March, 2007

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I search a text file of product IDs and retrieve just those lines that meet a specified pattern? -- WT Hey, WT. Before we get to today’s question we were wondering if anyone else has seen the commercial for the car that...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I verify the system time on a remote computer? -- MN Hey, MN. You know, recently the Scripting Guy who writes this column was reading about the “law of attraction,” which is supposedly a natural law of the universe that...

Hey, Scripting Guy! I need to delete some desktop shortcuts; however, I don’t know which folder those shortcuts might be in. For example, they might be in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop or they might be in, say, C:\Documents and Settings...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I format a series of numbers as a phone number in Windows PowerShell? -- HR Hey, HR. You know, formatting is all about making things look a little nicer and a little more presentable. That’s why the Scripting Guy who writes...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I list all the members of a Microsoft Outlook distribution list? -- KH Hey, KH. You know, that’s an interesting question. As it turns out, you can – ow! Hey, let go! Ow! Stop it! Come on, give us a chance; we were just about...

Hey, Scripting Guy! Any time I’m connected to a wireless network I can open the Wireless Network Connection Status dialog box and see a series of bars – 1 through 5 – that indicates the signal strength. How can I get that same information using a script...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I parse a tab-delimited file, and then save the resulting information as a comma-separated values file? -- DM Hey, DM. You know, yesterday morning the Scripting Guy who writes this column had to scrape the ice off his windshield;...

Hey, Scripting Guy! We have an in-house application that, unfortunately, crashes a lot; when that happens we have to go through a lengthy procedure to restart the program. Using Windows PowerShell, is there any way I can be notified when this application...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I change the color of the scrollbars in an HTA? -- IR Hey, IR. How many times have you thought to yourself, “Gee, the Scripting Guy who writes that column is so smart; how come he isn’t rich?” (OK, true, you’ve probably...

Hey, Scripting Guy! In our company we often use HTAs as data entry forms. For some of our applications case-sensitivity is important; for example, our product numbers are case-sensitive. I know I can write a script to change letter case, but I was wondering...

Hey, Scripting Guy! I need to create a logon script that maps a network drive based on the logged-on user’s user name and OU. How can I do that? -- KB Hey, KB. You know, KB, this is probably the toughest day of the year for the Scripting Guy who writes...

Hey, Scripting Guy! I use HTAs as data entry forms, but I don’t really like the way the forms look when they have a bunch of text boxes on them. How can I allow my users to type data into a form without using text boxes? -- JJ Hey, JJ. Before we begin...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I change a service description? -- DD Hey, DD. Well, we hope you’re happy, DD. Now the Scripting Guy who writes this column will never be able to sleep again – and it’s all your fault! Sure, we’ll explain what we mean...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I go through all the emails in an Outlook folder and determine which messages are flagged for follow-up and which messages were flagged for follow-up but are now complete? -- KF Hey, KF. We’ll be honest with you: we’re going...

Hey, Scripting Guy! Often-times while browsing the Internet I run across Web pages where they used a bulleted list, except that they use little pictures as the bullets. Can I add that type of a bulleted list to my HTAs? -- JA Hey, JA. You know, as...

Hey, Scripting Guy! We have a folder full of Word documents in which the author had an unfortunate tendency to use a strange font from time-to-time. How can I use a script to go in and replace just that strange font with Arial? -- Z D-F Hey, Z D-F...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I change the first 16 bits on an IP address? I want to keep the last 16 bits exactly the same. -- LD Hey, LD. Before we answer your question we should note that we are well aware that “suggestive” photos of an American Idol...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I write a script that modifies the contents of a text file and then copies specified lines from the modified contents to a new file? -- EH Hey, EH. There’s no way to do that. Now go away and leave us alone. Wait, sorry;...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I count the number of characters in a text file? -- LD Hey, LD. We know a burning question for many of you (in addition to the question of how you can count the number of characters in a text file) is this: what kind of...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I apply a theme to a Microsoft Word document? -- YP Hey, YP. You know, things finally seem to be getting back to normal here in the Seattle area. The weather over this past weekend was in the mid-50s, which is where it should...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I tell if any of my contacts have a birthday this month? -- VG Hey, VG. You sly fox, you: how did you know that the Scripting Guy who writes this column is celebrating his birthday?!? And no, you don’t need to send him a...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I search for a word in a text file and then, after I find it, echo back that word and any remaining text in the text file? -- KA Hey, KA. Before we begin we’d like to thank the hundreds and hundreds of people who have sent...