Günter Born

WSHRas Programmer's Reference

The ActiveX control provides methods to access the Remote Access Services (RAS) API. This enables you to control your Dial Up Network (DUN) from WSH scripts. The OCX file (see below) is released to the public in the internet.

Version Info

Alpha Version of WSHRas.ocx , which is available for download now. I just have tested the control in Windows Me and in Windows 98.

The WSHRas object model

The ActiveX control WSHRas (WSHRas.ocx) contains the object WSHRas, which extends the Windows Scripting Host with methods to access the RAS API.

Using the object

The object may be created in VBScript with the following statement:

Dim oRas
Set oRas = WScript.CreateObject("WSHRas.Ras")

and in JScript with the following statement:

var oRas = WScript.CreateObject("WSHRas.Ras");

Then you may use the object variable oRas to access the methods and properties.

The WSHRas methods

Till now I haven't finished an extended English languaged document describing the methods exposed by this object. Here is in brief what the object provides:

oRAS.InetAutoDial

Uses the default DUN to establish an online connection.

oRAS.InetAutoDialHangup

Disconnect the already running default DUN connection. Fails on non-default DUN connections.

oRAS.RASStatus

Returns the online state of the current session.
True = a DUN connection is active,
False = no online connection (via DUN) found

Example:

WScript.Echo "Online-State: " & oRAS.RASStatus()

Here are the methods to use any DUN entry for a internet
connection.

oRas.InetDial (Text(tmp),ConID)

Use the DUN entry submitted in the parameter Text to establish a DUN connection. The parameter ConID receives the connection ID (which is required to disconnect).

oRas.RasEnum (Num, Text)

Retrieves all DUN entries. The parameter Text must be an array (which is used to return the names of DUN entries). The array size is submitted in the parameter Num. After calling, the parameter Num contains the number of DUN entries already found (the value is alway below or equal the initial value passed to the method - to prevent a buffer overflow, if more DUN entries are found then the buffer Text() allows). If the buffer Text() is to small to keep all DUN entries, the last entries are cut off.

oRas.InetHangup (ConID)

Disconnect the DUN-session specified in ConID.

The VBScript samples within the ZIP-Archive demonstrates how to use the WSHRas.ocx control. The following code listing demonstrates how to enumerate all RAS entries, dial one entry and hang up.

'************************************************
' File:    RasTest.vbs (WSH-sample in VBScript) 
' Author:  (c) G. Born  
'
' Demonstrates how to use Remote Access Services (RAS)
' to enumerate all RAS entries, dial on and hang up.
' Use the ActiveX control WSHRas.ocx, that provides 
' a scripteable interface to WinInet.dll.
'************************************************
Option Explicit

Dim oRas           ' RAS object
Dim Num            ' number of RAS entries
Dim Text (10)      ' buffer for max. 10 RAS entries
Dim ConID          ' connection ID

Dim i, txt, tmp    ' helper variables

Num = 10           ' init buffer size

' create RAS object reference 
Set oRas = WScript.CreateObject("WSHRas.Ras")

' try to enumerate all RAS entries
' after call Num contains the number of entries,
' if the call fails, RasEnum returns false
If oRas.RasEnum (Num, Text) Then
 txt = "Number of entries: " & Num & vbCrLf
 For i = 0 to Num-1
  txt = txt & i & ": " & Text(i) & vbCrLf
 Next
 tmp = InputBox (txt, "Please enter a number", "0")
End if

' Ask user whether to dial or not
If MsgBox ("Connecting to: " & Text(tmp), vbYesNo + vbQuestion, _
           "Dialing Test") = vbYes Then
 If oRas.InetDial (Text(tmp),ConID) Then
  WScript.Echo "Connected to: ", Text(tmp), _
               vbCrLf & "Connect ID: " & ConID
  If MsgBox ("Hangup ?", vbYesNo + vbQuestion, _
           "Dialing Test") = vbYes Then _
    If oRas.InetHangup (ConID) Then WScript.Echo "Done"
 End If
End If
WScript.Echo "Ready"
'* End

Terms of use

The WSHRas ActiveX control comes AS-IS without any warranty and support. Use the control at your own risk. In no case the author will be liable for damages or losses or whatever else resulting from the use of this component. The OCX module may be freely distributed under the condition that this Programmers Reference is included and that the WSH Bazaar with its URL http://www.borncity.de is mentioned as the source of the control.

Download and install

Download the OCX file and install it on your machine. Because the ActiveX control was developed under VB, it needs the VB 5 run-time libraries. If you have ever installed the WSHExtend control, these run-time libraries are available. Then is is sufficient to download the ZIP-archive, unzip the files into a local folder and run RegSvr32.exe to install the control. The control may be registered using:

RegSvr32.exe path\WSHRas.ocx

Unregistering may be done with:

RegSvr32.exe /u path\WSHRas.ocx

Further details may be found in the file Readme.txt shipped within the ZIP archive.

Feedback about trouble may be reported to GBorn@Borncity.de.
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by (c) Günter Born changed 16-August-2000