KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q184740: HOWTO: Call Functions Using the Script Control

Article: Q184740
Product(s): Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows
Version(s): 
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 11-JAN-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Standard Edition, 32-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition, 32-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition, 32-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications version 5.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

This article provides sample code for the Script control that demonstrates
various methods of calling script functions from Visual Basic.

MORE INFORMATION
================

IMPORTANT: Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only,
without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the
implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose.
This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being
demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures.

The Script control can host VBScript, JavaScript, and any other compliant
scripting language, so your users can script your application in a similar
manner to using VBScript or JavaScript to provide additional functionality for
Web pages.

The following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base describes how to obtain the
Script control:

  Q184739 : INFO: Where to Obtain the Script Control

The Script control provides four methods for calling Sub and Function script
routines:

- Eval: Evaluates a text expression.

- Run: Runs a named Sub or Function.

- Execute: Executes a script statement.

- As a method of a Module object.

Eval
----

The calling convention is:

    Result = ScriptControl.Eval("some text expression")

You can use this method to call both intrinsic script functions, as well as user
functions. Function arguments are passed as literal values in the expression
text and can be either hard-coded or concatenated from a variable.

NOTE: This method cannot be used to call Subroutines.

Run
---

The calling convention is:

    Result = ScriptControl.Run("Name", arg1, arg2, ... argn)

You can use this method to call Subroutines, in which case the Result returned is
empty and you can use the alternate calling convention to ignore the return
result:

    ScriptControl.Run "Name", arg1, arg2, ... argn

NOTE: Name is the name of the Sub or Function, and arg1 ... argn are optional
depending on the Sub or Function in question.

Execute
-------

The calling convention is:

    ScriptControl.Execute "statement text"

This method allows you to call any intrinsic statement or Sub routine. You can
also use it to call functions, but the return result is dropped.

Module Method
-------------

The calling convention is:

     Result = ScriptControl.Modules(modulename).functionname(arg1, arg2, ...)
     ScriptControl.Modules(modulename).subname arg1, arg2, ...

The default module is given in the GlobalModule constant, such as:

     Result = ScriptControl.Modules(GlobalModule).MyFunction(5)
     ScriptControl.Modules(GlobalModule).MySub 5, "A"

For more information on ScriptControl modules, please see the following article
in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q184745 : HOWTO: Use Script Control Modules and Procedures Collections

Example
-------

1. In Visual Basic, create a new project. Form1 is created by default.

2. Click Components on the Project menu, and then select the "Microsoft Script
  Control 1.0" check box.

3. Add the Script control (ScriptControl1), a text box (Text1), and a command
  button (Command1) to a form. Set the MultiLine property of the text box to
  True.

4. Add the following code to Form1:

        Private Sub Command1_Click()
          With ScriptControl1
            ' Set script language (VBScript is the default).
            .Language = "VBScript"
            ' Set UI interaction (TRUE is the default).
            .AllowUI = True
            ' Copy the script to the control.
            .AddCode Text1.Text
            ' Demonstrate the Eval method.
            Debug.Print .Eval("AddTwo(5,7)")
            ' Demonstrate the Run method both with and without return values.
            .Run "Hello", "Jane Doe"
            Debug.Print .Run("Hello", "James Smith")
            .Run "AddTwo", 4, 6
            Debug.Print .Run("AddTwo", 7, 8)
            ' Demonstrate the ExecuteStatement method.
            .ExecuteStatement "Hello ""Sue Smith"""
            .ExecuteStatement "AddTwo 9,18"
            .ExecuteStatement "MsgBox CStr(AddTwo(3,8))"
            .Modules(GlobalModule).Hello "Jane Doe"
            Dim oMod As Object
            Set oMod = .Modules(GlobalModule)
            Debug.Print oMod.AddTwo 12, 24
            Set oMod = Nothing
          End With
        End Sub

5. Run Form1, and open the Debug window.

6. Type the following script in the text box:

        Sub Hello(YourName)
          MsgBox "Hello " & YourName
        End Sub

        Function AddTwo(X1, X2)
          AddTwo = X1 + X2
        End Function

7. Click the CommandButton.

  NOTE: The following two statements do not produce an output because the
  function return is lost and the code does not output the result through any
  other means, such as a global variable or message box:

        .Run "AddTwo", 4, 6
        .ExecuteStatement "AddTwo 9,18"

REFERENCES
==========

For information about obtaining the Script control, please see the following
article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q184739 : INFO: Where to Obtain the Script Control

(c) Microsoft Corporation 1998, All Rights Reserved.
Contributions by Malcolm Stewart, Microsoft Corporation


Additional query words: kbVBA500 kbVBp500 kbNoKeyWord kbVBp600 kbScript kbCtrl

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbVBSearch kbAudDeveloper kbZNotKeyword6 kbZNotKeyword2 kbVB500Search kbVB600Search kbVBA500 kbVBA600 kbVB500 kbVB600 kbVB400Search kbVB400 kbVBASearch kbZNotKeyword3
Issue type        : kbhowto

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.