Hello,

I need to update some files on a number of machines at my workplace.  I have
been sending scripts in the email for people to invoke to copy the updated
files.  But I would like to delete the scripts after they have been invoked so
that the scripts aren't getting emailed all over the place (which has happened
to me before).  I figured out some code to do this  once, but my sample file
deleted itself and I can't remember what I did :).  Could someone help me save
some time and share how to do this?

Thanks,
Rich

Set fso = CreateObject("Script.FileSystemObject")
WScript.Echo "GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD!!!!"
fso.DeleteFile WScript.ScriptFullName

sounds like a virus

You are consciously developing bad habits in your workplace.
Keep doing it - and it will bite you badly!

You should *not* encourage people to double click on attachments
even if they seem to be coming from you. Your users should
*not* be able to touch or run any executable attachments - period.
On the assumption that mail clients are Outlook - the mere fact
that users can see executable attachments is sign of unpatched
(thus very risky to operate) mail client. Do yourself (and the
company you work for) a favour, go to Windows Update site, and
see which product updates your MSOffice is missing, also pick up
*all* critical updates for IE.

As for "script distribution problem" find some other ways, leave
e-mail out of it.

Branimir

Thank you all for your posts.

I was a little afraid someone would think "VIRUS!!!".  OK.  so updating
via email scripts is a bad habit.  Hmmm.  This is an important issue.
Thinking outloud here, I support a handful of power users (maybe a dozen
people or so).  My goal was to not disrupt/interfere with
workflow/productivity.  This group of people of I support haven't had
any problems with my system in the past.  Matter of fact, the guy I
replaced used .bat files.  I upgraded that to .vbs.  In light of these
facts, and that the folks I support are not casual computer users, is it
still a bad idea to do my installs/updates via email?  I was hoping to
emulate when you download stuff from the internet and it installs
remotely.  Appreciate any thoughts.

Thanks again,
Rich

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Oh, the method suggested by Kit works, on the workstation, and does not
generate an error on/from the email.  But I'm not using Microsoft mail,
and the attachment is not deleting itself from the email.  Any other
possibilities for non-Microsoft mail systems?

Thanks
Rich Protzel

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Domain logon scripts perhaps - ask your network admin about them! [unless
that''s you of course].

Chris Barber.

Oh, the method suggested by Kit works, on the workstation, and does not
generate an error on/from the email.  But I'm not using Microsoft mail,
and the attachment is not deleting itself from the email.  Any other
possibilities for non-Microsoft mail systems?

Thanks
Rich Protzel

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Domain logon scripts could be used to distribute scripts to networked
computers, and depending on what scripts were supposed to do - "power
users" may or may not be able to run them successfully. If on the other
hand your power users have local admin powers (not that I think they should)...

Or you can roll your own solution - script that take list of systems as
input, and remotely execute script(s) of your choice against each node
(this would assume WSH 5.6 "across the board").

Branimir

Oh yeah, I guess I should mention that doing the updates thing via email
is the way they do it at my workplace, orders from higher up.  I think
I've passed the probation period - been here 4+ years.  

Anyway, I'm just trying to efficienize :) the routine.  So what I am, in
essence, trying to do is to delete the attachment (the script which does
the updating) from the email after it is invoked once to prevent
accidentally overwriting files that have already been updated and put to
use (thus causing potential loss of data/work).  We use Lotus Notes mail
on our NT4 OS at my place (yeah I know, that's a whole nuther story -
and I do mega Lotus scripting).  So would anyone know if having the
script delete itself is the way to remove it from the email - or at
least prevent the attachment from being sent on in the emails?

Thanks again,
Rich

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That would be really, really hard to do for a specific environment without
detailed knowledge of how it is done... it *might* be doable server-side using
another mechanism if you are using Lotus Notes as a standard tool, though.

What I'm not sure about is what your current system and structure is. I saw you
mention both Lotus Notes and Microsoft mail... Who's doing what how, and where?

Somehow I doubt that you will be able to do this.  A script attached to an email and executed has no clue that it was attached to an email, let alone which one.

But if your email client supports external automation, I suppose a script written specifically to be executed as an email attachment could search the user's inbox looking for an email item with an attachment whose name matches the script's name and then remove the attachment.  A little farfetched, but...

--
Michael Harris
Microsoft.MVP.Scripting
Seattle WA US
--

This may seem a little nuts, but have you considered putting the script on a
network share, e-mail them a shortcut, and having them run it from there?
Or perhaps even setup a web page send them a link?

Just an idea.

-K

I think someone else mentioned something related to your suggestion.  Yes.  I
believe this would be the best solution.  So, lets see (review here), I create
the shortcut to my script which will live on a network share, I drag the
shortcut to the email and send it.  Viola!  Is this the idea?  Well, this is
what I am going to try.

Thanks very much for this idea.  Thank you all.

Rich

Yes, I have investigate this possibility.  It <i>is</i> possible to remove
attachments from Notes emails, but I have to be able to access the Notes Object
model through automation.  I haven't had much luck using CreateObject with
Notes.  So far, I have only made references to the Notes Object libary and
bypassed CreateObject.  Thus, I might not be able to do this in vbs.

Rich

I think someone else mentioned Microsoft Mail.  We use Notes exclusively at my
place.  Anyway, I am finally getting the idea of just sending a shortcut to the
scripts via email, where the scripts would reside on the network (thanks to
suggestions from other posters).  

Rich