Using API function in VBScript

:D, just a question, why do you need to do in vbscript?

Because my company is too "political" to buy any good software.  I have at my disposal:  MSOffice (which I don't want to use), vbscript, Dos.  Our corporate office has good software that I could do this with, but we are separated by a few 1000 miles.  I want this script to run on startup and check the sizes of several "growing" databases and alert me when they reach a certain size (between x and xx).

DDS

You must "wrap" the API functions inside a COM dll that you could then utilize from your script.

Uuummmm...How?

You will need to use a tool like Visual Basic.  If you dont have it, borrow it from someone.  All you need to do is start a new ActiveX DLL project.  For example, say you name the project VBScript_API and the class module within it, APIFunctions.  You would paste the above code into that class, and then do something like this in your script:


Dim objAPI

Set objAPI = CreateObject("VBScript_API.APIFunctions")
strResult = objAPI.FormatKB(lngAmount)

I'll have to try this at home (where I have decent software) and award/ not award points to ya later.

Thanks

Or, you can just wrap the API calls so that it is all the COM object contains, e.g.,


'list private declares at top of class module
Private Declare Function StrFormatByteSize Lib "shlwapi" Alias "StrFormatByteSizeA" (ByVal dw As Long, ByVal pszBuf As String, ByRef cchBuf As Long) As String


'wrap private declared functions
Public Function StrFormatByteSize_API(BYVal dw As Long, ByVal pszBuf As String, ByRef cchBuf As Long) As String
    StrFormatByteSize_API = StrFormatByteSize(dw, pszbuf, cchbuf)
End Function



Then use the above function directly in your vbscript, except substitute the API call with your object's function call.



Public Function FormatKB(ByVal Amount)
'This function returns the size of the database in friendly readable format.
   Dim Buffer
   Dim Result
   Dim objAPI

   Set objAPI = CreateObject("VBScript_API.APIFunctions")
   Buffer = Space(255)
   Result = objAPI.StrFormatByteSize_API(Amount, Buffer, _
       Len(Buffer))
   If InStr(Result, vbNullChar) > 1 Then
       FormatKB = Left(Result, InStr(Result, _
           vbNullChar) - 1)
   End If
 
End Function

AHA!  I found the formatnumber function which basically does the same thing as the before mentioned api call!

Here it is:

sz=formatnumber((sz/1024)/1024,2,0,0,-1) & " MB"

I'll have to do some finagling to get it to recognize bytes, kbytes, and mbytes but I got it.

Don't fret AzraSound, I'm still going to give your suggestion a once over.

DDS

Sorry, I didn't even pay attention to what your function was doing...I was just concentrating on answering the question "HOw do you use API functions in VBScript".  If that works for you, it is DEFINITELY the way to go.  If you need to use other API functions in the future, consider the method I outlined above.

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Moondancer
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O.K.  I tried your suggestion and I wind up with an error that says vbs can't create the object.  What could I be doing wrong.  Here is my code:

[code]
Dim objAPI
Set objAPI=CreateObject("FormatKb.MyFunc")
strResult=objAPI.FormatKb(786432000)

msgbox strResult
[/code]

I created a new ActiveX Dll project and pasted the code AS IS into it, then compiled it into FormatKB.dll.  I then placed the dll in my system folder.

What next?

If you did not compile the dll on the machine that is using it, you need to register it.  You can do this via the command line by typing in:


regsvr32 [path to dll]

O.K.  Registered it.  Same problem.  Can't create object!

???

I'm not ignoring you. I'll have to get back to you next week.

DS

AzraSound,

You have been patient enough.  I still cannot get your suggestion to work but I will keep trying.  I will have to read up more on ActiveX dll's.  

I'll let you know as soon as I get it.

Thanks

DDS

Thank you for returning and finalizing this.
:) Moondancer - EE Moderator