The word "Homer" is a brand name I sometimes use for developer tools I create. HomerJax is a library of convenience functions for accessing Internet resources. It is written primarily in JScript, the Microsoft version of JavaScript, and is dependent on several COM servers distributed with Windows. The word "Jax" derives from Ajax, which originally meant "Asynchronous JavaScript and XML." Ajax technologies focus on building dynamic user interfaces in web browsers. HomerJax functions use some of these core technologies, but focus on reading, interpreting, and writing data from the Internet.

Since the Internet is a great source of accessible information for people with visual disabilities who cannot readily read the printed word, my hope is that this library makes it easier for developers, including blind ones like myself, to build applications that take advantage of new social networking sites such as Twitter, FaceBook, and many others. I intend for HomerJax to be accessible via various programming environments, including the Windows Script Host, screen reader scripting languages, and other programming languages via a COM server interface.

HomerJax methods are divided into categories indicated by a prefix at the beginning of their names: Dialog, File, Folder, Html, Js, Path, RegExp, Registry, String, Vt, Web, and Xml. By convention, HomerJax variable names use lower case prefixes to indicate the data type: s for string, i for integer, n for floating point number, l for list, d for dictionary, and o for other COM object. Method and variable names use upper camel case (like the .NET Framework), e.g., XmlGetValue rather than XMLGetValue. JavaScript is a case-sensitive language, so methods need to be called with appropriate capitalization.

HomerJax is a COM server defined as a "Windows script component" in the file HomerJax.wsc. Unlike most COM servers, a client object may be instantiated without the need to have the COM server registered on the computer (in the Windows registry), which requires administrative rights. This is done via the GetObject function of a programming language that supports COM automation. For example, the syntax in VBScript is

Set oJax = GetObject("script:" & sFile)

where sFile is a string containing the complete path of the HomerJax.wsc file.

The technology behind such a COM server is explained in the following article:

The Component Object Model (COM) is a set of Windows standards by which different programming languages and applications can communicate. COM uses a flexible data type called a variant, which can be an individual value, array of values, or complex object with methods, properties, and events. In general, any COM client can use string, numeric, and COM objects as the data types of parameters or return values. Some, however, cannot use arrays. COM exchange format is intended to support collections, as well as primitive data types, for use by any COM client. Rather than an array, a list COM object is used from the .NET Framework (any version). A COM object dictionary is also used from the Windows Script Host.

DialogConfirm(sTitle, sMessage, sDefault) = Get choice from a standard Yes, No, or Cancel message box

DialogInput(sTitle, sField, sValue) = Get input from a single edit box

DialogShow(oTitle, oText) = Show a title and message

FileCopy(sSource, sTarget) = Copy source to destination file, replacing if it exists

FileDelete(sFile) = Delete a file if it exists, and test whether it is subsequently absent
either because it was successfully deleted or because it was!present in the first place

FileExists(sFile) = Test whether File exists

FileGetDate(sFile) = Get date of a file

FileGetSize(sFile) = Get size of a file

FileGetType(sFile) = Get file type

FileIsUnicode(sFile) = Test whether file is Unicode

FileIsUTF8(sFile) = Test whether file is UTF-8

FileMove(sSource, sTarget) = Move source to destination file, replacing if it exists

FileToString(sFile) = Get content of text file

FolderCopy(sSource, sTarget) = Copy source to destination Folder, replacing if it exists

FolderCreate(sFolder) = Create folder

FolderDelete(sFolder) = Delete a Folder if it exists, and test whether it is subsequently absent
either because it was successfully deleted or because it was!present in the first place

FolderExists(sFolder) = Test whether folder exists

FolderGetDate(sFolder) = Get date of a Folder

FolderGetSize(sFolder) = Get size of folder, summing the sizes of files and subfolders it contains

FolderMove(sSource, sTarget) = Move source to destination Folder, replacing if it exists

HtmlDecodeString(sText) = Decode a string from HTML or XML

HtmlEncodeString(sText) = Encode a string for HTML or XML

HtmlGetLinks(sUrl) = Get a list of two-item lists containing the URL and text of a link

