Read and write binary file in VBscript - vbscript

Question

I used earlier ADODB.Stream to read and to write binary file here is the link for that
How to concatenate binary file using ADODB.stream in VBscript
it works fine the only problem is ADODB.stream is disabled on windows 2003 server,
Is there another way i can read 3 files in binary mode and concatenate them or store them in one file in VBscript
thank you
Jp

Answer 1

Based on Luc125 and Alberto answers here are the 2 reworked and simplified functions:
The Read function
Function readBinary(strPath)
Dim oFSO: Set oFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Dim oFile: Set oFile = oFSO.GetFile(strPath)
If IsNull(oFile) Then MsgBox("File not found: " & strPath) : Exit Function
With oFile.OpenAsTextStream()
readBinary = .Read(oFile.Size)
.Close
End With
End Function
The Write function
Function writeBinary(strBinary, strPath)
Dim oFSO: Set oFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
' below lines pupose: checks that write access is possible!
Dim oTxtStream
On Error Resume Next
Set oTxtStream = oFSO.createTextFile(strPath)
If Err.number <> 0 Then MsgBox(Err.message) : Exit Function
On Error GoTo 0
Set oTxtStream = Nothing
' end check of write access
With oFSO.createTextFile(strPath)
.Write(strBinary)
.Close
End With
End Function

Answer 2

I had a similar problem a year ago. We know that the TextStream objects are intended for ANSI or Unicode text data, not binary data; their .readAll() method produces a corrupted output if the stream is binary. But there is workaround. Reading the characters one by one into an array works fine. This should allow you to read binary data into VB strings, and write it back to disk. When further manipulating such binary strings do not forget that certain operations may result into broken strings because they are intended for text only. I for one always convert binary strings into integer arrays before working with them.Function readBinary(path)
Dim a
Dim fso
Dim file
Dim i
Dim ts
Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set file = fso.getFile(path)
If isNull(file) Then
MsgBox("File not found: " & path)
Exit Function
End If
Set ts = file.OpenAsTextStream()
a = makeArray(file.size)
i = 0
' Do not replace the following block by readBinary = by ts.readAll(), it would result in broken output, because that method is not intended for binary data
While Not ts.atEndOfStream
a(i) = ts.read(1)
i = i + 1
Wend
ts.close
readBinary = Join(a,"")
End Function
Sub writeBinary(bstr, path)
Dim fso
Dim ts
Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
On Error Resume Next
Set ts = fso.createTextFile(path)
If Err.number <> 0 Then
MsgBox(Err.message)
Exit Sub
End If
On Error GoTo 0
ts.Write(bstr)
ts.Close
End Sub
Function makeArray(n) ' Small utility function
Dim s
s = Space(n)
makeArray = Split(s," ")
End Function

Answer 3

The ADODB stream object is VBScript's only native method of reading binary streams. If ADODB is disabled, you will need to install some other third-party component to provide the same functionality.

Answer 4

It is possible to read all bytes together:
Set FS = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set fil = FS.GetFile(filename)
fpga = fil.OpenAsTextStream().Read(file.Size)

Answer 5

ADODB stream object is VBScript's only native method of reading binary streams
Const TypeBinary = 1
Const ForReading = 1, ForWriting = 2, ForAppending = 8
Function readBytes(file)
Dim inStream: Set inStream = WScript.CreateObject("ADODB.Stream") ' ADODB stream object used
inStream.Open ' open with no arguments makes the stream an empty container
inStream.type= TypeBinary
inStream.LoadFromFile(file)
readBytes = inStream.Read()
End Function
Sub writeBytes(file, bytes)
Dim binaryStream: Set binaryStream = CreateObject("ADODB.Stream")
binaryStream.Type = TypeBinary
binaryStream.Open 'Open the stream and write binary data
binaryStream.Write bytes
binaryStream.SaveToFile file, ForWriting 'Save binary data to disk
End Sub

Answer 6

Read 3 files & join to one file (without ADODB):
Dim oFSO : Set oFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
If oFSO.FileExists("out.bin") Then oFSO.DeleteFile("out.bin")
Dim outFile : Set outFile = oFSO.OpenTextFile("out.bin", 8, true)
' 3 input files to concatenate
Dim oFS1 : Set oFS1 = oFSO.GetFile("in1.bin")
Dim oFS2 : Set oFS2 = oFSO.GetFile("in2.bin")
Dim oFS3 : Set oFS3 = oFSO.GetFile("in3.bin")
Dim read1 : Set read1 = oFS1.OpenAsTextStream()
Dim read2 : Set read2 = oFS2.OpenAsTextStream()
Dim read3 : Set read3 = oFS3.OpenAsTextStream()
Dim write1 : write1 = read1.Read(oFS1.Size)
read1.Close
outFile.write(write1)
Dim write2 : write2 = read2.Read(oFS2.Size)
read2.Close
outFile.write(write2)
Dim write3 : write3 = read3.Read(oFS3.Size)
read3.Close
outFile.write(write3)
outFile.Close
Tested on audio, video, image, zip archives & pdf (binaries) on Win 10 for binary file copy, edit, split, join, patching & (byte level) encryption, encoding & compression.
See example (answer) here for binary file patching.