( Err.Number = 0 ) Then
  mydatabase.Close()
  Response.redirect("mypage_confirm.asp")
else
  mydatabase.Close()
  Response.redirect("mypage_error.asp")
End if

Example #2:

Sub HandleError

  If Err.Number = 0 then Exit Sub

  Response.Clear
  Response.Write("<hr>" & vbCrLf)
  Response.Write("Err.Number = " & Err.Number & "<br>" & vbCrLf)
  Response.Write("Err.Description = " & Err.Description & "<br>" & vbCrLf)
  Response.End

End Sub

On Error Resume Next
Set rsMyResultSet = mydatabase.execute(strSql)
HandleError()

Example #3:

dim rsUsers

dim strSql
strSql = "select * zzz from MyTable"

On Error Resume Next
Set rsUsers = mydbconnection.execute(strSql)
if ( Err.Number <> 0 ) Then
  Response.Clear
  Response.Write("<hr>" & vbCrLf) 
  Response.Write("Err.Number = " & Err.Number & "<br>" & vbCrLf) 
  Response.Write("Err.Description = " & Err.Description & "<br>" & vbCrLf)
  Response.Write("Err.HelpContext = " & Err.HelpContext & "<br>" & vbCrLf)
  Response.Write("Err.Source = " & Err.Source & "<br>" & vbCrLf) 
  Response.Write("Err.HelpFile = " & Err.HelpFile & "<br>" & vbCrLf) 
  Response.Write("<hr>" & vbCrLf) 
  ' This error object has no data for SQL errors!!!
  Dim objASPError
  Set objASPError = Server.GetLastError()
  Response.Write("ASPCode = " & objASPError.ASPCode & "<br>" & vbCrLf) 
  Response.Write("ASPDescription = " & objASPError.ASPDescription & "<br>" & vbCrLf) 
  Response.Write("Category = " & objASPError.Category & "<br>" & vbCrLf) 
  Response.Write("Column = " & objASPError.Column & "<br>" & vbCrLf) 
  Response.Write("Description = " & objASPError.Description & "<br>" & vbCrLf)
  Response.Write("File = " & objASPError.File & "<br>" & vbCrLf) 
  Response.Write("Line = " & objASPError.Line & "<br>" & vbCrLf) 
  Response.Write("Number = " & objASPError.Number & "<br>" & vbCrLf) 
  Response.Write("Source = " & objASPError.Source & "<br>" & vbCrLf) 
  Response.Write("<hr>" & vbCrLf) 
  Response.Write("URL = " & Request.ServerVariables("URL") & "<br>" & vbCrLf) 
  Response.Write("Filename = " & Request.ServerVariables("PATH_TRANSLATED") & "<br>" & vbCrLf) 
  Response.Write("Remote User = " & Request.ServerVariables("REMOTE_USER") & "<br>" & vbCrLf) 
  Response.Write("Remote Host = " & Request.ServerVariables("REMOTE_HOST") & "<br>" & vbCrLf) 
  Response.Write("Server Name = " & Request.ServerVariables("SERVER_NAME") & "<br>" & vbCrLf) 
  Response.Write("Local Addr = " & Request.ServerVariables("LOCAL_ADDR") & "<br>" & vbCrLf) 
  ' Response.redirect("database_example.asp") 'Endless error loop!
  Response.End
End If

Other Items

• Raise an error:  Err.Raise 6 'Raise an overflow error.

• Err.Clear 'Clears the error. 

Microsoft's resources:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/cdo/html/2ce1c7e3-4354-4f7d-b41d-5348c3435efc.asp

These metadata tags have the cdo... variable values.  Place these tags towards the top but below the Server Language tag.