HtmlGetTableText(sUrl, iTable) = Get the text of an HTML table specified by number, or null for all of them

HtmlGetText(sUrl, bAddHeader) = Get the text of an HTML page, optionally including the source URL at the top

HtmlGetUrls(sUrl) = Get a list of URLs linked to a web page

JsDictionaryToEncodedString(d) = Convert dictionary to string with http encoding

JsDictionaryToVt(d) = Convert JScript dictionary to variant

JsEval(sCode, o1, o2, o3, o4) = Evaluate sCode, optionally referencing up to 4 parameters of any type, and return the result

JsInitArray(oValue, iLength) = Initialize a JScript array

JsInspectObject(sName, oValue) = Report on type of object and its subobjects

JsIsBlank(sText) = Test if string is empty or white space

JsIsMute(o) = test for empty string

JsIsNull(o) = Test for null

JsIsObject(o) = Test for object

JsIsUndefined(o) = Test whether object is undefined

JsMin(i, j) = Return minimum of two numbers

JSNumber(o) = Convert to JScript number

JsObjectToVt(oValue) = Convert JScript object to variant

JsPrint(o) = Print to screen using console mode of Windows Script Host

JsPrintObject(sName, oValue) = Print type of object and its subobjects

JsSplit(sText, sDelimiter) = Split but ensure an empty array for empty text

JsSplitLines(sText) = JsSplit by line feeds after chomping

JsString(o) = Convert to a JScript string

JsToVt(sJs) = Convert string in JavaScript Object Notation to COM exchange format

PathCombine(sFolder, sName) = Combine folder and name to form a valid path

PathCreateTempFolder() = Create temporary folder and return its full path

PathExists(sPath) = Test whether path exists

PathGetBase(sPath) = Get base/root name of a file or folder

PathGetCurrentDirectory() = Get current directory of active process

PathGetExtension(sPath) = Get extention of file or folder

PathGetFolder(sPath) = Get the parent folder of a file or folder

PathGetInternetCacheFolder() = Get Windows folder for temporary Internet files

PathGetLong(sPath) = Get long name of file or folder

PathGetName(sPath) = Get the file or folder name at the end of a path

PathGetShort(sPath) = Get short path (8.3 style) of a file or folder

PathGetSpec(sDir, sWildcards, sFlags) = Get a list of paths, specifying folder, wild card pattern, and sort order

PathGetTempFile() = Get full path of a temporary file

PathGetTempFolder() = Get Windows folder for temporary files

PathGetTempName() = Get Name for temporary file or folder

PathGetValid(sDir, sBase, sExt, bUnique) = Make a valid file name from a string, optionally unique

PathSetCurrentDirectory(sDir) = Set current directory of active process, and return previously current directory

ProcessGetModules() = Return collection of process modules

ProcessIsModuleActive(sName) = Test if process is active in memory

ProcessQueryName(sName) = Returns a collection of 0 or more Win32_Process objects

ProcessTerminateModule(sName) = Terminate a process by name

RegExpContains(sText, sMatch, bIgnoreCase) = Get Array containing the starting index and text of the first match of a regular expression
where sText is the string to search
sMatch is the regular expression to match
bIgnoreCase indicates whether capitalization matters

RegExpContainsLast(sText, sMatch, bIgnoreCase) = Get list containing the starting index and text of the last match of a regular expression
where sText is the string to search
sMatch is the regular expression to match
bIgnoreCase indicates whether capitalization matters

RegExpCount(sText, sMatch, bIgnoreCase) = Count matches of a regular expression
where sText is the string to search
sMatch is the regular expression to match
bIgnoreCase indicates whether capitalization matters

RegExpExtract(sText, sMatch, bIgnoreCase) = Get list containing matches of a regular expression
where sText is the string to search
sMatch is the regular expression to match
bIgnoreCase indicates whether capitalization matters

RegExpReplace(sText, sMatch, sReplace, bIgnoreCase) = Replace text matching a regular expression
where sText is the string to search
sMatch is the regular expression to match
sReplace is the replacement text
bIgnoreCase indicates whether capitalization matters

