AppleScript Programming for the Absolute Beginner International Edition [Pehme köide]

Part I INTRODUCING APPLESCRIPT SCRIPTING		1	(76)
Applescript Basics		3	(32)
Project Preview: The AppleScript Humor Game		3	(3)
Introducing AppleScript		6	(2)
Common Tasks Performed by AppleScripts		8	(5)
Automating Complex and Repetitive Tasks		8	(2)
Automating the Execution and Operation of Mac OS X Applications		10	(2)
Developing Application Workflows		12	(1)
Operating System Integration		13	(6)
Enabling Folder Actions		13	(2)
Accessing AppleScripts through the Script Menu		15	(4)
A Quick Introduction to the Script Editor		19	(6)
Creating Your First AppleScript		20	(1)
Running Your AppleScript		20	(2)
Saving Your AppleScript		22	(1)
Working with Different Types of Script Files		23	(2)
Understanding AppleScript Syntax		25	(2)
Back to the AppleScript Humor Game		27	(6)
Designing the Game		27	(4)
Running Your New AppleScript Game		31	(2)
Summary		33	(2)
Getting Comfortable With The Applescript Script Editor		35	(42)
Project Preview: The AppleScript Story Teller Game		35	(4)
Introducing the Script Editor		39	(7)
Creating and Running Scripts		40	(2)
Recording Scripts		42	(1)
Saving Script Files		43	(3)
Configuring Script Editor Preferences		46	(3)
General Preferences		46	(1)
Editing Preferences		47	(1)
Formatting Preferences		48	(1)
History Preferences		48	(1)
Plug-ins Preferences		49	(1)
Configuring the Script Editor Toolbar		49	(2)
Using Advanced Script Editor Features		51	(5)
Working with the Navigation Bar		51	(1)
Using Context Generated Code Snippets		52	(3)
Leveraging the Power of the Script Assistant		55	(1)
Researching Application Dictionaries		56	(3)
Working with the Dictionary Browser		56	(2)
Taking Advantage of the Library Palette		58	(1)
Alternate Script Editors		59	(8)
Smile		59	(2)
Script Debugger		61	(3)
Xcode		64	(3)
Back to the AppleScript Story Teller Game		67	(7)
Designing the Game		68	(6)
Running Your New AppleScript Game		74	(1)
Summary		74	(3)
Part II Learning How to Write Applescripts		77	(118)
Working With Values, Variables, and Classes		79	(34)
Project Preview: The AppleScript Fortune Teller Game		80	(1)
Communicating with the User		81	(5)
Collecting User Input		82	(2)
Displaying Alert Messages		84	(1)
Letting the User Select from a List		85	(1)
Other Dialog Windows		86	(1)
AppleScript Commands and Statements		86	(5)
Language-Like Syntax		87	(1)
Improving Statement Readability with Optional Words		87	(1)
Using English Words and Phrases		88	(1)
Singular and Plural Words		88	(1)
Abbreviating Keywords		89	(1)
Statement Continuation		89	(1)
Building Code Blocks		89	(2)
Keeping Track of Data		91	(2)
Assigning Data to Variables		91	(1)
Retrieving Data from Variables		92	(1)
Property Variables		92	(1)
AppleScript's Rules for Naming Variables		93	(3)
Variable Names and Case-Sensitivity		95	(1)
Beware of Undefined Variables		95	(1)
Understanding AppleScript Variable Classes		96	(5)
The Boolean Class		96	(1)
The String Class		97	(1)
The Integer Class		98	(1)
The Real Class		98	(1)
The Date Class		99	(1)
Determining a Value's Class		100	(1)
Data Coercion		101	(1)
Taking Advantage of Constants		102	(1)
Back to the AppleScript Fortune Teller Game		103	(7)
Designing the Game		103	(7)
Testing the Execution of the AppleScript Fortune Teller Game		110	(1)
Summary		110	(3)
Implementing Conditional Logic and Working With Loops		113	(30)
Project Preview: The AppleScript Typing Test Game		114	(3)
Fundamentals of Conditional Logic		117	(5)
Implementing Conditional Logic Using the if Statement		118	(1)
Providing for an Alternative Course of Action		119	(1)
Examining Multiple Conditions		120	(1)
Implementing Complex Logic By Nesting If Statements		121	(1)
Performing Different Comparison Operations		122	(2)
Analyzing Mathematical Expressions		124	(1)
