VBScript Type Property

last modified April 9, 2025

The Type property in VBScript is used to determine the type of a file or folder when working with the FileSystemObject. It returns a numeric value indicating whether the item is a file, folder, or drive. This property is essential for file system operations where type checking is required.

Type helps distinguish between different filesystem objects before performing operations. It prevents errors by ensuring operations match the object type. This tutorial covers Type with practical examples to demonstrate its usage in various scenarios.

Type Property Overview

The Type property returns an integer representing the object type. For files, it returns the file type as registered in the system. For folders, it returns 1, and for drives, it returns 2. The property is read-only and available through FileSystemObject objects.

Common return values include 1 for folders, 2 for drives, and various numbers for files. File types correspond to system registry associations. Understanding these values helps create robust file handling scripts with proper type checking.

Checking File Type

This example demonstrates checking the type of a file using the Type property. It shows how to determine if a path points to a file and display its type. The script uses FileSystemObject to access the property.

check_file_type.vbs

Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set file = fso.GetFile("C:\Windows\notepad.exe")

fileType = file.Type
WScript.Echo "File type: " & fileType ' Output: File type: Application

Set file = Nothing
Set fso = Nothing

The script creates a FileSystemObject and gets a reference to notepad.exe. The Type property returns "Application" for executable files. Different file extensions return different type descriptions based on system registry.

Distinguishing Files from Folders

This example shows how to use the Type property to distinguish between files and folders. It checks the type of a given path and displays whether it's a file or folder. This is useful for path validation.

file_folder_check.vbs

Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
path = "C:\Windows"

If fso.FolderExists(path) Then
    Set folder = fso.GetFolder(path)
    WScript.Echo "Type: " & folder.Type ' Output: Type: File Folder
ElseIf fso.FileExists(path) Then
    Set file = fso.GetFile(path)
    WScript.Echo "Type: " & file.Type
Else
    WScript.Echo "Path not found"
End If

Set fso = Nothing

The script checks if the path exists as a folder or file. For folders, the Type property returns "File Folder". This distinction helps prevent errors when performing type-specific operations like file reading or directory listing.

Checking Drive Type

This example demonstrates using the Type property with drive objects. It shows how to determine if a path represents a drive and identify its type. Drive types include fixed, removable, and network drives.

drive_type_check.vbs

Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set drives = fso.Drives

For Each drive in drives
    WScript.Echo "Drive " & drive.DriveLetter & ": " & drive.Type
Next

Set drives = Nothing
Set fso = Nothing

The script enumerates all available drives and displays their types. For drives, the Type property returns descriptions like "Local Disk" or "CD-ROM Drive". This information is useful for scripts that need to handle different storage media types.

Handling Multiple File Types

This example shows how to handle different file types in a directory. It lists files in a folder and displays their types. The script demonstrates practical use of the Type property for file classification.

multiple_file_types.vbs

Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set folder = fso.GetFolder("C:\Windows\System32")

WScript.Echo "Files in System32:"
For Each file in folder.Files
    WScript.Echo file.Name & " - " & file.Type
Next

Set folder = Nothing
Set fso = Nothing

The script retrieves all files in the System32 directory and displays their names and types. Different files show different type descriptions like "Application", "DLL", or "Configuration Settings". This helps in organizing or processing files based on their types.

Validating Object Types Before Operations

This example demonstrates using the Type property to validate object types before performing operations. It checks if a path points to a text file before attempting to read it. This prevents errors from incorrect file types.

type_validation.vbs

Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
filePath = "C:\temp\example.txt"

If fso.FileExists(filePath) Then
    Set file = fso.GetFile(filePath)
    If InStr(1, file.Type, "Text", 1) > 0 Then
        WScript.Echo "File is a text document"
    Else
        WScript.Echo "Not a text file: " & file.Type
    End If
Else
    WScript.Echo "File not found"
End If

Set fso = Nothing

The script checks if the file exists and then verifies its type contains "Text". This approach is more reliable than just checking the file extension. The Type property provides system-registered file type information for accurate validation.

Source

FileSystemObject Documentation

In this article, we have explored the Type property in VBScript, covering its usage and practical applications. From simple type checking to complex file system operations, these examples demonstrate reliable object type identification. With this knowledge, you can enhance your file handling scripts with robust type validation.

Author

My name is Jan Bodnar and I am a passionate programmer with many years of programming experience. I have been writing programming articles since 2007. So far, I have written over 1400 articles and 8 e-books. I have over eight years of experience in teaching programming.

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