Here is the cdo values for the variables if you don't want to place the metadata tags in your code:
cdoSendUsingPort = 2
cdoBasic = 1
cdoSendUsingMethod = http://schemas.microsoft.com/cdo/configuration/sendusing
cdoSMTPServer = http://schemas.microsoft.com/cdo/configuration/smtpserver
cdoSMTPServerPort = http://schemas.microsoft.com/cdo/configuration/smtpserverport
cdoSMTPAuthenticate = http://schemas.microsoft.com/cdo/configuration/smtpauthenticate

Microsoft Resource:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q286431&ID=KB;EN-US;Q286431&

Problem #1:
In a MSSQL DB environment, if a script that generates a SQL error is not Error Trapped then all ASP pages appear to hang until the script times out.  (Ex SQL: select * zzz from MyTable )

Problem #2:
All ASP pages appear to hang (the script doesn't time out from the server side).  It is possible that the client's web browse could time out.  Other files work fine (ie: html, images, etc....).
To create this problem, setup problem #1 (SQL select error) and have 2 users hit the ASP page at the same time that has a SQL select error.

How to un-hang IIS:
Win 2000 & Win XP Prof

	IIS Option #1: In IIS Manager, right click on the web site (ie: Default Web Site) and choose Properties Click on "Home Directory" In the Application Setting section, notice the Application Name setting (ie: Default Application) Click "Remove" accross from Application Name and then click Create. Now any new hits to ASP pages will be served out.
	IIS Reset (Restart): from the command line do: c:\ IISReset

Solution to Problem #1 and #2: (also consider global.asa etc...)

Place error trapping around the calls to execute when creating the results set.
Example:
' Note: You do not have to create the "Err" object.
On Error Resume Next
Set rsUsers = docentlms.execute(strSql)
if ( Err.Number <> 0 ) Then
  Response.Clear
  Response.Write("Err.Number = " & Err.Number & "<br>" & vbCrLf)
  Response.Write("Err.Description = " & Err.Description & "<br>" & vbCrLf)
  Response.Write("Err.HelpContext = " & Err.HelpContext & "<br>" & vbCrLf)
  Response.Write("Err.Source = " & Err.Source & "<br>" & vbCrLf)
  Response.Write("Err.HelpFile = " & Err.HelpFile & "<br>" & vbCrLf)
  Response.End
End If
 

• Placement of the file - IIS will use the Global.asa file if it is placed in the root directory of the Web Site or a Virtual Web Site.   With that statement in mind, the closest Global.asa file will override any Global.asa file in a parent directory.  If there is no Global.asa in the current virtual Web Site then the web server will use the closest Global.asa in a parent Web Site.  The closest Global.asa will completely replace any Global.asa in a parent Web Site.
• In my testing of Win XP Pro and Win 2000 Server changes to the Global.asa seem to be read immediately without a web server reset (or restart) or without the user closing his browser and creating another connection.  This includes changes to the Application_xxx and Session_xxx subs.

Network Server Name:
Dim strNetworkServerName
Dim objWScriptNetwork
Set objWScriptNetwork = CreateObject("WScript.Network")
strNetworkServerName = objWScriptNetwork.ComputerName

Example of creating a text file on the server and appending text.

Dim objFileSystemObject
Dim objFile
Dim objFileStream

Set objFileSystemObject = Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

If ( objFileSystemObject.FileExists( Application("strLogFileLocation") ) ) Then
  Set objFile = objFileSystemObject.GetFile( Application("strLogFileLocation") )
  ' 8=ForAppending, -2 System Default 0 = ASCII
  Set objFileStream = objFile.OpenAsTextStream(8, 0)
Else
  Set objFileStream = objFileSystemObject.CreateTextFile( Application("strLogFileLocation") )
End If

objFileStream.Write( strLogFileMsg )
objFileStream.Close

In Download zip file - see MyTextFileA.asp.

Dim strFileName
strFileName = "MyFile_" & _
              DatePart("yyyy",Date) & _
              right("0" & DatePart("m",Date), 2) & _
              right("0" & DatePart("d",Date), 2) & _
              ".xls"

Response.ContentType = "application/vnd.ms-excel"
Response.AddHeader "content-disposition","attachment; filename=" & strFileName

Example of ASP code that will use the Excel Sum function:
<td bgcolor="#808080">=SUM(B4:B6)</td>

Then add your normal html code.  Be aware that some tags may have conversion issues.

