The Visual Tools expose an Object Model, enabling developers to manipulate program functionality from external applications. In addition, power users can create scripts to automate tasks using JScript or VBScript and run the scripts from the Visual Tools environments.
The Visual Tools internal scripting feature requires the Microsoft ActiveScripting engine version 3.1 or later, also known as Windows Script. The engine is not installed with the Visual Tools. If you installed Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or later on your computer, then you have the correct ActiveScripting engine. Otherwise, you need to download it from http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/vbscript/scripting.asp.
The object hierarchy is very simple; the Application object is the parent of all the other objects and none of the other objects is a parent.
The VTOM hierarchy can be illustrated as follows:
Application
ActiveDocument
DocumentCache
Project
ProjectManager
DeploymentManager
HTTPProvider
ZIPProvider
The simplicity of the object model makes syntax notation very straightforward. To call a property or method, begin at the object root, append the child object name (if any), the property or method name, separated by a period, and then the parameters.
Application.ActiveDocument.SaveAs(CurrentFolder + '\\' + sFile);
For a script to be executable from within the Visual Tools, it must contain a Main routine. In JScript, create a function Main; in VBScript, create a Sub Main routine. Without this routine, the script fails.
The program determines which language engine to use based on the extension of the script file. If the file extension is BAS, VB, or VBS, the VBScript engine executes the script. Otherwise, the program uses the JScript engine.
To automate Visual Tools tasks, you must familiarize yourself with the Visual Tools Object Model (VTOM). The main object is the Application object. The Application object contains two important child objects, the ActiveDocument object and the DocumentCache object. You can use these objects to write scripts for common tasks.
In addition, the Application object contains a number of toolbar-related functions, which enable you to create toolbars dynamically.
For best performance, you should create an Application object variable and use it throughout the script rather than continually referencing the Application object directly.
For example, the following code creates an Application object variable in JScript:
function Main() {
var app = Application; //create application object variable app.WindowState = 2; //maximize the window
The following code creates an Application object variable in VBScript:
Sub Main
Dim app set app = Application 'create application object variable app.WindowState = 2 'maximize the window End Sub
The Application object is only available from scripts that are executed within the Visual Tools.
To access the Application object from an external program, use the language's equivalent of CreateObject("AllaireClientApp.TAllaireClientApp"
).
Note When writing and editing VTOM scripts and when porting code from VBScript, remember that JScript is case-sensitive. |
If the scripting engine encounters an error while executing your custom script, the script file opens in the editor with the error line highlighted. In addition, information about the error displays in the status bar, which helps you debug the problem.
In the Customization dialog box, theKeyboard Shortcuts tab includes a shortcut (Shift + Ctrl + Q) for the Execute current document as ActiveScript command.You can use this command to pass the current document to the ActiveScripting engine, which provides you with a tool for debugging your scripts. As with toolbutton-based scripts, the scripting language is determined by the file extension of the current document.
After you write a script, you can create a custom toolbutton to execute the script from within the program. If you intend to write multiple scripts, you can create a toolbar for them. You can rearrange the buttons and add separators in the toolbar.
The toolbar displays at the top of the tab.
You can optionally create script hot keys on the Script Shortcuts tab and then click the Show keyboard shortcuts in toolbutton hints box on the Toolbars tab.