This section provides tutorial examples on how to mix VBScript statements with static HTML text.
Here is an ASP page example to show you how in-line statements and expressions
can be mixed with static HTML text:
<%@ language="vbscript"%>
<!-- inline_syntax.asp
Copyright (c) 2003 by Dr. Herong Yang
This program shows how to use inline scripting statements and
expressions.
-->
<html><body>
Good
<% if 0 <= hour(time) and hour(time) < 12 then %>
moring,
<% elseif 12 <= hour(time) and hour(time) < 18 then %>
afternoon,
<% else
response.write("evening,")
end if %>
Herong.</br>
<% response.write("The current server time is: ") %>
<% = Time %> on <% = Date %>
</body></html>
Output:
Good evening, Herong.
The current server time is: 10:01:56 PM on 5/24/2003
In the previous example, I was able to break the "if" statement into two parts
and use in-line script for one part and static text for the other.
In the next example, I will show you the difference between in-line scripts and script
blocks:
<!-- output_sequence.asp
Copyright (c) 2002 by Dr. Herong Yang
Verifying output sequence of scripts and HTML text.
-->
<html><body>
<script language="vbscript" runat="server">
response.write("Text line 1.<br/>")
</script>
Text line 2.<br/>
<script language="vbscript" runat="server">
response.write("Text line 3.<br/>")
</script>
Text line 4.<br/>
</body></html>
Output:
Text line 2.
Text line 4.
Text line 1.
Text line 3.
Surprised? I was surprised before I learned that execution rule about script blocks
mentioned in the previous section. The output also tells us that the default language
on IIS 5.0 is set to VBScript. Otherwise, text line 1 and 3 would be displayed first.
The problem can be avoided by using the in-line scripts:
<%@ language="vbscript"%>
<!-- output_sequence_corrected.asp
Copyright (c) 2002 by Dr. Herong Yang
Verifying output sequence of scripts and HTML text.
-->
<html><body>
<%
response.write("Text line 1.<br/>")
%>
Text line 2.<br/>
<%
response.write("Text line 3.<br/>")
%>
Text line 4.<br/>
</body></html>
Now you know the different ways to use VBScript in ASP pages. But which way is
better?
In-line script, <%...%>, is very flexible in mixing dynamic data with static HTML
text. But the syntax is not so XML friendly.
Script block, <script ...>...</script>, is not useful at all if you want to
keep static HTML text in your page. It can only be used, if you want to write the
entire page in a single block, and output all HTML text with response.write() calls.
Personally, I prefer script block syntax, because I could easily manipulate it
with XML tools. So I will be using script blocks most of the time for my sample ASP
pages in this book. Note that even HTML comment tag <!-- --> must be moved into
the script blocks.
