AppleScript: A Beginner's Guide

by Guy Hart-Davis

Overview

Essential Skills--Made Easy!

Learn to program in AppleScript, the versatile scripting language built right into Mac OS X and supported by most major applications. AppleScript: A Beginner's Guide shows you how to write powerful scripts with the AppleScript Editor to automate tasks, save time and effort, and automatically generate documents, spreadsheets, and e-mail messages. Debugging and error handling are also covered in this fast-paced tutorial.

Designed for Easy Learning

• Key Skills & Concepts--Chapter-opening lists of specific skills covered in the chapter
• Ask the Expert--Q&A sections filled with bonus information and helpful tips
• Try This--Hands-on exercises that show you how to apply your skills
• Notes--Extra information related to the topic being covered
• Tips--Helpful reminders or alternative ways of doing things
• Cautions--Errors and pitfalls to avoid
• Annotated Syntax--Example code with commentary that describes the programming techniques being illustrated

Ready-to-use code at www.mhprofessional.com/computingdownload

Guy Hart-Davis is the author of Mac OS X Leopard QuickSteps, How to Do Everything iPod, iPhone, & iTunes, Fifth Edition, HTML, XHTML & CSS QuickSteps, and several other computer books.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780071639552
Publisher:	McGraw Hill LLC
Publication date:	01/29/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	448
File size:	12 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Guy Hart-Davis is the author of more than 45 computer books, including Mac OS X Leopard QuickSteps and Word 2007 Macros & VBA Made Easy.

Table of Contents

Part I: Getting Started with AppleScript; Chapter 1. Grasping the Essentials of AppleScript; Chapter 2. Up to Speed with AppleScript Editor; Chapter 3. Creating Your First Script;Part II: Learning Essential AppleScript Programming Techniques; Chapter 4. Working with Variables, Classes, Operators, and Coercions; Chapter 5. Working with Text, Numbers, and Dates; Chapter 6. Working with Finder, Files, and Folders; Chapter 7. Making Decisions in Your Scripts; Chapter 8. Using Dialog Boxes to Get User Input; Chapter 9. Repeating Actions in Your Scripts; Chapter 10. Running Scripts Automatically; Part III: Automating Major Applications with AppleScript; Chapter 12. Automating iTunes and iPhoto; Chapter 13. Automating Apple Mail; Chapter 14. Automating Microsoft Word; Chapter 15. Automating Microsoft Excel; Chapter 16. Automating Microsoft Entourage; Index