Microsoft has embarked on a transformative journey to phase out VBScript from Windows, a decision that resonates deeply within the developer community, especially those entrenched in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). This strategic shift, first unveiled in May 2024, sets the stage for a gradual transition away from the legacy scripting language, compelling developers to rethink and adapt their projects to ensure they remain relevant in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
The implications of this change are particularly significant for VBA applications that depend on VBScript for various functionalities, including the execution of external scripts and the utilization of reference libraries. A prime example is the VBScript.RegExp library, which has been a staple for developers seeking to implement regular expressions for text manipulation and pattern matching.
The Three-Phase Deprecation Timeline
Microsoft has delineated a structured three-phase plan for the deprecation of VBScript. The initial phase is currently underway and is set to continue until at least 2026. During this period, VBScript will be classified as a “Feature on Demand” (FOD), remaining enabled by default, allowing existing VBA projects to operate without disruption.
As we look ahead to the second phase, anticipated to commence around 2027, the default status of the VBScript FOD will shift to disabled. While administrators will retain the ability to re-enable it, this pivotal moment will signal the beginning of potential failures for unupdated applications.
The final phase, with its timeline yet to be established, will culminate in the complete removal of VBScript from future Windows releases, rendering any remaining dependencies obsolete.
The ramifications of this deprecation will manifest in two primary ways for VBA projects. Firstly, any code that invokes and executes external .vbs files will face obsolescence once VBScript is disabled or removed. Secondly, and perhaps more critically, references to the VBScript type library for regular expressions will become non-functional. This has been a prevalent method for developers to facilitate pattern matching and text manipulation within Office applications such as Excel, Word, and Access.
Without timely adaptations, these vital functions risk becoming inoperative in newer Windows environments, potentially jeopardizing complex macros and automated workflows that rely on them.
Future-Proofing With Integrated RegExp
In response to these challenges, Microsoft has taken proactive measures by integrating RegExp classes directly into the VBA runtime library, beginning with Microsoft 365 Version 2508 (Build 19127.20154). This enhancement empowers developers to utilize regular expressions natively, eliminating the need for referencing the external vbscript.dll.
The new implementation accommodates both early binding (Dim regEx As RegExp) and late binding (CreateObject("VBScript.RegExp")), ensuring that updated Office versions can execute scripts seamlessly, even in future Windows environments devoid of VBScript.
Microsoft strongly advocates for developers to upgrade to the latest Office build, embrace the new integrated RegExp classes in their macros, and conduct thorough testing of existing projects to identify and rectify any lingering dependencies on VBScript.
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