VBScript HTML Encode

Introduction

This function is a replacement for the Server.HTMLEncode method found in Classic ASP with one major difference... It accepts null strings without throwing errors!

The side effect is HTML Encoding for VBScript.

Background

I wrote this to overcome the common IsNull, IsNothing, IsEmpty string nightmare experienced when calling Server.HTMLEncode from Classic ASP.

Using the Code

Function HTMLEncode(ByVal sVal)

    sReturn = ""

    If ((TypeName(sVal)="String") And (Not IsNull(sVal)) And (sVal<>"")) Then
    
        For i = 1 To Len(sVal)
        
            ch = Mid(sVal, i, 1)

            Set oRE = New RegExp : oRE.Pattern = "[ a-zA-Z0-9]"

            If (Not oRE.Test(ch)) Then
                ch = "&#" & Asc(ch) & ";"
            End If

            sReturn = sReturn & ch
            
            Set oRE = Nothing
        Next
    End If
    
    HTMLEncode = sReturn
End Function

HTMLEncode("This is a & test!")

History

• 4^th February, 2009: Initial post