Note:  I have an example .asp page in my download zip: MyExcelSpreadSheet.asp

In Download zip file - see MyTextFileA_batchfile_run_asp_via_ie.bat

Example Batch file:

c:
cd "C:\_data\webs\A\michael-thomas.com\tech\asp\myaspexamples"
set strLogFile=MyTextFileA_batchfile_run_asp_via_ie.log
echo ************************************ >> %strLogFile%
echo Start: %date% %time% >> %strLogFile%
"C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IExplore.exe" "http://localhost/michael-thomas/tech/asp/myaspexamples/MyTextFileA.asp?loopcount=10000&closebrowser=no"
echo Stop: %date% %time% >> %strLogFile%

• Functions - return values.
• Subroutines - do not return values.

Sub Main()

  [statements]

End Sub

Call Main

Sub <SubName> ( [ <parm1>, <parm2>, _
                            <parm3>, etc... ] )

  [statements]

End Sub

Note:
To exit a subroutine at any place use:  Exit Sub
 

<%@ Language=VBScript %>
<% Option Explicit %>
<% Response.Expires= -1 %>
<% Sub Main %>
<html>
<head>
<title>Example of Custom Classes in ASP (VBScript)</title>
<meta name="Microsoft Border" content="t, default">
</head>
<body>
<h1 align="center">Example of Custom Classes in ASP (VBScript)</h1>

<p>Simple example of creating a custom class (custom object) in ASP using VBScript. (Note: You must look at the .ASP source code. Viewing the source from the browser will not work.)</p>

<%

Dim objUser ' As User
Set objUser = New User

objUser.Name = "John Doe"
objUser.LastLogin = Date()
objUser.ChangeUserCode("Preferred") ' Options: Preferred, Normal
' objUser.UserCode = 1 ' Note: because this was made Private, you can't access it here!

%>

<p>
Name: <%= objUser.Name()%> <br>
User Code Type: <%= objUser.UserCodeType() %> <br>
Last Login: <%= objUser.LastLogin() %> <br>
Public Var in User Object: <%= objUser.strPublicVarTest %> <br>
</p>

</body>
</html>
<% End Sub %>
<% Call Main %>
<%
Class User

  Private strName ' As String
  Private dateLastLogin ' As DateTime
  Private intUserCode ' As Integer
  Public strPublicVarTest ' As String - Not a good programming practice.

  Public Property Let Name(strValue)
    strName = strValue
  End Property

  Public Property Get Name()
    Name = strName
  End Property

  Public Property Let LastLogin(dateValue)
    dateLastLogin = dateValue
  End Property

  Public Property Get LastLogin()
    LastLogin = dateLastLogin
  End Property

  ' Note that this is a PRIVATE example.
  Private Property Let UserCode(intValue)
    intUserCode = intValue
  End Property

  Public Property Get UserCode()
    UserCode = intUserCode
  End Property

  Public Sub ChangeUserCode( strUserCode )
    If ( strUserCode = "Preferred" ) Then
      UserCode = 1 ' This calls the Let (setter) which is Private.
    Else
      UserCode = 0 ' This calls the Let (setter) which is Private.
    End If
  End Sub

  Public Function UserCodeType()
    If ( UserCode = 1 ) Then      ' This calls the Get
      UserCodeType = "Preferred"
    Else
      UserCodeType = "Normal"
    End If

  End Function

End Class
%>

 

Inline If for VBScript: (WORK-AROUND: Create a function!)

