Learn AppleScript 3rd Edition

AppleScript is an English-like, easy-to-understand scripting language built into every Mac. AppleScript can automate hundreds of AppleScriptable applications, performing tasks both large and small, complex and simple.

'Learn AppleScript: The Comprehensive Guide to Scripting and Automation on Mac OS X, 3rd Edition' has been completely updated for Mac OS X Snow Leopard. It's all here, with an emphasis on practical information that will help you solve any automation problem-from the most mundane repetitive tasks to highly integrated workflows of complex systems.

- Friendly enough for beginners, detailed enough for advanced AppleScripters
- Includes major contributions from expert AppleScripters: Emmanuel Levy, Harald Monihart, Ian Piper, Shane Stanley, Barry Wainwright, Craig Williams, and foreword by AppleScript inventor, William Cook

What you'll learn:
- See how AppleScript represents information as objects-including numbers, strings, lists, and records.
- Learn how to manipulate these objects using commands and operators, and how to store them in variables.
- Organize your code using handlers and script objects.
- Understand how applications describe their objects and commands in dictionaries and how to interpret that information when learning to script applications.
- Manipulate the Mac OS X file system.
- Automate iTunes, Mail, iCal, and other popular lifestyle applications in Mac OS X.
- Discover sophisticated text processing techniques using regular expressions.
- Script professional productivity applications-Apple iWork, Microsoft Office, FileMaker Pro, and Adobe InDesign.
- Harness the power of the Unix command line in Mac OS X.
- Create your own Cocoa applications with the new AppleScriptObjC bridge.

Who is this book for?
First-time scripters who want to automate tasks on their Macs; existing AppleScripters looking to develop proficient, professional, or guru-level knowledge and skills; professional Mac OS X developers wishing to understand this powerful and pervasive technology.