Learn (Apress)

AppleScript is an English-like, easy-to-understand scripting language built into every Mac. AppleScript can automate hundreds of AppleScript-able applications, performing tasks both large and small, complex and simple. Learn AppleScript: The Comprehensive Guide to Scripting and Automation on Mac OS X, Third Edition has been completely updated for Mac OS X Snow Leopard. It's all here, with an emphasis on practical information that will help you solve any automation problem - from the most mundane repetitive tasks to highly integrated workflows of complex systems. * Friendly enough for beginners, detailed enough for advanced AppleScripters * Includes major contributions from expert AppleScripters: Emmanuel Levy, Harald Monihart, Ian Piper, Shane Stanley, Barry Wainwright, Craig Williams, and foreword by AppleScript inventor, William Cook What you'll learn * See how AppleScript represents information as objects - including numbers, strings, lists, and records. * Learn how to manipulate these objects using commands and operators, and how to store them in variables. * Organize your code using handlers and script objects. * Understand how applications describe their objects and commands in dictionaries and how to interpret that information when learning to script applications. * Manipulate the Mac OS X file system. * Automate iTunes, Mail, iCal, and other popular lifestyle applications in Mac OS X. * Discover sophisticated text processing techniques using regular expressions. * Script professional productivity applications - Apple iWork, Microsoft Office, FileMaker Pro, and Adobe InDesign. * Harness the power of the Unix command line in Mac OS X. * Create your own Cocoa applications with the new AppleScriptObjC bridge. Who this book is for First-time scripters who want to automate tasks on their Macs; existing AppleScripters looking to develop proficient, professional, or guru-level knowledge and skills; professional Mac OS X developers wishing to understand this powerful and pervasive technology. Table of Contents * Introducing AppleScript * AppleScript in Principle * AppleScript in Practice * Writing Scripts in AppleScript Editor * Understanding How Application Scripting Works * Learning to Work with AppleScript Objects * Working with Text * Working with Numbers * Working with Dates * Working with Lists and Records * Storing Objects in Variables * More on Commands * More on Operators and Coercions * Making Decisions Using Conditionals and Loops * Making Decisions When Dealing with Errors * Interacting with the User * Working with Files * Organizing Your Code with Handlers * Organizing Your Code with Script Objects * Scripting the File System * Scripting Apple Applications * Extending AppleScript with Scripting Additions * AppleScript Amenities * Scripting iWork and Office * Scripting Data and Databases * Scripting Adobe InDesign * Interacting with the Unix Command Line * Using Smile: The AppleScript Integrated Production Environment * Tips and Techniques for Improving Your Scripts * Creating Cocoa Applications with AppleScriptObjC