Mac OS X Unleashed

By John Ray and William C. Ray

• Table of Contents
  • Copyright
  • About the Author
  • Acknowledgments
  • Tell Us What You Think!
  • Introduction
  • Part I: Introduction to Mac OS X
  • Chapter 1. Mac OS X Component Architecture
  • Chapter 2. Installing Mac OS X
  • Chapter 3. Mac OS X Basics
  • Chapter 4. The Finder: Working with Files and Applications
  • Chapter 5. Running Classic Mac OS Applications
  • Part II: Inside Mac OS X
  • Chapter 6. Native Utilities and Applications
  • Chapter 7. Internet Communications
  • Chapter 8. Installing Third-Party Applications
  • Part III: User-Level OS X Configuration
  • Chapter 9. Network Setup
  • Chapter 10. Printer and Font Management
  • Chapter 11. Additional System Components
  • Part IV: Introduction to BSD Applications
  • Chapter 12. Introducing the BSD Subsystem
  • Chapter 13. Common Unix Shell Commands: File Operations
  • Part V: Advanced Command-Line Concepts
  • Chapter 14. Advanced Shell Concepts and Commands
  • Chapter 15. Command-Line Applications and Application Suites
  • Chapter 16. Command-Line Software Installation
  • Chapter 17. Troubleshooting Software Installs, and Compiling and Debugging Manually
  • Chapter 18. Advanced Unix Shell Use: Configuration and Programming (Shell Scripting)
  • Part VI: Server/Network Administration
  • Chapter 19. X Window System Applications
  • Chapter 20. Command-Line Configuration and Administration
  • Chapter 21. AppleScript
    • Introduction to AppleScript
    • Script Editor
    • Scripting Syntax
    • Script Runner
    • Command-Line Tools
    • Summary
  • Chapter 22. Perl Scripting and SQL Connectivity
  • Chapter 23. File and Resource Sharing with NetInfo
  • Chapter 24. User Management and Machine Clustering
  • Chapter 25. FTP Serving
  • Chapter 26. Remote Access and Administration
  • Chapter 27. Web Serving
  • Part VII: Server Health
  • Chapter 28. Web Programming
  • Chapter 29. Creating a Mail Server
  • Chapter 30. Accessing and Serving a Windows Network
  • Chapter 31. Server Security and Advanced Network Configuration
  • Chapter 32. System Maintenance
  • Appendix A. Command-Line Reference
  • Appendix B. Administration Reference

Introduction to AppleScript

When creating BSD shell scripts, you are limited to the input and output of the applications being scripted. Complex applications are often impossible to control because of their inability to process standard input. AppleScript works at an entirely different level—within the applications themselves.

To be controlled by AppleScript, an application must implement a scripting dictionary. A scripting dictionary is a collection of commands and functions that can be invoked through AppleScript. Each application determines the features that it makes available for scripting. The result of this approach is that applications can make their most useful functions available through a script, making it possible to create far more complex scripts.

It's also important to note the audience of Mac OS X's AppleScripting capabilities. Shell and Perl scripting are the tools of programmers and system administrators. AppleScript was intended to provide a means for normal, everyday Macintosh users to automate tasks on their computers. The syntax is surprisingly simple and can be understood even if you've never seen a programming language before. For example, take the following code:

   tell application "Finder"
       activate
       close window "Applications"
end tell

It doesn't look like a programming language, but it is. This small example instructs Mac OS X to activate the Finder application, and then close an open window with the title Applications.

Using a language that can almost be read aloud and understood, normal users can write scripts that combine the capabilities of multiple applications.

Share This