Step 3: Add an AppleScript Link to a Topic Page

One of the more powerful features of Apple Help is its ability to run AppleScript scripts from clickable links. Since AppleScript has extensive capabilities to control the system, the Finder, and other applications, your help book can enable the user to carry out tasks described on a help page simply by clicking a link. A common way to use this feature is to let the user launch an application or open a file that is described in the help book.

In this step, you add to the About Vermont Recipes page a clickable link reading “Reveal Vermont Recipes in the Finder.” Apple’s MacHelp.help bundle contains several compiled scripts, one of which—OpnAppBndID.scpt—is able to open or reveal any application based on its bundle identifier. You add a copy of that script to the Vermont Recipes Help book and link to it on the About Vermont Recipes page.