Can't open a .vbs file

[Drew Moreland]

I currently use MSN as a browser and want to switch to IE 6. The switch is
easy but I can't export my bookmarks from MSN to IE 6 because MSN uses a
..xml file to store them while IE 6 uses something different.

I found a program that is supposed to change the MSN file into something IE
and import at this location:

http://www.mainsoft.fr/en/downloads.htm

I've followed the instructions which instruct me to copy the .xml file to
the folder where the tool's .vbs file is located. Now I am supposed to
execute the .vbs file to create a html file from the .vbs file. The problem
is that I can't execute the .vbs file. I double-click it and get a message
that "Windows can't open the file unless it knows what program created it."
and I have no idea what to tell Windows to use to open it.

I'm hoping that someone can give me at least some direction in accomplishing
this task.

 

[Dennis Marks]

Check the file extension. They are hidden by default and you may have
xxx.vbs.something.

 

[Drew Moreland]

How do I do that? I already have Windows configured to show extensions for
known file types.

--
'Drew Moreland

Check the file extension. They are hidden by default and you may have
xxx.vbs.something.

 

[Alan Edwards]

My .vbs files open with Wscript.exe but if you use "Open with", you
will probably find as a recommended program "Microsoft (r) Windows
Based Script Host". Use that.

You may also use the alternative method of cscript outlined in the
readme.txt in the download.

....Alan

 

[Drew Moreland]

Thanks, Alan, but I feel like I'm getting in way over my head. I checked the
list in "Open With" and Wscript.exe (Windows Based Script Host) is not
listed as one of the options (XP Home).

I read the instruction to "run the following command in a console window"
but I have absolutely no idea what that means of how to do it.

Thanks for the reply, though.

 

[Jim]

Thanks, Alan, but I feel like I'm getting in way over my head. I checked
the list in "Open With" and Wscript.exe (Windows Based Script Host) is not
listed as one of the options (XP Home).

I read the instruction to "run the following command in a console window"
but I have absolutely no idea what that means of how to do it.

Click Start
Click Run
Enter cmd
You are now in a console window.
Jim

 

[David Candy]

just type
cscript c:\somefolder\somefile.vbs

or

wscript c:\somefolder\somefile.vbs

 

[Drew Moreland]

Thanks, but that addresses only part of my problem. Here is the text from
this portion of the Readme file, typed exactly as it printed from the file:

"run the following command in a console (DOS) window after making the
directory where msnfav.vbs resides the current directory:

c:\>cd msnfav
c:\msnfav>cscript msnfav.vbs

This should have produced a file named bookmark.htm in the same folder."

I copied the VBS file to c:\msnfav as instructed and it resides there now.
But "the command" referred to above looks like 2 commands to me. Do I enter
them exactly as they are typed above, on separate lines. And then how do I
cause them to do whatever it is that they are supposed to do?

 

[Alan Edwards]

Add it in Explorer-Tools-Folder Options-File Types.

....Alan

 

[Alan Edwards]

Type the two commands as suggested.
Yes, two lines, type one, press Enter and then type the second one and
press Enter.
The commands are:

cd msnfav
cscript msnfav.vbs

Typing the commands and pressing Enter causes them to do what they are
supposed to do.

....Alan

 

[Drew Moreland]

Thanks, Alan.

One more question:

there is already an entry in the DOS window that reads "C:\documents and
settings\owner>" and the flashing cursor is the next character after the >
symbol.

Shall I simply add the first line of the command to the end of the existing
text or shall I add it in some other way and then press "Enter" and add the
second line?

 

[Alan Edwards]

Please (pretty please) just type the commands.

The prompt changes according to the directory or folder you are in.
The first command, cd msnfav is to Change Directory to the msnfav
directory. The prompt should then be "C:\msnfav>" and you just type
the second command.

....Alan

 

[Drew Moreland]

I did as you specified. I entered

cd msnfav

to the end of the entry that already existed in the DOS window and hit
"enter" and Windows responded that the "system could not find the specified
path".

 

[Alan Edwards]

Sorry, I find you hard to follow if you keep removing previous detail.
Try this:

cd c:\msnfav

....Alan

 

[Drew Moreland]

I'm sorry. All of this is new to me and I don't know which post to reply to.

I entered

cd c:\msnfav

as you instructed and the prompt changed to

c:\msnfav

with a flashing cursor immediately after the "v". Hitting the "enter" key
simply duplicated the prompt so I typed the second command where the cursor
was:

cscript msnfav.vbs

and received the statement "Input error: There is no script engine for file
extension ".vbs".

 

[Alan Edwards]

Have you checked that cscript.exe exists?
I don't see why you don't seem to have scripting installed and suggest
you give your msn favorites file to someone else to convert for you.

....Alan

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE]

I'm sorry. All of this is new to me and I don't know which post to
reply to.
I entered

cd c:\msnfav

as you instructed and the prompt changed to

c:\msnfav

with a flashing cursor immediately after the "v". Hitting the "enter"
key simply duplicated the prompt so I typed the second command where
the cursor was:

cscript msnfav.vbs

and received the statement "Input error: There is no script engine
for file extension ".vbs".

You might want to refresh your scripting engine:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/downloads/list/webdev.asp
Windows Script 5.6 for Windows 2000 and XP
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...43-7e4b-4622-86eb-95a22b832caa&DisplayLang=en

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx
http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/

 

[Drew Moreland]

Thanks for all your time, Alan.

A "search" of the system found:

CSCRIPT.EXE-21D336F4.pf (in C:\Windows\Prefetch)
cscript.exe (in C:\Windows\System 32\
scsript.exe (in blue; in C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles\i386

Perhaps there is a setting somewhere that is preventing scripts from
running?

 

[Alan Edwards]

Follow Frank's advice and refresh the scripting engine.
You should be able to avoid all this then and just double-click the
..vbs file like anybody else.

....Alan

 

[Drew Moreland]

I do hope that this is the correct place to post a sincere "Thank You" to
those who responded to my question, and especially to Alan and Frank for
their efforts and their patience.

I refreshed the script engine from the first of the two links Frank posted
and the file executed without a hitch. I had no idea such things needed
doing, but I've accomplished what I set out to do.

Thanks again!