Jay,
I hope HomerJax can be helpful to your project, so definately let me
know if you have questions or bug reports.
Jamal
On Sun, 2 Aug 2009, Macarty, Jay
{PBSG} wrote:
> Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 11:08:09 -0500
> From: "Macarty, Jay {PBSG}" <[email protected]>
> Reply-To: [email protected]
> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
> Subject: RE: Introducing HomerJax package for accessing Internet resources
>
> Jamal,
>
> Thanks. I'll take a look. The reason I asked is this. In the current WE4Java
> architecture, the java code exposes the data in XML format using an XML
> serializer API. The WSC object takes the XML string and parses it using MSXML
> and then creates a VBScript object from the parsed DOM.
>
> I have the ability to expose the java data in JASON format instead of XML.
> This has the advantage of being much less data than the XML string and lends
> itself to more flexible use of multiple types of objects. I could put arrays
> into the XML string but the way java formats that is rather difficult to
> parse manually.
>
> I'm thinking that if I expose the java data as JASON and then use HomerJax to
> convert the JASON string to a variant which can easily be passed back to
> we4java.vbs, I could remove a considerable amount of complexity from the data
> transfer process.
>
> I'll download HomerJax and take a look at it.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jamal Mazrui [mailto:[email protected]]
> Sent: Sunday, August 02, 2009 9:01 AM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: RE: Introducing HomerJax package for accessing Internet resources
>
> Yes, Jay. HomerJax includes a method called JsToVt, which converts data in
> JSON format to variant types understood by VBScript (and any COM client
> language). JavaScript arrays are converted to COM objects with the progID
> "System.Collections.ArrayList." JavaScript objects, which are like
> dictionaries, are converted to COM objects with the progID
> "Scripting.Dictionary." In VBScript, either of these types of object
> collections may be iterated with the "For Each" statement. They each have an
> "Item" method, which is the default COM method of the object, so syntax can
> succinctly referr to items without even using the "Item" keyword (just using
> a number of a list element or key string of a dictionary enclosed in
> parentheses). The code of HomerJaxDemo.vbs illustrates this in getting
> public messages from Twitter.
>
> Jamal
>
> On Sat, 1 Aug 2009, Macarty, Jay
> {PBSG} wrote:
>
> > Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 13:13:14 -0500
> > From: "Macarty, Jay {PBSG}" <[email protected]>
> > Reply-To: [email protected]
> > To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
> > Subject: RE: Introducing HomerJax package for accessing Internet
> > resources
> >
> > Jamal,
> >
> > This sounds quite helpful. I haven't downloaded it yet but have a question
> > regarding what I think I read in the documentation.
> >
> > Are you saying that if I had a string containing JSON formatted data, I
> > could use HomerJax to convert that to an object usable by a VBScript script?
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jamal Mazrui [mailto:[email protected]]
> > Sent: Saturday, August 01, 2009 8:11 AM
> > To: [email protected]
> > Subject: Introducing HomerJax package for accessing Internet resources
> >
> > HomerJax beta 0.5
> >
> > This is a global shared object for reading and writing data from the
> > Internet, now available at Script Central. To help you initially
> > understand its capabilities, I am pasting the current documentation below.
> > Use the Help button in Script Manager to read the documentation in your web
> > browser, or to run a demo.
> >
> > Jamal
> >
> > HomerJax
> > Beta 0.5
> > August 1, 2009
> >
> > Copyright 2009 by Jamal Mazrui
> > GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL)
> >
> > Contents
> >
> > Introduction
> > COM Exchange Format
> > Dialog Methods
> > File Methods
> > Folder Methods
> > HTML Methods
> > JScript Data Methods
> > Path Methods
> > Regular Expression Methods
> > Registry Methods
> > Shell Methods
> > String Methods
> > Variant Data Methods
> > Web Request Methods
> > XML Methods
> > Development Notes
> > ----------
> >
> > Introduction
> >
> > HomerJax is a library of convenience functions for accessing Internet
> > resources. It is written in JScript, the Microsoft version of JavaScript,
> > and is dependent on several COM servers distributed with Windows. The word
> > "Homer" is a brand name I sometimes use for developer tools I create.
> > The word "Jax" derives from Ajax, which originally meant "Asynchronous
> > JavaScript and XML." Ajax technologies focus on building dynamic user
> > interfaces in web browsers. HomerJax functions use some of these core
> > technologies, but focus on reading, interpreting, and writing data from the
> > Internet.
