20 out of 55 rated this helpful - Rate this topic

To run scripts using the command-line-based script host (Cscript.exe)

You can run scripts with the command-line-based script host by typing the following at the command prompt:

cscript [script name] [host options] [script arguments]

Where:

script name is the name of the script file, including the file name extension and any necessary path information.
host options are the command-line switches that enable or disable various Windows Script Host features. Host options are always preceded by two slashes (//).
script arguments are the command-line switches that are passed to the script. Script arguments are always preceded by one slash (/).

Note

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, Cscript.exe displays the Cscript.exe syntax and the valid host options.

The command-line-based script host supports the following host options:

Parameter	Action
//B	Specifies batch mode, which does not display alerts, scripting errors, or input prompts.
//D	Turns on the debugger.
//E: engine	Specifies the scripting language that is used to run the script.
//H:cscript or //H:wscript	Registers either Cscript.exe or Wscript.exe as the default script host for running scripts. If neither is specified, the default is Wscript.exe.
//I	Specifies interactive mode, which displays alerts, scripting errors, and input prompts. This is the default and the opposite of //B.
//Job: xxxx	Runs the job identified by xxxx in a .wsf script file.
//Logo	Specifies that the Windows Script Host banner is displayed in the console window 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: nnnnn	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 (this is the same as typing Cscript.exe with no parameters and no script).

The time out option (//T:nnnnn) prevents excessive execution of scripts by setting a time limit. When execution time exceeds the specified value, Cscript.exe interrupts the script engine and stops the process.
You can also use Windows Script Host to create .wsf script files, with which you can call multiple scripting engines and perform multiple jobs, all from one file.

Top of page