Gain Functionality with Controls

ActiveX COM controls (aka components) are useful tools that you can use in your scripts. For example, one Microsoft control called DSOleFile lets you read and modify the file properties of Microsoft Office documents on computers that don't have a licensed copy of Office installed on them. Another Microsoft control called ScriptPW lets you enter a password in a script without having that password displayed on screen. ActiveX COM controls don't have to be Microsoft components. Many third-party controls are also available, such as ServerObjects' WaitFor component. This component lets you pause a script for a specified amount of time. Let's take a look at how you can use DSOleFile, ScriptPW, and WaitFor in your scripts.

DSOleFile
In Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP, you can use the DSOleFile control, which lets you write scripts that read and modify the summary properties of Office documents (e.g., Microsoft Word files, Microsoft Excel files), without needing to automate Office directly. This functionality is useful if you need to manipulate the properties of such files but you haven't installed Office on the computer on which you're working. This situation typically occurs on servers. Many systems administrators don't want to install Office on servers because they want to limit interactive use and prevent the propagation of viruses. With the DSOleFile component, you can manipulate Office documents' properties without buying a license for Office, so you have more flexibility in where you run your scripts. . . .