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

Learn AppleScript: The Comprehensive Guide to Scripting and Automation on Mac OS X, Third 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 problemfrom 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 objectsincluding 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 applicationsApple 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 this book is for

First-time scripters who want to automate tasks on their MacsExisting AppleScripters looking to develop proficient, professional, or guru-level knowledge and skillsProfessional Mac OS X developers wishing to understand this powerful and pervasive technology Table of Contents Introducing AppleScript AppleScript in Principle AppleScript in Practice Writing Scripts in AppleScript Editor Understanding How Application Scripting Works Learning to Work with AppleScript Objects Working with Text Working with Numbers Working with Dates Working with Lists and Records Storing Objects in Variables More on Commands More on Operators and Coercions Making Decisions Using Conditionals and Loops Making Decisions When Dealing with Errors Interacting with the User Working with Files Organizing Your Code with Handlers Organizing Your Code with Script Objects Scripting the File System Scripting Apple Applications Extending AppleScript with Scripting Additions AppleScript Amenities Scripting iWork and Office Scripting Data and Databases Scripting Adobe InDesign Interacting with the Unix Command Line Using Smile: The AppleScript Integrated Production Environment Tips and Techniques for Improving Your Scripts Creating Cocoa Applications with AppleScriptObjC

This is the second edition of Hanaan Rosenthals critically-acclaimed AppleScript book. It goes the extra mile to teach you AppleScript, explaining advanced topics without leaving you behind.

AppleScript is the high-level scripting language that resides on the Mac platform. It can be used to add functionality to the Mac operating system, automate tasks, add functions, and generally make things easier. AppleScript has always been very useful, and with Mac OS X, you can take AppleScript further than before.

This book begins with the basics like handling variables, loops, and commands. It proceeds with more advanced concepts like debugging, AppleScripting with databases, manipulating PDFs with SMILE, and automating media workflow. In a nutshell, this book: Takes you on a journey from novice to professional AppleScripter. Is completely comprehensive; nothing is left to the imagination. Is up-to-date through AppleScript 1.10/Mac OS X Tiger.

If you are a Mac user who wants to know the real meaning of having full control over your machine, get into AppleScripting. And pick up this bookit really is the only guide you'll need to master the art of AppleScripting