Using Compound Operators to Build Complex Conditional Logic		124	(2)
Using Loops to Perform Repetitive Actions		126	(7)
Looping Forever		127	(2)
Looping a Specific Number of Times		129	(1)
Looping as Long as a Condition Is True		130	(1)
Looping as Long as a Condition Is False		131	(1)
Using a Counter to Control a Loop's Execution		132	(1)
Using Loops to Process Lists		133	(1)
Back to the AppleScript Typing Test Game		133	(7)
Designing the Game		134	(6)
Testing the Execution of the AppleScript Typing Test		140	(1)
Summary		140	(3)
Using Strings, Lists, and Records		143	(26)
Project Preview: The Godfather Trivia Quiz		144	(2)
Working with Strings		146	(7)
Storing Strings in Variables		146	(1)
Retrieving String Information		146	(1)
Concatenating Strings Together		147	(1)
Formatting Strings		147	(3)
Comparing Strings		150	(2)
Accessing Different Parts of a String		152	(1)
Storing and Retrieving Data Using Lists		153	(3)
Populating a List with Data		154	(1)
Concatenating Lists		154	(1)
Reversing the Order of Items in a List		155	(1)
Retrieving List Elements		155	(1)
Modifying List Contents		156	(1)
Storing Data in Records		156	(3)
Creating Records		157	(1)
Changing Record Value Assignments		158	(1)
Creating a Small Database Using Lists and Records		159	(1)
Searching String, Lists, and Records		159	(2)
Back to the Godfather Trivia Quiz		161	(6)
Designing the Game		161	(6)
Testing the Execution of the Godfather Trivia Quiz		167	(1)
Summary		167	(2)
Improving Script Organization with Handlers		169	(26)
Project Preview: The AppleScript Shell Game		170	(2)
Leveraging the Power and Convenience of Handlers		172	(6)
Developing Your Own Custom Handlers		172	(1)
Creating and Calling Upon Custom Handlers		173	(1)
Developing Custom Handlers That Process Arguments		174	(3)
Creating Handlers That Return a Result		177	(1)
Using Event Handlers to Initiate Action		178	(4)
Working with the run Event		178	(1)
Working with the open Event		179	(1)
Working with the idle Event		180	(1)
Working with the quit Event		180	(1)
Working with the reopen Event		180	(1)
A Quick Event Handler Example		181	(1)
Understanding a Handler's Effect on Variable Scope		182	(3)
Working with Local Variables		182	(1)
Creating Global Variables		182	(3)
Back to the AppleScript Shell Game		185	(8)
Designing the Game		185	(7)
Testing the Execution of the AppleScript Shell Game		192	(1)
Summary		193	(2)
Part III Advanced Topics		195	(124)
Accessing Files and Folders		197	(30)
Project Preview: The AppleScript Lottery Picker Game		197	(2)
Working with the Mac OS X File System		199	(2)
Using Mac-Styled Paths		200	(1)
Using POSIX-Styled Paths		200	(1)
Specifying a Folder's Path		200	(1)
Working with Full and Relative Paths		201	(1)
Retrieving File and Folder Information		202	(1)
Working with the File Class		203	(2)
Referencing Commonly Accessed Folders		203	(1)
Setting Up File References Using Path Arguments		204	(1)
Writing AppleScripts That Interact with Text Files		205	(8)
Programmatically Opening a Text File		206	(1)
Choosing a File Using the choose file Command		206	(1)
Closing a Text File		207	(1)
Reading from and Writing to Text Files		208	(5)
Printing Text Files		213	(1)
Back to the AppleScript Shell Game		214	(11)
Designing the Game		214	(11)
Testing the Execution of AppleScript Lottery Picker Game		225	(1)
Summary		225	(2)
Automating Mac Os X Applications		227	(28)
Project Preview: The AppleScript Number Guessing Game		228	(1)
Bossing Around Your Mac OS X Applications		229	(1)
Taking Advantage of AppleScripts to Which You Already Have Access		230	(1)
Figuring Out How to Communicate with Mac OS X Applications		231	(4)
Digging into Application Dictionaries		232	(2)
Using Universal Application Commands		234	(1)
Sending Commands to Mac OS X Applications		235	(1)
Automating Mac OS X Applications		235	(10)
