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Windows Script Host
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<p>The <a href="/facts/Microsoft/nGIDDXdx">Microsoft</a> Windows Script Host (WSH) (formerly named Windows Scripting Host) is an automation technology for <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Windows/bwhAhuSL">Microsoft Windows</a> <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating systems</a> that provides scripting abilities comparable to <a href="/facts/Batch_file/E6wMVSyb">batch files</a>, but with a wider range of supported features. This tool was first provided on Windows 95 after Build 950a on the installation discs as an optional installation configurable and installable by means of the <a href="/facts/Control_Panel_(Windows)/WEfhKClH">Control Panel</a>, and then a standard component of Windows 98 (Build 1111) and subsequent and Windows NT 4.0 Build 1381 and by means of Service Pack 4. WSH is also a means of automation for <a href="/facts/Internet_Explorer/uL8a4Y5l">Internet Explorer</a> via the installed WSH engines from IE Version 3.0 onwards; at this, time VBScript became a means of automation for <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Outlook/cMGCKGFJ">Microsoft Outlook</a> 97. WSH is also an optional install provided with a VBScript and JScript engine for <a href="/facts/Windows_CE/bMUhjgqQ">Windows CE</a> 3.0 and following; some third-party engines, including <a href="/facts/Rexx/hAzh6FeR">Rexx</a> and other forms of <a href="/facts/BASIC/VYMl5TmA">BASIC</a>, are also available. </p><p>It is language-independent in that it can make use of different <a href="/facts/Active_Scripting/0v27X50A">Active Scripting</a> language engines. By default, it interprets and runs plain-text <a href="/facts/JScript/HyuCUU2D">JScript</a> (.JS and .JSE files) and <a href="/facts/VBScript/tg6VhSCk">VBScript</a> (.VBS and .VBE files). </p><p>Users can install different <a href="/facts/Scripting_engine/8pF4ajBL">scripting engines</a> to enable them to script in other languages, for instance <a href="/facts/PerlScript/uydYqvDj">PerlScript</a>. The language-independent <a href="/facts/Filename_extension/cJgfAym4">filename extension</a> WSF can also be used. The advantage of the <a href="/facts/Windows_Script_File/ARmgt45K">Windows Script File</a> (.WSF) is that it allows multiple scripts ("jobs") as well as a combination of scripting languages within a single file. </p><p>WSH engines include various implementations for the <a href="/facts/Rexx/hAzh6FeR">Rexx</a>, <a href="/facts/Object_REXX/E7CoEr7D">ooRexx</a> (up to version 4.0.0), <a href="/facts/BASIC/VYMl5TmA">BASIC</a>, <a href="/facts/Perl/fx31kjlT">Perl</a>, <a href="/facts/Ruby_(programming_language)/BeYSaPSR">Ruby</a>, <a href="/facts/Tcl/s7fbKYtR">Tcl</a>, <a href="/facts/PHP/vU6YRJX0">PHP</a>, <a href="/facts/JavaScript/XhhIIEsl">JavaScript</a>, <a href="/facts/Object_Pascal/cuGkuISv">Delphi</a>, <a href="/facts/Python_(programming_language)/YbuGqofa">Python</a>, <a href="/facts/XSLT/0gw4WVyJ">XSLT</a>, and other languages. </p><p>Windows Script Host is distributed and installed by default on <a href="/facts/Windows_98/6qtq4oJm">Windows 98</a> and later versions of Windows. It is also installed if <a href="/facts/Internet_Explorer_5/HaSYzQEg">Internet Explorer 5</a> (or a later version) is installed. Beginning with <a href="/facts/Windows_2000/amJIt9gz">Windows 2000</a>, the Windows Script Host became available for use with user login scripts. </p>