ASPC Symbols file

This file can be found in the ASP Compiler install directory - usually Program files\newObjects\ASPC\VBSymbols.aspc-symbols. It is a standard configuration file with one section per every global VB symbol. Currently symbols are not described in depth, but advanced users or project managers may find useful to alter the file contents in order to prevent some human mistakes and add a little more control over the compilation process.

Every VBScript keyword must be described with one section in this file. Most of the keywords are described with empty sections like this one:

{ InStr:
} InStr;

Which describes the InStr VBScript/VB function. Additional settings can be entered in the section if the function/sub/constant is to be disabled because of some reason. For example ASP Compiler installs a file where the function ScriptEngine is disabled as follows:

{ ScriptEngine:
  (int)Disable=1
  (string)Comment=This function is specific to the VBScript
} ScriptEngine;

This function is not available in VB and it is obvious it has no meaning for the compiled version of the page/script where the VBScript engine is not used. Using such instructions ASPC will issue errors/warnings which will help the developer to find the symbols (functions/subs/constants) which may cause problems.

The full syntax allows more advanced control over the symbols, thus advanced developers are able to prepare some code which replaces incompatible features or simulates some feature not available for the compiled DLL.

Full syntax:

{ SymbolName:
  (int)Disable=number
  (string)Comment=string
  (int)Replace=number
  (string)Replacement=string
} SymbolName;

SymbolName - The name of the global function, sub, constant. This is case insensetive.

Disable - Can be 0 or 1 (not present means 0). If it is 1 the symbol is disabled and any usage will cause warning message.

Comment - Used only if the symbol is disabled. This will be shown in the additional message after the warning message issued by the compiler.

Replace - Meaningful only if the symbol is not disabled. Can be 0 or 1. If set to 1 the Replacement entry must exist and the symbol will be replaced with the value of the Replacement entry. This can be useful if you want global replacement of a function, sub or constant with another in the compiled version.

Replacement - See above - the symbol which will be used instead.

Note: When replacing symbols the syntax requirements of the replacements must be the same as the original symbol - e.g. if the symbol is function the replacement must be function too and so on.