AppleScript: A Comprehensive Guide to Scripting and Automation on Mac OS X

AppleScript is a high level scripting language that resides on the Mac platform &emdash; it can be used to add functionality to the Mac operating system, automating tasks, adding functions, making things easier. AppleScript has always been very useful, and with Mac OS X, it can be taken even further than before. This book goes the extra mile when teaching AppleScript, explaining advanced topics, while not leaving behind the beginner. It starts off with the basics, such, as handing variable, loops, and commands, then goes on to teach higher level concepts such as debugging, AppleScripting with databases, manipulating PDFs with SMILE, and automating media workflow. If you are a Mac user who wants to know the real meaning of having full control over your machine, get into AppleScripting; this book is the only guide you need to master the art! Summary of Contents.

Part 1: Read me first

Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Starting to script &emdash; all over again

Part 2: How to AppleScript

Chapter 3: Values
Chapter 4: Doing the math: all about numbers
Chapter 5: Picking up dates
Chapter 6: Lists and records
Chapter 7: Giving commands
Chapter 8: Variables
Chapter 9: Operations and coercion
Chapter 10: Teaching your script to make decisions
Chapter 11: The assembly line: creating repeat loops
Chapter 12: User interaction
Chapter 13: Referring to files
Chapter 14: Working with the clipboard
Chapter 15: Turn errors in your favor
Chapter 16: Other control statements
Chapter 17: Defining and calling subroutines
Chapter 18: Script objects

Part 3: The wild world of AppleScript

Chapter 19: AppleScript amenities in OS X
Chapter 20: Scripting additions and extendibility
Chapter 21: The fundamentals of automating applications
Chapter 22: Debugging scripts
Chapter 23: Many ways to run a script
Chapter 24: Healthy scriptwriting practices
Chapter 25: Scripting Apple apps
Chapter 26: Scripting data and databases
Chapter 27: Automating media workflow
Chapter 28: Manipulating PDFs with Smile
Chapter 29: Automating UNIX applications
Chapter 30: Scheduling scripts
Chapter 31: Scripting remote Macs over IP
Chapter 32: The business side of AppleScript