RegExpTest(sText, sMatch, bIgnoreCase) = Test match of a regular expression
where sText is the string to search
sMatch is the regular expression to match
bIgnoreCase indicates whether capitalization matters

RegistryGetString(iRootKey, sSubKey, sValueName) = Get a registry string

RegistryRead(sKey) = Get a string from the registry

RegistrySetString(iRootKey, sSubKey, sValueName, sValueData) = Set a registry string

RegistryWrite(sKey, sValue) = Write a string to the registry

ShellCreateShortcut(sFile, sTargetPath, sWorkingDirectory, iWindowStyle, sHotkey) = Create a .lnk or .url file

ShellExec(sCommand) = Run a console mode command and return its standard output

ShellExecute(sFile, sParams, sFolder, sVerb, iWindowStyle) = Execute a command with a verb like RunAs

ShellExpandEnvironmentVariables(sText) = Replace environment variables with their values

ShellGetEnvironmentVariable(sVariable) = Get the value of an environment variable

ShellGetShortcutTargetPath(sFile) = Get the target path of a shortcut file

ShellGetSpecialFolder(vFolder) = Get a special Windows folder

ShellInvokeVerb(sPath, sVerb) = Invoke a verb on a file or folder

ShellOpen(sPath) = Open a file or folder with the default program associated with its type

ShellOpenWith(sExe, sParam) = Open a program with a file

ShellRun(sFile, iStyle, bWait) = Launch a program or file, indicating its window style && whether to wait before returning
window styles:
0 Hides the window && activates another window
1 Activates && displays a window. If the window is minimized || maximized, the
system restores it to its original size && position. This flag should be used
when specifying an application for the first time
2 Activates the window && displays it minimized
3 Activates the window && displays it maximized
4 Displays a window in its most recent size && position. The active window
remains active
5 Activates the window && displays it in its current size && position
6 Minimizes the specified window && activates the next top-level window in the Z
order
7 Displays the window as a minimized window. The active window remains active
8 Displays the window in its current state. The active window remains active
9 Activates && displays the window. If it is minimized || maximized, the system
restores it to its original size && position. An application should specify
this flag when restoring a minimized window
10 Sets the show state based on the state of the program that started the
application

ShellRunCommandPrompt(sDir) = Open a command prompt in the directory specified

ShellRunExplorerWindow(sDir) = Open Windows Explorer in the directory specified

ShellWait(sPath) = Run a program and wait for it to return

StringAppendToFile(sText, sFile, sDivider) = Append string to File, omitting divider if the first one

StringChomp(sText) = Chop \n for both ends of a string

StringChopLeft(sText, iCount) = Remove iCount characters from left of sText

StringChopRight(sText, iCount) = Remove iCount characters from Right of sText

StringContains(sText, sMatch, bIgnoreCase) = Test if a string is contained in another

StringConvertToMacLineBreak(sText) = Convert to Macintosh line break, \r

StringConvertToUnixLineBreak(sText) = Convert to Unix line break, \n

StringConvertToWinLineBreak(sText) = Convert to standard Windows line break, \r\n

StringCount(sText, sMatch) = Count occurrences of a string within another string

StringEndsWith(sText, sSuffix, bIgnoreCase) = Test whether first string ends with second one

StringEqual(s1, s2) = Test if two strings are exactly equal

StringEquiv(s1, s2) = Test whether two strings are the same except for capitalization

StringGetASCII(sText) = Get space delimited ASCII codes for characters in string

StringIsUnicode(sText) = Test whether a string is Unicode

StringIsUTF8(sText) = Test whether a string is UTF-8

StringLeft(sText, iCount) = Return leftmost characters of a string

StringLength(sText) = Return length of a string

StringLower(sText) = Convert string to lower case

StringPlural(sItem, iCount) = Return singular or plural form of a string, depending on whether count equals one

StringPrependUTF8(sText) = Add UTF8 prefix to string

StringQuote(sText) = Quote a string

StringReplace(sText, sMatch, sReplace, bIgnoreCase) = Replace text

StringReplaceAll(sText, sMatch, sReplace, bIgnoreCase) = Replace all occurrences of a string within another