Using iTunes to Play Music		235	(1)
Automating Finder Tasks		236	(3)
Executing Command-Line Commands		239	(1)
Playing DVDs		240	(1)
Sending Mail		240	(1)
Playing QuickTime Movies		241	(1)
Telling Safari to Load Web Pages		242	(1)
Automating System Events		242	(2)
Automating the Help Viewer Application		244	(1)
Back to the AppleScript Number Guessing Game		245	(8)
Designing the Game		245	(8)
Testing the Execution of the AppleScript Number Guessing Game		253	(1)
Summary		253	(2)
Debugging Your Applescripts		255	(28)
Project Preview: The Rock, Paper, Scissors Game		255	(2)
Examining the Three Basic Types of Errors		257	(4)
Fixing Syntax Errors		257	(1)
Coping with Runtime Errors		258	(2)
Dealing with Logical Errors		260	(1)
Dealing with Errors		261	(1)
Building Error Handlers		261	(5)
Catching Errors with the try Statement		262	(2)
Specifying Recovery Actions Using an on error Handler		264	(1)
Catching Specific Errors		264	(2)
Monitoring AppleScript Execution		266	(5)
Tracking Script Execution and Variable Values Using Dialog Windows		266	(2)
Using Sound to Track Key Events		268	(1)
Working with the Event Log		268	(3)
Back to the Rock, Paper, Scissors Game		271	(11)
Designing the Game		271	(11)
Testing the Execution of the Rock, Paper, Scissors Game		282	(1)
Summary		282	(1)
Introducing Applescript Studio		283	(36)
Project Preview: The Tic-Tac-Toe Game		284	(1)
Introducing AppleScript Studio		285	(2)
Building Mac OS X Applications with Xcode		286	(1)
Understanding the Cocoa Framework		286	(1)
Crafting Graphical User Interfaces Using Interface Builder		287	(1)
Project Organization		287	(2)
Getting Comfortable with the Xcode Project Window		289	(5)
Examining the Project Window Toolbar		290	(1)
Understanding Groups & Files		290	(2)
Displaying Detailed Project Information		292	(1)
Working with Xcode's Code Editor		292	(2)
Examining the Info Window		294	(1)
Other Key AppleScript Studio Components		294	(5)
The Inspector Window		295	(2)
The Terminology Browser		297	(1)
Xcode's Debugger		298	(1)
Creating Graphical User Interfaces Using Interface Builder		299	(2)
Working with Cocoa Controls		300	(1)
MainMenu.nib Contents		301	(1)
Back to the Tic-Tac-Toe Game		301	(16)
Step 1: Creating a New Project		302	(1)
Step 2: Creating the User Interface		302	(1)
Step 3: Setting Control Properties		303	(4)
Step 4: Adding a Little Programming Logic		307	(10)
Step 5: Testing the Tic-Tac-Toe Game		317	(1)
Summary		317	(2)
Appendix A What's on the Companion Website?		319	(4)
Appendix B What Next?		323	(8)
Recommended Reading		323	(1)
Locating AppleScript Studio Resources Online		324	(3)
Apple's AppleScript Web Pages		325	(1)
AppleScript Reference Library		325	(1)
MacScripter.net		326	(1)
Apple's AppleScript Studio Web Pages		327	(1)
AppleScript Mailing Lists		327	(4)
Apple's AppleScript-Users Mailing List		328	(1)
Yahoo! Groups: AppleScript Mailing List		328	(1)
MacScripter's AppleScript Forum		329	(2)
Glossary		331	(6)
Index		337

Jerry Lee Ford, Jr. is an author, educator, and an IT professional with over 24 years' of experience in information technology, including roles as an automation analyst, technical manager, technical support analyst, automation engineer, and security analyst. He is the author of 40 books and co-author of two additional books. His published works include Getting Started with Game Maker, HTML, XHTML, and CSS for the Absolute Beginner; XNA 3.1 Game Development for Teens; Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0 for Teens, and Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 Express Programming for the Absolute Beginner. Ford has a master's degree in business administration from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia and has over five years' experience as an adjunct instructor teaching networking courses in information technology.