Start with a small script:
Jabber.vbs
Then I started up VB5CCE and created an ActiveX control project. I named the project Jabber and the UserControl Compiled.
Next I copied in the VBScript code for the function Jabber() into the UserControl’s code window. Because VB5 did not have the Replace() function yet, I faced a decision.
One way would be to write my own Replace() using the string functions already in VB5. The other is to write a function in the calling script that invokes VBScript’s Replace, and pass the calling script to the VB5 version of Jabber() as an Object, then invoke the function from the script as a method.
I chose the latter, and I called my Replace() wrapper function R().
Here is the VB5CCE code:
Compiled.ctl
Not much has changed here from the original VBScript version. I saved the project and compiled it, which registers the new Jabber.ocx on that machine in passing.
Then I slightly rewrote the calling script:
Jabber Compiled.vbs
The only deployment issue is making sure that the VB5 runtime is installed on target machines, and that Jabber.ocx gets copied and registered, such as by running:
regsrv32 {path}Jabber.ocx
This can be done from a command prompt or Start|Run dialog. One could also create an OCX installer package, etc.
I think this is as close as you can get “for free” to compiling VBScript. One might replace the calling script by using some free compiler for a language that supports ActiveX objects. Then you’d have a 100% solution.
You can also easily use things like the Common Dialog control in VB5CCE to provide a nicer file dialog than you get by using Inputbox(). Adding a reference to the Microsoft Scripting Runtime lets you use early binding and defines the FSO constants, and for that matter you can use typed variables for better performance.
CODE
Option Explicit
Function Jabber()
Const ForReading = 1
Dim FSO
Dim strIn
Dim tsIn
Dim strOut
Dim tsOut
Dim strLine
Set FSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
strIn = InputBox("File to Jabber")
If StrIn = "" Then
Jabber = True
Exit Function
End If
strOut = InputBox("New jabbered file")
If strOut = "" Then
Jabber = True
Exit Function
End If
Set tsIn = FSO.OpenTextFile(strIn, ForReading)
Set tsOut = FSO.CreateTextFile(strOut, True)
Do Until tsIn.AtEndOfStream
strLine = tsIn.ReadLine
strLine = Replace(strLine, "a", vbFormFeed)
strLine = Replace(strLine, "e", "a")
strLine = Replace(strLine, "i", "e")
strLine = Replace(strLine, "o", "i")
strLine = Replace(strLine, "u", "o")
strLine = Replace(strLine, vbFormFeed, "u")
tsOut.WriteLine strLine
Loop
tsOut.Close
Set tsOut = Nothing
tsIn.Close
Set tsIn = Nothing
Set FSO = Nothing
Jabber = False 'No cancels.
End Function
WScript.Echo "Start!"
If Jabber() Then
WScript.Echo "Canceled!"
Else
WScript.Echo "Done!"
End If
CODE
Option Explicit
Public Function Jabber(ByVal Caller As Object)
Const ForReading = 1
Dim FSO
Dim strIn
Dim tsIn
Dim strOut
Dim tsOut
Dim strLine
Set FSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
strIn = InputBox("File to Jabber")
If strIn = "" Then
Jabber = True
Exit Function
End If
strOut = InputBox("New jabbered file")
If strOut = "" Then
Jabber = True
Exit Function
End If
Set tsIn = FSO.OpenTextFile(strIn, ForReading)
Set tsOut = FSO.CreateTextFile(strOut, True)
Do Until tsIn.AtEndOfStream
strLine = tsIn.ReadLine
strLine = Caller.R(strLine, "a", vbFormFeed)
strLine = Caller.R(strLine, "e", "a")
strLine = Caller.R(strLine, "i", "e")
strLine = Caller.R(strLine, "o", "i")
strLine = Caller.R(strLine, "u", "o")
strLine = Caller.R(strLine, vbFormFeed, "u")
tsOut.WriteLine strLine
Loop
tsOut.Close
Set tsOut = Nothing
tsIn.Close
Set tsIn = Nothing
Set FSO = Nothing
Jabber = False 'No cancels.
End Function
CODE
Option Explicit
Dim Jabber
Function R(ByVal Expression, ByVal Find, ByVal ReplaceWith)
R = Replace(Expression, Find, ReplaceWith)
End Function
WScript.Echo "Start!"
Set Jabber = CreateObject("Jabber.Compiled")
If Jabber.Jabber(Me) Then
WScript.Echo "Canceled!"
Else
WScript.Echo "Done!"
End If
Set Jabber = Nothing