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AppleScript in a Nutshell

By Bruce W. Perry
June 2001
Pages: 526
Series: In a Nutshell
ISBN 10: 1-56592-841-5 | ISBN 13: 9781565928411
(Average of 5 Customer Reviews)

Description

AppleScript in a Nutshell is the first complete reference to AppleScript, the popular programming language that gives both power users and sophisticated enterprise customers the important ability to automate repetitive tasks and customize applications. As the Macintosh continues to expand and solidify its base in the multimedia and publishing industries, AppleScript is the tool of choice on this platform for creating sophisticated time- and money-saving workflow applications (applets). These applets automate the processing and management of digital video, imaging, print, and web-based material. AppleScript is also gaining a foothold in scientific programming, as technical organizations adopt G4 CPU-based systems for advanced computing and scientific analysis. Finally, "power users" and script novices will find that AppleScript is a great everyday Mac programming tool, similar to Perl on Windows NT or Unix. In this well-organized and concise reference, AppleScript programmers will find:

Detailed coverage of AppleScript Version 1.4 and beyond on Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X.
Complete descriptions of AppleScript language features, such as data types, flow-control statements, functions, object-oriented features (script objects and libraries), and other syntactical elements.
Descriptions and hundreds of code samples on programming the various "scriptable" system components, such as the Finder, File Sharing, File Exchange, Network scripting, Web scripting, Apple System Profiler, the ColorSync program, and the numerous powerful language extensions called "osax" or scripting additions. Most other AppleScript books are hopelessly out of date. AppleScript in a Nutshell covers the latest updates and improvements with practical, easy to understand tips, including:
Using AppleScript as a tool for distributed computing, an exciting development that Apple Computer calls "program linking over IP." Programmers can now do distributed computing with Macs over TCP/IP networks, including controlling remote applications with AppleScript and calling AppleScript methods on code libraries that are located on other machines.
Using the Sherlock find application to automate web and network searching.
Insights on scripting new Apple technologies such as Apple Data Detectors, Folder Actions, Keychain Access, and Apple Verifier. AppleScript in a Nutshell is a high-end handbook at a low-end price--an essential desktop reference that puts the full power of this user-friendly programming language into every AppleScript user's hands.

Featured customer reviews

AppleScript in a Nutshell Review, April 07 2004
Submitted by Anonymous Reader [Respond | View]

What a waste of $35.00. This is WAY below the usual standard for O'Reilly books and I think I should get my money back! Most of this book is about Classic Mac OS, scripting the old Finder, the Control Panels, etc. It makes no mention whatsoever of Applescript Studio. Nothing about the new Keychain scripting or data sources or tables or Image Events or nothing!!!! The index is pathetic. Hey, O'Reilly, get a clue - we already HAVE 5 or 6 books ("Tao of Applescript", "Applied Mac Scripting", etc) that we bought years ago - we don't need another OS 9 scripting book!!!! How can I get my money back on this useless thing? I'm using it to prop up my air conditioner right now.

AppleScript in a Nutshell Review, October 17 2003

Rating:

Submitted by Chuck Toporek [Respond | View]

For those who've been waiting, O'Reilly will be releasing a new AppleScript book in November 2004. The title is "AppleScript: The Definitive Guide" and it is written by Matt Neuburg. The book goes way more in-depth on AppleScript than the old Nutshell book.

AppleScript in a Nutshell Review, October 16 2003

Rating:

Submitted by Mark Anderson [Respond | View]

Below O'Reilly Standard.

I know AppleScript has loosely defined commands but this book does little to provide the "Quick Reference" promised on the cover.

There is no real attempt to descibe the language in the book and - inexcusable for a reference book - the index is next useless (I suspect it was machine compiled. I suspect that with a proper index that had been checked an proofed it might be a better book .As it is it gathers dust.

The only excuse for owning this is that it is one of the few AS books around.

Save your money - look for tutorial online. You'll learn more that way.

A Disappointment.

M

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AppleScript in a Nutshell Review, August 22 2003

Rating:

Submitted by Dave Pullin [Respond | View]

The book <u>is</u> terrible.

However it is wonderfully matched with its subject matter. Applescript is idiosyncratic and incomplete, and so is the book. So perhaps the author did the best job he that could be done, and his book may qualify as the least-worst book on Applescript.

I rated it average, because it makes the 'average mistakes' that pervade programming books. Starting with Example 1-1 which doesn't work, through many other examples that don't, to the incomplete specification of important functions. I eventually found the Errata web page that confirmed that the examples don't work, but I have yet to find any complete specification of the baroque language.

For example 'filespec' is an important datatype apprarently essential to creating a file. The book gives no specification of how to create one, except in one special case that it repeated in many examples, which don't work (see Errata, again). And important though it is, it does not rate an entry in the index.

Finally the last paragragh of the book describes an intriguing class that represents a Web Page, but gives not a clue of how you can use it.

You are welcome to use these comments for marketing purposes :-)

AppleScript in a Nutshell Review, June 01 2003

Rating:

Submitted by Tim McManus [Respond | View]

This book is terrible.

I own many ORA "Nutshell" books and this falls WAY off the mark. The structure of the book is horrible. The examples are useless and trying to find an answer to simple questions is a farce.

Try determining if an AppleScript variable can be used as a array. Using the book, try to read a list of files into a array and print them out. You won't be able to determine how to do this because there is no command definition and usage for the command "set" in the book. This is atypical of an ORA Nutshell book.

Part III, Part IV & Part V are useless to anyone who wants to create productive scripts. It is 265 pages of filler that is useless unless you want to write parlor tricks!

There is no section that breaks down every command in the language and presents it like the other Nutshell books.

Avoid this book. It needs a major rewrite!

AppleScript in a Nutshell Review, August 18 2001

Rating:

Submitted by James Alcasid [Respond | View]

One of the best books on Apple scripting that I have read. I wish there were more workflow examples. If you use and rely on Applescripts then get this book!

Media reviews "The book provides an absolutely stellar summary of commands, data types, variables, and all the other stuff of scripting. It is an indispensable reference to have on your desk as you experiment with scripts of your own devising."
--Bruce W. Perry, The Macintosh Guild, June 30, 2003
http://mac.excaliburworld.com/reviews/book014.html

"An in-depth and essential desktop reference."
--Dee Silver, DIALOG, August 2002

"Overall, I rate this book high for technical content and good use of examples. Four out of five stars."
--Andrew Jones, Mouse Tales (newsletter of the North Coast Macintosh Users Group of Cleveland), May 2002

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