Call vbs in UIpath

[lawanyaram (Lawanya Dhandapani)]

Can I get the best approach to invoke vbs file with configurable parameter in UIpath.
I am seeing powershell and invoke code as 2 ways. suggest me which approach is suggested

[andrzej.kniola (Andrzej Knioła)]

We’re using PowerShell invokes for it currently.
Haven’t tried InvokeCode for that yet.

A 1st-party direct activity would be best (f.e. in Script package). I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s already a multitude of in-house implementations of it in different companies, which is a waste of everyone’s resources.

Added to Ideas, but let’s continue the discussion - I’m also curious what’s the split between PS and InvokeCode for this one.

Run VBS

Hi, Could we get a 1st-party implementation of RunVBS (similar to what you’ve already done for PS and AHK)? It’s pretty popular (especially with SAP recordings) and currently you need to route it through different activities even if you already have the script ready. BR, Andrzej

[vvaidya (Vinay Vaidya)]

I used Start Process in the past

[andrzej.kniola (Andrzej Knioła)]

How do you get outArgs? Via exit code?

[lawanyaram (Lawanya Dhandapani)]

thanks for the approach. can u share a sample vbs code as I see my regular vbs files are not getting executes
is any modification needed to suite UIpath

[vvaidya (Vinay Vaidya)]

My processes does not return any value. It basically does some business logic and sends out an email or if it is an already existing ticket will mark the email as UnRead. The script takes about 15-20 minutes to execute, robot will be looking for that specific email to execute downstream logic.I don’t think we can get Output args or use exit code in this approach.We might if we use System.Diagnostics.Process.Start.

[vvaidya (Vinay Vaidya)]

Read a .msg file and save attachement

This simple vbs should work fine, you could even pass the arguments in the Start Process activity. Dim OlApp Dim Eml Dim Arg Set Arg = WScript.Arguments Dim File File = Arg(0) Set OlApp = CreateObject(“Outlook.Application”) Set Eml = OlApp.CreateItemFromTemplate(File) Download(Eml) Sub Download(objEml) For Each Attch In objEml.Attachments Attch.SaveAsFile "C:\temp\" & Attch.FileName Next End Sub [image]

How to mark email as unread in outlook folder?

If you want you can try using VbScript (as a last resort). This is for custom folder in Root,commented is for Inbox. Unreading based on Subject (contains) by passing it via Start Process. [image] Const olFolderDeletedItems = 3 Dim Items Dim objSubject Dim Arg Set Arg = WScript.Arguments Set objOutlook = CreateObject("Outlook.Application") Set objNamespace = objOutlook.GetNamespace("MAPI") //Set objInbox = objNamespace.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderDeletedItems) --> Inbox (check) Set objInbox = ob…

[lawanyaram (Lawanya Dhandapani)]

Thanks for the sample. It helped me to understand the approahch.
I am not familiar with vbscript.
On eexecuting the above scripts I am getting Microsoft compilation error. Is there some changes needed int he script to run from UIPath

[lawanyaram (Lawanya Dhandapani)]

I was finally able to figure out it as some syntax error in scrit…sorted it out

[lawanyaram (Lawanya Dhandapani)]

i got the clarity to use start process for invoke of vbs. also we can pass input argument. if output argument is needed are we to prefer powershell
if we go with System.Diagnostics.Process.Start if there any specific end process needed

[vvaidya (Vinay Vaidya)]

@lawanyaram

if output argument is needed are we to prefer powershell

Process.Start was just my assumption, I think it is preferable to go with PS.

[vvaidya (Vinay Vaidya)]

This may be a bad idea, but did you check out the Invoke VBA activity in latest Excel package?

Excel Activities Pack Release: UiPath.Excel.Activities v2.3.6660.23035

UiPath.Excel.Activities v2.3.6660.23035 pack is out! This pack brings several new features for Excel automation, bug fixes aaaand a brand new activity enabling users to invoke VBA functions for passing macros, called Invoke VBA. Read the details in the release notes:

[lawanyaram (Lawanya Dhandapani)]

Thanks for suggesting. I will try this approach…
As of now I am able to pass multiple input argument to invoke VBS from Invoke code but not output argument …

System.Diagnostics.Process.start(“C:\Test\SecondVBScript.vbs”,Number1 &" “& Number2 &” "& Total)

[vvaidya (Vinay Vaidya)]

I have not tried before, but I get below output value

process.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd()

   String cmd = String.Format("C:\temp\test.vbs 1 2")
     Process process = new Process();
    process.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
    process.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
    process.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = true;
    process.StartInfo.FileName = "cscript.exe";
    process.StartInfo.Arguments = cmd;
    process.Start();
    System.Console.WriteLine(process.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd());

output

[lawanyaram (Lawanya Dhandapani)]

@vvaidya

process.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd());

First of all thanks for providing multiple options. I am getting empty result at this time. will try to diagnose the issue and post my responses

[ipfhu]

Hello Everybody,
pls forgive me for a lama question! This code (process.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput etc) is an UiPath code? I am new to UiPath, and i found only diagrams, Flowcharts…So, is it possible to write CODE in UiPath?
Thabk you!