Cscript

This page is from Microsoft

Updated: January 21, 2005

To run Windows Script Host

Click the task that you want to perform.

To start a script so that it runs in a Windows environment
To start a script so that it runs in a command-line environment

To start a script so that it runs in a Windows environment

Open a Command Prompt window (Link will open in a separate page)
Type: wscript[ScriptName] [//B] [//D] [//E:Engine] [//H:CScript | //H:WScript] [//I] [//Job:Identifier] [//Logo | //NoLogo] [//S] [//T:Number] [//X] [//?] [ScriptArguments]
Press Enter

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Parameters

ScriptName

Specifies the path and file name of the script file.

//B

Specifies batch mode, which does not display alerts, scripting errors, or input prompts.

//D

Starts the debugger.

//E:Engine

Specifies the engine that is used to run the script.

//H:cscript

Registers Cscript.exe as the default script host for running scripts.

//H:wscript

Registers Wscript.exe as the default script host for running scripts. This is the default.

//I

Specifies interactive mode, which displays alerts, scripting errors, and input prompts. This is the default and the opposite of //B.

//Job:Identifier

Runs the job identified by Identifier in a .wsf script file.

//Logo

Specifies that the Windows Script Host banner is displayed in the console before the script runs. This is the default and the opposite of //Nologo.

//Nologo

Specifies that the Windows Script Host banner is not displayed before the script runs.

//S

Saves the current command-prompt options for the current user.

//T:Number

Specifies the maximum time the script can run (in seconds). You can specify up to 32,767 seconds. The default is no time limit.

//X

Starts the script in the debugger.

//?

Displays available command parameters and provides help for using them.

ScriptArguments

Specifies the arguments passed to the script. Each script argument must be preceded by a slash (/).

Remarks

Performing this task does not require you to have administrative credentials. Therefore, as a security best practice, consider performing this task as a user without administrative credentials.
To open a command prompt, click Start, point to All programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command prompt.
Each parameter is optional; however, you cannot specify script arguments without specifying a script. If you do not specify a script or any script arguments, Wscript.exe displays the Windows Script Host Settings dialog box, which you can use to set global scripting properties for all scripts that Wscript.exe runs on the local computer.
The //T parameter prevents excessive running of scripts by setting a timer. When the time exceeds the specified value, WScript interrupts the script engine and ends the process.
Windows script files usually have one of the following file name extensions: .wsf, .vbs, .js.
If you double-click a script file with an extension that has no association, the Open With dialog box appears. Select Wscript or Cscript, and then select Always use this program to open this file type. This registers Wscript.exe or Cscript as the default script host for files of this file type.
You can set properties for individual scripts. See Related Topics for more information.
Windows Script Host can use .wsf script files. Each .wsf file can use multiple scripting engines and perform multiple jobs.

To start a script so that it runs in a command-line environment

Open Command Prompt.
Type: cscript[ScriptName] [//B] [//D] [//E:Engine] [//H:CScript | //H:WScript] [//I] [//Job:Identifier] [//Logo | //NoLogo] [//S] [//T:Number] [//X] [//U] [//?] [ScriptArguments]