Click here to show toolbars of the Web Online Help System: show toolbars • Table of Contents • Index • Reviews • Examples • Reader Reviews • Errata AppleScript in a Nutshell By Bruce W. Perry Publisher: O'Reilly Pub Date: June 2001 ISBN: 1-56592-841-5 Pages: 526 Slots: 1 AppleScript in a Nutshell is the first complete reference to AppleScript, the popular programming language that gives both power users and sophisticated enterprise customers the important ability to automate repetitive tasks and customize applications. AppleScript in a Nutshell is a high-end handbook at a low-end price an essential desktop reference that puts the full power of this user-friendly programming language into every AppleScript user's hands. This HTML Help has been published using the chm2web software. Click here to show toolbars of the Web Online Help System: show toolbars • Table of Contents • Index • Reviews • Examples • Reader Reviews • Errata AppleScript in a Nutshell By Bruce W. Perry Publisher: O'Reilly Pub Date: June 2001 ISBN: 1-56592-841-5 Pages: 526 Slots: 1 Copyright Preface Organization of This Book Conventions Used in This Book How to Contact Us Acknowledgments Part I: Introduction to AppleScript Chapter 1. AppleScript: An Introduction Section 1.1. How Is AppleScript Used? Section 1.2. Apple Events Section 1.3. Using Script Runner with OS X Section 1.4. Using OSA Menu with OS 9 Section 1.5. Checking Your AppleScript Version Section 1.6. Diving In Chapter 2. Using Script Editor with OS 9 and OS X Section 2.1. Script Editor Controls/Commands Section 2.2. Scripting the Script Editor Part II: AppleScript Language Reference Chapter 3. Data Types alias boolean class constant data date file specification integer international text list number real record reference RGB color string Styled Clipboard Text Styled Text text Unicode Text Unit of Measurement Classes Chapter 4. Operators & ( ) * + - / ÷ div < <= = > >= ^ [a] reference to and as begin[s] with contains does not contain does not equal ends with is contained by is not contained by m od not or Chapter 5. Reference Forms after back before beginning first, second, third, fourth, etc. every every from to id last middle name some whose Chapter 6. Variables and Constants Section 6.1. Variables Section 6.2. Constants and Predefined Variables Chapter 7. Flow-Control Statements considering [but ignoring] end [considering] continue error exit [repeat] if simple statement if [then] [else if] [else] end [if] ignoring [but considering] end [ignoring] repeat end [repeat] repeat until end [repeat] repeat while end [repeat] repeat with {loop variable} from {integer} to {integer}[by stepVal] end [repeat] repeat with {loop variable} in {list} end [repeat] repeat {integer} times end [repeat] return [return value] tell simple statement tell end [tell] try [on error] [number | from | partial result | to] end[error | try] using terms from end [using terms from] with timeout [of] {integer} second[s] end [timeout] with transaction [session object] end [transaction] Chapter 8. Subroutines Section 8.1. Subroutines with Positional Parameters Section 8.2. Subroutines with Labeled Parameters Chapter 9. Script Objects and Libraries Script Objects Libraries Part III: Scripting Mac OS 9 Applications Chapter 10. Apple Guide and Help Viewer Apple Guide Help Viewer Chapter 11. Apple System Profiler Apple System Profiler Chapter 12. Keychain Scripting and Apple Verifier Keychain Scripting Apple Verifier Chapter 13. Desktop Printer Manager Desktop Print Manager Chapter 14. Mac OS 9 Finder Commands Section 14.1. Example Finder Scripts Chapter 15. Mac OS 9 Finder Classes Finder Classes Chapter 16. Network Setup Scripting Network Setup Scripting Chapter 17. Scripting Sherlock 2 Sherlock 2 Chapter 18. URL Access Scripting URL Access Scripting Part IV: Scripting Mac OS 9 Control Panels and Extensions Chapter 19. Appearance Control Panel Appearance Control Panel Chapter 20. Apple Data Detectors Extension Apple Data Detectors Chapter 21. Apple Menu Options Control Panel Apple Menu Options Chapter 22. Application Switcher Extension Application Switcher Chapter 23. ColorSync Extension ColorSync Chapter 24. File Exchange Control Panel File Exchange Chapter 25. File Sharing Control Panel File Sharing Chapter 26. Folder Actions Extension Folder Actions Chapter 27. FontSync Control Panel and Extension FontSync Control Panel FontSync Extension Chapter 28. Location Manager Control Panel Location Manager Chapter 29. Memory and Mouse Control Panels Memory Control Panel Mouse Control Panel Chapter 30. Speech Listener and SpeakableItems Extension Speech Listener Application SpeakableItems Extension Embedded Speech Commands Chapter 31. Web Sharing Control Panel Part V: Scripting the Mac OS X System Chapter 32. Scripting the OS X Desktop Section 32.1. Working with Files, Folders, Disks, and Windows in OS X Chapter 33. Scripting Mail Section 33.1. Setting Up an Email Message Section 33.2. Exploring the Mail Application Object Section 33.3. Getting Information about an Email Account Chapter 34. Executing Scripts with the Terminal App osacompile osalang osascript Chapter 35. Scripting TextEdit TextEdit Part VI: Appendixes Appendix A. Standard Scripting Additions Standard Additions Standard Additions Appendix B. AppleScript Resources Section B.1. Apple Computer AppleScript URLs Section B.2. AppleScript FAQs, Mailing Lists, and Tutorials Section B.3. Macintosh Scripting Sites Section B.4. Commercial AppleScript Development Environments Section B.5. Freeware AppleScript Development Environments Colophon Index This HTML Help has been published using the chm2web software. Click here to show toolbars of the Web Online Help System: show toolbars Copyright © 2002 O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Published by O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 101 Morris Street, Sebastopol, CA 