> >
> > Since the Internet is a great source of accessible information for people
> > with visual disabilities who cannot readily read the printed word, my hope
> > is that this library makes it easier for developers, including blind ones
> > like myself, to build applications that take advantage of new social
> > networking sites such as Twitter, FaceBook, and many others. I intend for
> > HomerJax to be accessible via various programming environments, including
> > the Windows Script Host, screen reader scripting languages, and other
> > programming languages via a COM server interface.
> >
> > The functionality and documentation of HomerJax will improve over time in
> > response to comments, questions, and suggestions. Code contributions are
> > also welcome.
> > ----------
> >
> > COM Exchange Format
> >
> > The Component Object Model (COM) is a set of Windows standards by which
> > different programming languages and applications can communicate. COM uses
> > a flexible data type called a variant, which can be an individual value,
> > array of values, or complex object with methods, properties, and events.
> > In general, any COM client can use string, numeric, and COM objects as the
> > data types of parameters or return values. Some, however, cannot use
> > arrays. COM exchange format is intended to support collections, as well as
> > primitive data types, for use by any COM client.
> > Rather than an array, a list COM object is used from the .NET Framework
> > (any version). A COM object dictionary is also used from the Windows
> > Script Host.
> >
> > By convention, HomerJax variable names use lower case prefixes to indicate
> > the data type: s for string, i for integer, n for floating point number, l
> > for list, d for dictionary, and o for other COM object. HomerJax includes
> > various methods for converting between JavaScript Object Notation (JSON),
> > variant data types, and COM exchange format. This provides much
> > flexibility for accessing data on the Internet.
> >
> > ----------
> >
> > Dialog Methods
> >
> > These are simple, modal dialogs. Parameters supply values that are needed
> > in reading order of the dialog window, from top to bottom and left to
> > right. Thus, the window title is the first parameter. DialogShow displays
> > information; DialogConfirm prompts for confirmation; and DialogInput
> > prompts for input.
> >
> > DialogConfirm(sTitle, sMessage, sDefault) Get choice from a standard
> > Yes, No, or Cancel message box
> >
> > DialogInput(sTitle, sField, sValue)
> > Get input from a single edit box
> >
> > DialogShow(oTitle, oMessage)
> > Show string version of two parameters in the title and prompt of a
> > message box
> > ----------
> >
> > File Methods
> >
> > These copy, move, delete, or test for existence of files.
> >
> > FileCopy(sSource, sTarget)
> > Copy source to destination file, replacing if it exists
> >
> > FileDelete(sFile)
> > Delete a file if it exists, && test whether it is subsequently absent
> >
> > FileExists(sFile)
> > Test whether File exists
> >
> > FileGetDate(sFile)
> > Get date of a file
> >
> > FileGetSize(sFile)
> > Get size of a file
> >
> > FileGetType(sFile)
> > Get file type
> >
> > FileMove(sSource, sTarget)
> > Move source to destination file, replacing if it exists
> >
> > FileToString(sFile)
> > Get content of text file
> > ----------
> >
> > Folder Methods
> >
> > These copy, move, delete, or test for existence of folders.
> >
> > FolderCopy(sSource, sTarget)
> > Copy source to destination Folder, replacing if it exists
> >
> > FolderCreate(sFolder)
> > Create folder
> >
> > FolderDelete(sFolder)
> > Delete a Folder if it exists, && test whether it is subsequently
> > absent
> >
> > FolderExists(sFolder)
> > Test whether folder exists
> >
> > FolderGetDate(sFolder)
> > Get date of a Folder
> >
> > FolderGetSize(sFolder)
> > Get size of folder, summing the sizes of files && subfolders it
> > contains
> >
> > FolderMove(sSource, sTarget)
> > Move source to destination Folder, replacing if it exists
> > ----------
> >
> > HTML Methods
> >
> > These get page text, table text, or URLs of HTML.
> >
> > HtmlEncodeString(sText)
> > Encode a string for HTML or XML
> >
> > HtmlGetLinks(sUrl)
> > Get a list of two-item lists containing the URL and text of a link
> >
> > HtmlGetUrls(sUrl)
> > Get a list of URLs linked to a web page
> >
> > HtmlGetText(sUrl)
> > Get the text of an HTML page
> >
> > HtmlGetTableText(sUrl, iTable)
> > Get the text of an HTML table specified by number, or null for all of
> > them
> > ----------
> >
> > JScript Data Methods
> >
> > These convert between JScript and variant data types.
