Table of Contents Copyright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xv Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xvii Part I. AppleScript Overview 1. Ways to Use AppleScript . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 The Nature and Purpose of AppleScript Is This Application Scriptable? Calculation and Repetition Reduction Customization Combining Specialties 3 5 6 8 10 10 2. Places to Use AppleScript . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Script Editor Scripting Environment Internally Scriptable Application Script Runner Automatic Location Application Unix 18 23 24 27 31 32 38 3. The AppleScript Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 3.1 The Problem 3.2 A Day in the Life 3.2.1 Caught in the Web of Words 3.2.2 One for All and All for One 3.2.3 Seek and Ye Shall Find 3.2.4 Turning the Tables 3.2.5 Refiner's Fire 41 43 43 46 49 51 54 v