Rob van der Woude's Scripting Pages

VBScript Scripting Techniques > User Interaction > User Input

Prompt for User Input

 

WSH (StdIn or InputBox)
VBScript Code:
strInput = UserInput( "Enter some input:" )
WScript.Echo "You entered: " & strInput

Function UserInput( myPrompt )
' This function prompts the user for some input.
' When the script runs in CSCRIPT.EXE, StdIn is used,
' otherwise the VBScript InputBox( ) function is used.
' myPrompt is the the text used to prompt the user for input.
' The function returns the input typed either on StdIn or in InputBox( ).
' Written by Rob van der Woude
' http://www.robvanderwoude.com
    ' Check if the script runs in CSCRIPT.EXE
    If UCase( Right( WScript.FullName, 12 ) ) = "\CSCRIPT.EXE" Then
        ' If so, use StdIn and StdOut
        WScript.StdOut.Write myPrompt & " "
        UserInput = WScript.StdIn.ReadLine
    Else
        ' If not, use InputBox( )
        UserInput = InputBox( myPrompt )
    End If
End Function
Requirements:
Windows version: All
Network: N/A
Client software: Windows Script 5.6 for Windows 98, ME, and NT 4 (no longer available for download?)
Script Engine: WSH
Summarized: Works in any Windows version, provided Windows Script 5.6 for Windows 98, ME, and NT 4 is installed for Windows 98, ME, and NT 4 (no longer available for download?).
 
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InternetExplorer.Application
VBScript Code:
Function GetUserInput( myPrompt )
' This function uses Internet Explorer to
' create a dialog and prompt for user input.
'
' Version:             2.11
' Last modified:       2013-11-07
'
' Argument:   [string] prompt text, e.g. "Please enter your name:"
' Returns:    [string] the user input typed in the dialog screen
'
' Written by Rob van der Woude
' http://www.robvanderwoude.com
' Error handling code written by Denis St-Pierre
    Dim objIE

    ' Create an IE object
    Set objIE = CreateObject( "InternetExplorer.Application" )

    ' Specify some of the IE window's settings
    objIE.Navigate "about:blank"
    objIE.Document.title = "Input required " & String( 100, "." )
    objIE.ToolBar        = False
    objIE.Resizable      = False
    objIE.StatusBar      = False
    objIE.Width          = 320
    objIE.Height         = 180

    ' Center the dialog window on the screen
    With objIE.Document.parentWindow.screen
        objIE.Left = (.availWidth  - objIE.Width ) \ 2
        objIE.Top  = (.availHeight - objIE.Height) \ 2
    End With

    ' Wait till IE is ready
    Do While objIE.Busy
        WScript.Sleep 200
    Loop
    ' Insert the HTML code to prompt for user input
    objIE.Document.body.innerHTML = "<div align=""center""><p>" & myPrompt _
                                  & "</p>" & vbCrLf _
                                  & "<p><input type=""text"" size=""20"" " _
                                  & "id=""UserInput""></p>" & vbCrLf _
                                  & "<p><input type=""hidden"" id=""OK"" " _
                                  & "name=""OK"" value=""0"">" _
                                  & "<input type=""submit"" value="" OK "" " _
                                  & "OnClick=""VBScript:OK.value=1""></p></div>"
    ' Hide the scrollbars
    objIE.Document.body.style.overflow = "auto"
    ' Make the window visible
    objIE.Visible = True
    ' Set focus on input field
    objIE.Document.all.UserInput.focus

    ' Wait till the OK button has been clicked
    On Error Resume Next
    Do While objIE.Document.all.OK.value = 0
        WScript.Sleep 200
        ' Error handling code by Denis St-Pierre
        If Err Then ' user clicked red X (or alt-F4) to close IE window
            IELogin = Array( "", "" )
            objIE.Quit
            Set objIE = Nothing
            Exit Function
        End if
    Loop
    On Error Goto 0


    ' Read the user input from the dialog window
    GetUserInput = objIE.Document.all.UserInput.value

    ' Close and release the object
    objIE.Quit
    Set objIE = Nothing
End Function
 
Sample VBScript Code:
strUserInput = GetUserInput( "Please enter your name:" )
WScript.Echo "Your name is: " & strUserInput
 
Internet Explorer input dialog
 
Requirements:
Windows version: any
Network: any
Client software: Internet Explorer 4 or later
Script Engine: WSH (CSCRIPT and WSCRIPT)
(to use in HTAs, remove both WScript.Sleep lines)
Summarized: Works in all Windows versions with Internet Explorer 4 or later, remove both WScript.Sleep lines to use in HTAs.
 
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