> >
> > JsDictionaryToEncodedString(d)
> > Convert dictionary to string with http encoding
> >
> > JsDictionaryToVt(d)
> > Convert JScript dictionary to variant
> >
> > JsInspectObject(sName, oValue)
> > Report on type of object and its subobjects
> >
> > JsIsBlank(sText)
> > Test if string is empty or white space
> >
> > JsIsMute(o)
> > test for empty string
> >
> > JsIsNull(o)
> > Test for null
> >
> > JsIsObject(o)
> > Test for object
> >
> > JSNumber(o)
> > Convert to JScript number
> >
> > JsObjectToVt(oValue)
> > Convert JScript object to variant
> >
> > JsPrint(o)
> > Print to screen using console mode of Windows Script Host
> >
> > JsPrintObject(sName, oValue)
> > Print type of object and its subobjects
> >
> > JsString(o)
> > Convert to a JScript string
> >
> > JsToVt(sJs)
> > Convert string in JavaScript Object Notation to COM exchange format
> > ----------
> >
> > Path Methods
> >
> > These parse file or folder paths into their components; get paths of
> > Windows special folders; or create temporary files.
> >
> > PathCombine(sFolder, sName)
> > Combine folder && name to form a valid path
> >
> > PathCreateTempFolder()
> > Create temporary folder && return its full path
> >
> > PathExists(sPath)
> > Test whether path exists
> >
> > PathGetBase(sPath)
> > Get base/root name of a file or folder
> >
> > PathGetCurrentDirectory()
> > Get current directory of active process
> >
> > PathGetExtension(sPath)
> > Get extention of file || folder
> >
> > PathGetFolder(sPath)
> > Get the parent folder of a file or folder
> >
> > PathGetInternetCacheFolder()
> > Get Windows folder for temporary Internet files
> >
> > PathGetLong(sPath)
> > Get long name of file or folder
> >
> > PathGetName(sPath)
> > Get the file or folder name at the end of a path
> >
> > PathGetShort(sPath)
> > Get short path (8.3 style) of a file or folder
> >
> > PathGetSpec(sDir, sWildcards, sFlags)
> > Get a list of paths, specifying folder, wild card pattern, && sort
> > order
> >
> > PathGetTempFile()
> > Get full path of a temporary file
> >
> > PathGetTempFolder()
> > Get Windows folder for temporary files
> >
> > PathGetTempName()
> > Get Name for temporary file || folder
> >
> > PathSetCurrentDirectory(sDir)
> > Set current directory of active process, and return previously current
> > directory
> > ----------
> >
> > Regular Expression Methods
> >
> > These search or extract strings based on regular expressions.
> >
> > RegExpContains(sText, sMatch, bIgnoreCase) Get Array containing the
> > starting index and text of the first match of a regular expression
> >
> > RegExpContainsLast(sText, sMatch, bIgnoreCase) Get list containing the
> > starting index and text of the last match of a regular expression
> >
> > RegExpCount(sText, sMatch, bIgnoreCase) Count matches of a regular
> > expression
> >
> > RegExpExtract(sText, sMatch, bIgnoreCase) Get list containing matches
> > of a regular expression
> >
> > RegExpReplace(sText, sMatch, sReplace, bIgnoreCase) Replace text
> > matching a regular expression
> > ----------
> >
> > Registry Methods
> >
> > These read or write strings with the Windows registry (not yet debugged).
> >
> > RegistryGetString(iRootKey, sSubKey, sValueName) Get a string from
> > registry
> >
> > RegistryRead(sKey)
> > Get a string from the registry
> >
> > RegistrySetString(iRootKey, sSubKey, sValueName, sValueData) Set a
> > registry string
> >
> > RegistryWrite(sKey, sValue)
> > Write a string to the registry
> > ----------
> >
> > Shell Methods
> >
> > These execute programs or open files.
> >
> > ShellCreateShortcut(sFile, sTargetPath, sWorkingDirectory,
> > iWindowStyle,
> > sHotkey)
> > Create a .lnk or .url file
> >
> > ShellExec(sCommand)
> > Run a console mode command && return its standard output
> >
> > ShellExecute(sFile, sParams, sFolder, sVerb, iWindowStyle) Execute a
> > command with a verb like RunAs
> >
> > ShellExpandEnvironmentVariables(sText)
> > Replace environment variables with their values
> >
> > ShellGetEnvironmentVariable(sVariable)
> > Get the value of an environment variable
> >
> > ShellGetShortcutTargetPath(sFile)
> > Get the target path of a shortcut file
> >
> > ShellGetSpecialFolder(vFolder)
> > Get a special Windows folder
> >
> > ShellInvokeVerb(sPath, sVerb)
> > Invoke a verb on a file or folder
> >
> > ShellOpen(sPath)
> > Open a file or folder with the default program associated with its
> > type
> >
> > ShellOpenWith(sExe, sParam)
> > Open a program with a file
> >
> > ShellRun(sFile, iStyle, bWait)
> > Launch a program or file, indicating its window style && whether to
> > wait before returning
> >
> > ShellRunCommandPrompt(sDir)
> > Open a command prompt in the directory specified
> >
> > ShellRunExplorerWindow(sDir)
> > Open Windows Explorer in the directory specified
> >
> > ShellWait(sPath)
> > Run a program and wait for it to return
> > ----------
> >
> > String Methods
> >
> > These parse strings or save them to files.
