The latest
KiXtart version (4.60) is
available at KiXtart.org.
This version supports COM automation of the script engine itself,
which means you don't need to rewrite your KiXtart scripts to use
them in VBScript.
Read the "readme" for more details.
Check ScriptLogic's site for the latest KiXtart manual in .chm format.
KiXtart, was created by
Ruud
van Velsen of Microsoft Benelux, but is not officially supported
by Microsoft.
It was originaly intended as a scripting language for (Windows)
logon scripts.
Up to version 3.* that was its most powerful application.
However, over the last year, and especially since version 4.*,
it has become much more powerful and versatile.
I have used it often for its features, many lacking in batch,
or because of its more-or-less Windows version independance.
A good example of a feature not available in Windows batch
is a GUI style message box.
I have often used NET SEND to display a graphical message box,
but KiXtart' MessageBox() function is much more versatile.
User input, and hiding the console, are also very well handled
in KiXtart.
Or how about finding a user's primary group in NT 4?
It is possible using Kix's @PRIMARYGROUP macro.
I have converted many scripts using WMI from
VBScript to KiXtart version 4.*.
With my WMI Code Generator
creating WMI queries for KiXtart has truly become a piece of
cake.
With KiXtart version 4.* you can define your own
functions, also called UDF (User Defined
Functions). This is an extremely important improvement!
Some great examples of user defined functions can be found at
ScriptLogic's Function Library
Other improvements are the new FOR loops, several new functions
and macros, and last but not least COM automation.
The latest version can be downloaded from www.kixtart.org, the KiXtart home.
If you have Internet Explorer 5 or later, make sure you download ScriptLogic.com's HTML help file too.
A lot of valuable information can be found in the forums of the KiXtart Bulletin Board.
ScriptLogic.com has created a great function library including, amongst many others, DateMath() to calculate, for example, the date of one week ago.
A Kix starters guide and many examples can be found at Bryce's Kix Library.
Lots of Kix scripts and utilities are available at scripting@wanadoo.nl.
At Appdeploy.com many examples of administrative scripts (Kix, batch and SMS installer) can be found.
From my former collegue
Adriaan Westra,
several examples
of Kix scripts. Amongst others a script to list all file versions
in a directory (Lstprtdrv.scr); we used it to check the printer driver
versions installed at the office.
Choose Tips & trics, Kix scripting.
Or, if your Dutch isn't too rusty, start browsing his
old site at Tips
& trics, Windows NT for several registry hacks and tips that
can be used in any scripting language.
Also in Dutch, some articles on Kix on Win2kWereld.nl, Win2KWereld magazine's KiXtart page.
Some tools for KiXtart developers:
Have fun.