Function IIf( blnValue, varTrue, varFalse )
  If blnValue Then IIf = varTrue Else IIf = varFalse
End Function
strMyVar = IIf( 2>1, "Greater", "Less Than") ' result: Greater
 

' Step through properties of an Object.
' (ActiveX in a MSSQL DTS)
For Each objMy in colObjects
  strMsg = strMsg & objMy.name & vbCrLf
Next

Example: (ActiveX in a MS SQL DTS)
Set objFileSystemObject = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set objFSO_Folder = objFileSystemObject.GetFolder(".")
Set colFiles = objFSO_Folder.Files

For Each objFile in colFiles
  strMsg = strMsg & objFile.name & vbCrLf
Next

msgbox ( strMsg )

Dim objRegExp
Set objRegExp = New RegExp

Properties:
Global
Pattern
IgnoreCase

Methods:
Execute
Test
Replace

Note: Use the c... functions to convert a string to numeric.
Ex:
intMyVar = cInt( "123" )
lngMyVar = cLng( "123.99" )

<ArrayName>(3) - Single dimensional
<ArrayName>(3, 5)  - Multi-dimensional

Example: Single Dimensional Array created with Array()

Dim intDay
Dim arrDaysOfWeek
arrDaysOfWeek = Array("Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday","Saturday","Sunday")

strMsg = strMsg & "Array created by Array()." & "<br>" & vbCrLf
For intDay = 0 to UBound(arrDaysOfWeek)-1 Step 1
  strMsg = strMsg & intDay & " - " & arrDaysOfWeek(intDay) & "<br>" & vbCrLf
Next
Response.Write( strMsg )

Example: Single Dimensional Array

Dim strMsg
Dim arrItems(4)

arrItems(0) = "January"
arrItems(1) = "February"
arrItems(2) = "March"
arrItems(3) = "April"

Dim intCounter

strMsg = strMsg & "Step through an array: Bottom up" & "<br>" & vbCrLf
For intCounter = 0 to UBound(arrItems)-1 Step 1
  strMsg = strMsg & intCounter & " - " & arrItems(intCounter) & "<br>" & vbCrLf
Next

strMsg = strMsg & "<br>" & vbCrLf

strMsg = strMsg & "Step through an array: Top down (reverse)." & "<br>" & vbCrLf
For intCounter = UBound(arrItems)-1 to 0 Step -1
  strMsg = strMsg & intCounter & " - " & arrItems(intCounter) & "<br>" & vbCrLf
Next

Response.Write( strMsg )

Example: Multi-Dimensional Array

Dim strMsgMulti
Dim intCounterMulti
Dim arrItemsMulti(3,2)
Const COL1MULTI = 1
Const COL2MULTI = 2

arrItemsMulti(0, COL1MULTI) = "Row #0 - Col #1"
arrItemsMulti(0, COL2MULTI) = "Row #0 - Col #2"
arrItemsMulti(1, COL1MULTI) = "Row #1 - Col #1"
arrItemsMulti(1, COL2MULTI) = "Row #1 - Col #2"
arrItemsMulti(2, COL1MULTI) = "Row #2 - Col #1"
arrItemsMulti(2, COL2MULTI) = "Row #2 - Col #2"

strMsgMulti = strMsgMulti & "Step through an Multi-Dimensional array: Bottom up" & "<br>" & vbCrLf
For intCounterMulti = 0 to UBound(arrItemsMulti)-1 Step 1
strMsgMulti = strMsgMulti & intCounterMulti & " - " & arrItemsMulti(intCounterMulti,COL1MULTI) & " : " & arrItemsMulti(intCounterMulti,COL2MULTI) & "<br>" & vbCrLf
Next

Response.Write( strMsgMulti )
 

chr(13) Carriage return
chr(13)&chr(10) Combination carriage return and line feed
chr(12) Form feed
chr(10) Line feed
chr(9) Horizontal tab
chr(11) Vertical tab
 

Also see: Now(), Time()

DateAdd("d",1,Now()) - adds one day.
 

Return of 0 = not found.

start (optional) integer - The starting position for the search
compare (optional) integer - The type of string comparison. (0=Binary (default), 1 = Text (case insensitive))
 

Also see: Date(), Time()

Example:
strExample = Replace("Hello World example of remove spaces"," ","") - this will remove the spaces.