> >
> > StringAppendToFile(sText, sFile, sDivider) Append string to File,
> > omitting divider if the first one
> >
> > StringChopLeft(sText, iCount)
> > Remove iCount characters from left of sText
> >
> > StringChopRight(sText, iCount)
> > Remove iCount characters from Right of sText
> >
> > StringContains(sText, sMatch, bIgnoreCase) Test if a string is
> > contained in another
> >
> > StringConvertToMacLineBreak(sText)
> > Convert to Macintosh line break, \r
> >
> > StringConvertToUnixLineBreak(sText)
> > Convert to Unix line break, \n
> >
> > StringConvertToWinLineBreak(sText)
> > Convert to standard Windows line break, \r\n
> >
> > StringCount(sText, sMatch)
> > Count occurrences of a string within another string
> >
> > StringEndsWith(sText, sSuffix, bIgnoreCase) Test whether first string
> > ends with second one
> >
> > StringEqual(s1, s2)
> > Test if two strings are exactly equal
> >
> > StringEquiv(s1, s2)
> > Test whether two strings are the same except for capitalization
> >
> > StringGetASCII(sText)
> > Get space delimited ASCII codes for characters in string
> >
> > StringLeft(sText, iCount)
> > Return leftmost characters of a string
> >
> > StringLength(s)
> > Return length of a string
> >
> > StringPlural(sItem, iCount)
> > Return singular || plural form of a string, depending on whether count
> > equals one
> >
> > StringQuote(sText)
> > Quote a string
> >
> > StringReplaceAll(sText, sMatch, sReplace) Replace all occurences of a
> > string within another
> >
> > StringRight(sText, iCount)
> > Return rightmost characters of a string
> >
> > StringStartsWith(sText, sPrefix, bIgnoreCase) Test whether first
> > string starts with second one
> >
> > StringToFile(sText, sFile)
> > Saves string to text file, replacing if it exists
> >
> > StringTrim(sText)
> > Trim white space from both ends of a string
> >
> > StringUnquote(sText)
> > Unquote a string
> >
> > StringWrap(sText, iMaxLine)
> > var aLines, aWords
> > var i, j
> > var sReturn, sLines, sLine, sWords, sWord aLines = sText.split(vbCrLf)
> > sReturn = xMute var iCount = aLines.length for (var i = 0; i < iCount; i++)
> > sLine = aLines[i] if (sLine.length > iMaxLine) aWords = sLine.split(' ')
> > sLine = xMute for (var j = 0; j < aWords.length; j++) sWord = aWords(j) if
> > (sLine.length + sWord.length > iMaxLine) sReturn += StringTrim(sLine) +
> > vbCrLf sLine = sWord + ' '
> > }
> > else
> > sLine = sLine + sWord + ' '
> > }
> > }
> > }
> > else
> > sReturn += RTrim(sLine) + vbCrLf
> > }
> > }
> > return sReturn
> > } // StringWrap method
> > ----------
> >
> > Variant Data Methods
> >
> > These convert between variant and JScript data types.