StringRight(sText, iCount) = Return rightmost characters of a string

StringSlice(sText, iStart, iEnd) = return sText.slice(iStart, iEnd)

StringStartsWith(sText, sPrefix, bIgnoreCase) = Test whether first string starts with second one

StringToFile(sText, sFile) = Saves string to text file, replacing if it exists

StringToList(sText, sDelimiter) = Convert string with specified delimiter to list

StringTrim(sText) = Trim white space from both ends of a string

StringTrimLeft(sText) = Trim white space from left end of a string

StringTrimRight(sText) = Trim white space from right end of a string

StringUnquote(sText) = Unquote a string

StringUpper(sText) = Convert string to upper case

StringWrap(sText, iMaxLine) = var aLines, aWords

UrlCreate(sProtocol, sHost, sPath, sQuery) = Create a URL from components

UrlGetBaseDomain(sUrl) = Get base domain of a URL

UrlGetExtension(sUrl) = Get extension of a URL

UrlGetFile(sUrl) = Get file of a URL

UrlGetFolder(sUrl) = Get folder of a URL

UrlGetFragment(sUrl) = Get fragment of a URL

UrlGetHost(sUrl) = Get subdomain and domain of a URL

UrlGetPath(sUrl) = Get path of a URL

UrlGetPathPlus(sUrl) = Get path and fragment or query of a URL

UrlGetPrePath(sUrl) = Get part of URL before path

UrlGetProtocol(sUrl) = Get protocol of URL

UrlGetQuery(sUrl) = Get query of URL

UrlGetSubdomain(sUrl) = Get subdomain of a URL

UrlNormalize(sUrl, sBase) = Normalize a URL for comparison

VBSEval(sCode, v1, v2, v3, v4) = Evaluate VBScript code

VtArrayToJs(a) = Convert variant array to JScript

VtArrayToList(a) = Convert variant array to list

VtCopyDictionary(dItems) = Copy a dictionary

VtCopyList(lItems) = Copy a list

VtCreateDictionary() = Return a variant dictionary

VtCreateFileSystemObject() = Return a file system object

VtCreateHtmlFile() = Create a variant HTMLFile object

VtCreateInternetExplorerApplication() = Return an Internet Explorer object

VtCreateList() = Create a variant list object

VtCreateRecordSet() = Create a variant record set object

VtCreateRegExp() = Return a scripting RegExp object

VtCreateShellApplication() = Return a Shell.Application object

VtCreateStream() = Return an ADODB.Stream object

VtCreateVBScriptControl() = Return MSScriptControl.ScriptControl object

VtCreateWebRequest() = Create web request object

VtCreateWScriptShell() = Return WScript.Shell object

VtCreateXmlDocument() = Return an XML document

VtDateToJs(dt) = Convert a variant date to JScript

VtDictionaryKeysToJs(d) = Convert variant array of dictionary keys to JScript array

VtDictionaryKeysToList(d) = Convert variant array of dictionary keys to list

VtDictionaryToJs(d) = Convert a variant dictionary to JScript

VtDictionaryToXml(dItems, sFile) = Save dictionary to XML file

VtGetWMIObject() = Get WMI object

VtInitDictionary(vValue) = Create a variant dictionary and initialize it with a single key/value pair

VtInitXmlDocument(sXml) = Create and initialize an Xml document with a string of XML

VtListFilterByExtension(lPaths, lExtensions) = Get a subset from a list of paths that match an extension

VtListFilterByRegExp(lItems, sMatch, bIgnoreCase) = Return list of matches of a regular expression

VtListFilterByWildcard(lItems, sMatch) = Return list of matches of a wildcard filter expression

VtListGetExtensions(lPaths) = Get a list of extensions from a list of paths, converting to lower case, removing duplicates, and sorting

VtListToJs(l) = Convert variant list to JScript array

VtListToString(lItems, sDelimiter) = Convert a list to a string with a specified delimiter