95472. Nutshell Handbook, the Nutshell Handbook logo, and the O'Reilly logo are registered trademarks of O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book, and O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed in caps or initial caps. The association of the image of a Boston terrier and the topic of AppleScript is a trademark of O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. Apple Computer, Inc. boldly combined open source technologies with its own programming efforts to create Mac OS X, one of the most versatile and stable operating systems now available. In the same spirit, Apple has joined forces with O'Reilly & Associates to bring you an indispensable collection of technical publications. The ADC logo indicates that the book has been technically reviewed by Apple engineers and is recommended by the Apple Developer Connection. Apple, Macintosh, AppleScript, Mac OS, and Mac OS X are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. This HTML Help has been published using the chm2web software. Click here to show toolbars of the Web Online Help System: show toolbars [SYMBOL] [A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [Y] This HTML Help has been published using the chm2web software. [...]... automating software workflows In workflows, one or more separate software programs cooperate in a sequence of actions to complete a job This means that launching an AppleScript can orchestrate several actions that involve software applications that are not otherwise designed to share data or call each other's menu commands AppleScript does the calling of each program's commands (targeting them in a. .. how AppleScript stores data in memory), operators (such as the common Math operators and the string-concatenation operator "&"), and how to set AppleScript variables and create user-defined functions, as well as advanced features, such as creating object-oriented script objects (Chapter 9) Chapter 3 This chapter describes the built -in AppleScript data types, including string, integer, real, list, and... considered a near paragon of scriptability Attachable means that you can create a script and then attach it to a program, so that the script is added to the program's internal menus Applications usually implement attachability with Mac OS 9 by providing a folder for scripts and a menu item on their menubars that lists these available scripts Figure 1-2 shows a menubar that contains a list of attached scripts... Folder:Scripting Additions folder They are stored in more than one location in Mac OS X, including /System/ Library/ScriptingAdditions/ Examples of two scripitng addition commands that are often used are display dialog (see Example 1-1 ) and current date The latter command returns a date object that contains data about today's date and time The Standard Additions are installed with the Mac OS There is a large database... memory they have using this measurement display dialog is an often-used extension to the built -in AppleScript language called a scripting addition, which I explain later in this chapter (Appendix A, of the book is devoted to descriptions of the standard scripting additions that are installed with Mac OS 9 and OS X) display dialog shows a dialog window containing the message label that you specify in the... dictionary supports the scaling and rotating of image files) In addition, the AppleScript engineers are apparently working on ways to let AppleScript interact with the command-line shells that come with OS X, such as the Bourne shell OS X already permits the launching of AppleScripts from a shell (see Chapter 34) 1.1.2 Attachability/Recordability If an application is either attachable or recordable (or... should and can use AppleScript? The following users come to mind right away: system administrators who are automating tasks with networks and applications; web and graphics professionals who want to control the development of web sites and publications; scientists, mathematicians, and engineers who require applets to make calculations and automate their own software tools, as well as day-to-day programmers... Perl, and Java Nevertheless, this section will describe what you can do with AppleScript and three Mac OS X programs that can be used with AppleScript: Mail, Terminal application (a command-line tool), and TextEdit Part V begins with a discussion of AppleScript and scripting the new Mac OS X Finder, which is the OS 9 Finder after a major facelift Chapter 32 This chapter explains some of the familiar Finder-like... Computer's new email application, aptly called "Mail." This chapter provides descriptions and code examples on setting up a new mail message and getting information about an email account Chapter 34 Terminal application is the command-line tool or interface (a window or shell that you type script commands into) that comes with Mac OS X This chapter shows how you can create, compile, and execute AppleScripts... their own applets, is not matched by any other platform's programming language Yet, only a small percentage of Macintosh users are even aware that AppleScript is installed with their operating system Those who are aware of AppleScript' s presence on their machine often do not take full advantage of this tool to automate their daily computing activities, both on their local machine and over the Internet . designations appear in this book, and O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed in caps or initial caps. The association of the image. examples on setting up a new mail message and getting information about an email account. Chapter 34 Terminal application is the command-line tool or interface (a window or shell that you type. own applets, is not matched by any other platform's programming language. Yet, only a small percentage of Macintosh users are even aware that AppleScript is installed with their operating