> >
> > VtArrayToJs(a)
> > Convert variant array to JScript
> >
> > VtArrayToList(a)
> > Convert variant array to list
> >
> > VtCreateDictionary()
> > Return a variant dictionary
> >
> > VtCreateFileSystemObject()
> > Return a file system object
> >
> > VtCreateHtmlFile()
> > Create a variant HTMLFile object
> >
> > VtCreateInternetExplorerApplication()
> > Return an Internet Explorer object
> >
> > VtCreateList()
> > Create a variant list object
> >
> > VtCreateRegExp()
> > Return a scripting RegExp object
> >
> > VtCreateShellApplication()
> > Return a Shell.Application object
> >
> > VtCreateStream()
> > Return an ADODB.Stream object
> >
> > VtCreateVBScriptControl()
> > Return MSScriptControl.ScriptControl object
> >
> > VtCreateWebRequest()
> > Create web request object
> >
> > VtCreateWScriptShell()
> > Return WScript.Shell object
> >
> > VtCreateXmlDocument()
> > Return an XML document
> >
> > VtDateToJs(dt)
> > Convert a variant date to JScript
> >
> > VtDictionaryToJs(d)
> > Convert a variant dictionary to JScript
> >
> > VtDictionaryKeysToJs(d)
> > Convert variant array of dictionary keys to JScript array
> >
> > VtDictionaryKeysToList(d)
> > Convert variant array of dictionary keys to list
> >
> > VtEvalVBScript(sCode, dParams)
> > Evaluate VBScript code and return the result
> >
> > VtEvalVBScriptParam(sCode, vParam)
> > Evaluate VBScript code and return result, passing single argument
> >
> > VtGetWMIObject()
> > Get WMI object
> >
> > VtInitDictionary(vValue)
> > Create a variant dictionary and initialize it with a single key/value
> > pair
> >
> > VtListToJs(l)
> > Convert variant list to JScript array
> >
> > VtStreamToFile(aBytes, sFile)
> > Save a variant byte array to a binary file
> >
> > VtTypeName(vVariant)
> > Get variant subtype
> > ----------
> >
> > Web Request Methods
> >
> > These send GET or POST requests to web servers, retrieving strings or
> > saving to files.
> >
> > WebRequest(sType, sUrl, dData, dHeaders, sUser, sPassword) Send a web
> > request and return the response
> >
> > WebRequestGet(sUrl, dData, dHeaders, sUser, sPassword) Send a get
> > request
> >
> > WebRequestGetToFile(sUrl, dData, dHeaders, sUser, sPassword, sFile)
> > Send a get request and save response to file
> >
> > WebRequestGetToString(sUrl, dData, dHeaders, sUser, sPassword) Send a
> > get request and return response as string
> >
> > WebRequestHead(sUrl, dData, dHeaders, sUser, sPassword) Send a head
> > request
> >
> > WebRequestHeader(sUrl, sHeader)
> > Get response header
> >
> > WebRequestPost(sUrl, dData, dHeaders, sUser, sPassword) Send a post
> > request
> >
> > WebRequestPostToFile(sUrl, dData, dHeaders, sUser, sPassword, sFile)
> > Send a post request and save response to file
> >
> > WebRequestPostToString(sUrl, dData, dHeaders, sUser, sPassword) Send a
> > post request and return response as string
> >
> > WebRequestToFile(sType, sUrl, dData, dHeaders, sUser, sPassword,
> > sFile) Save web resource to file
> >
> > WebRequestToString(sType, sUrl, dData, dHeaders, sUser, sPassword)
> > Return web resource as string
> >
> > WebUrlContentType(sUrl)
> > Get content type of a web resource
> >
> > WebUrlFileName(sUrl)
> > Get suggested file name of a web resource
> >
> > WebUrlIsHtml()
> > Test whether content type is text/html
> >
> > WebUrlToFile(sUrl, sFile)
> > Save web resource to file
> >
> > WebUrlToString(sUrl)
> > Return web resource as string
> > ----------
> >
> > XML Methods
> >
> > These read or write XML data, from memory or files.
> >
> > XmlAppendElement(oParent, sName, sValue) Append element to a node
> >
> > XmlCreateElement(oNode, sName, sValue) Create an XML element
> >
> > XmlCreateFile(sFile)
> > Create a root XML file
> >
> > XmlEnsureGetNode(oDoc, sPath)
> > Return a node, creating preceding elements if necessary
> >
> > XmlEnsureOpenFile(sFile)
> > Open an XML file, creating it if necessary
> >
> > XmlGetAttribute(sFile, sPath, sAttribute, sDefault) Get an attribute
> > of a node
> >
> > XmlGetNode(sFile, sPath)
> > Get a node
> >
> > XmlGetNodeNames(sFile, sPath)
> > Get node names
> >
> > XmlGetNodes(sFile, sPath)
> > Get a node collection
> >
> > XmlGetValue(sFile, sPath, sDefault)
> > Get a value of a node
> >
> > XmlOpenFile(sFile)
> > Open an XML file
> >
> > XmlRemoveAttribute(sFile, sPath)
> > Remove an attribute
> >
> > XmlRemoveNode(sFile, sPath)
> > Remove a node
> >
> > XmlRemoveNodes(sFile, sPath)
> > Remove a node collection
> >
> > XmlSetAttribute(sFile, sPath, sAttribute, sText) Set an attribute
> >
> > XmlSetValue(sFile, sPath, sValue)
> > Set a value
> >
> > ----------
> >
> > Development Notes
> >
> > Thanks go to Bryan Garaventa for information on the MSXml2.XMLHTTP object,
> > and to Martin Slack for information on the System.Collections.ArrayList
> > object.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