VtSleep(iMilliseconds) = Sleep iMilliseconds

VtStreamToFile(aBytes, sFile) = Save a variant byte array to a binary file

VtTrim(sText) = Trim space from both ends of a string

VtTypeName(vVariant) = Get variant subtype

WebFetch(dParams) = Fetch files from web according to specifications in dictionary of parameters

WebListDownload(lUrls, sFolder, bUnique) = Download a list of URLs, specifying folder and whether to ensure unique file names

WebRequest(sType, sUrl, dData, dHeaders, sUser, sPassword) = Send a web request and return the response

WebRequestGet(sUrl, dData, dHeaders, sUser, sPassword) = Send a get request

WebRequestGetToFile(sUrl, dData, dHeaders, sUser, sPassword, sFile) = Send a get request and save response to file

WebRequestGetToString(sUrl, dData, dHeaders, sUser, sPassword) = Send a get request and return response as string

WebRequestHead(sUrl, dData, dHeaders, sUser, sPassword) = Send a head request

WebRequestHeader(sUrl, sHeader) = Get response header

WebRequestPost(sUrl, dData, dHeaders, sUser, sPassword) = Send a post request

WebRequestPostToFile(sUrl, dData, dHeaders, sUser, sPassword, sFile) = Send a post request and save response to file

WebRequestPostToString(sUrl, dData, dHeaders, sUser, sPassword) = Send a post request and return response as string

WebRequestToFile(sType, sUrl, dData, dHeaders, sUser, sPassword, sFile) = Save web resource to file

WebRequestToString(sType, sUrl, dData, dHeaders, sUser, sPassword) = Return web resource as string

WebUrlContentEncoding(sUrl) = Get encoding of a web resource

WebUrlContentLanguage(sUrl) = Get natural language code of a web resource

WebUrlContentLength(sUrl) = Get content length of a web resource

WebUrlContentLocation(sUrl) = Get redirected location of a web resource

WebUrlContentType(sUrl) = Get content type of a web resource

WebUrlDownloadPath(sUrl, sFolder, bUnique) = /Get file from URL, trying various techniques

WebUrlFileName(sUrl) = Get suggested file name of a web resource

WebUrlIsHtml(sUrl) = Test whether content type is text/html

WebUrlLastModified(sUrl) = Get last modification time stamp of a web resource

WebUrlServer(sUrl) = Get server name and version

WebUrlToFile(sUrl, sFile) = Save web resource to file

WebUrlToString(sUrl) = Return web resource as string

WebUrlToXml(sUrl) = Return web resource as XML document

XmlAppendElement(oParent, sName, sValue) = Append element to a node

XmlCreateElement(oNode, sName, sValue) = Create an XML element

XmlCreateFile(sFile) = Create a root XML file

XmlEnsureGetNode(sFile, sPath) = Return a node, creating preceding elements if necessary

XmlEnsureOpenFile(sFile) = Open an XML file, creating it if necessary

XmlGetAttribute(sFile, sPath, sAttribute, sDefault) = Get an attribute of a node

XmlGetNode(sFile, sPath) = Get a node

XmlGetNodeNames(sFile, sPath) = Get node names

XmlGetNodes(sFile, sPath) = Get a node list

XmlGetText(sFile, sPath, sDefault) = Get the text of a node

XmlGetValue(sFile, sPath, sDefault) = Get the value of a node

XmlOpenFile(sFile) = Open an XML file

XmlRemoveAttribute(sFile, sPath, sAttribute) = Remove an attribute

XmlRemoveNode(sFile, sPath) = Remove a node

XmlRemoveNodes(sFile, sPath) = Remove a node collection

XmlSetAttribute(sFile, sPath, sAttribute, sText) = Set an attribute

XmlSetText(sFile, sPath, sText) = Set text of an element

XmlSetValue(sFile, sPath, sValue) = Set a value

XmlToVtDictionary(sFile) = Convert XML file to variant dictionary

Version 1.1 on May 27, 2010
Misc bug fixes. Added HtmlDecodeString method.

Version 1.0 on March 9, 2010
Initial production release after beta testing phase.