Beginning AppleScript®

12.1. Defining a Script Object

In this section, you learn how to define a script object in AppleScript. This is done with a compound statement that begins with the keyword script.

In the following Try It Out, you define a simple script object called sayHi.

12.1.1.

12.1.1.1. Try It Out: Defining a Script Object

The purpose of this script is to put up a dialog containing the message Hi!

1. Type the following program into Script Editor:

   -- Define a simple script
   script sayHi
       display dialog "Hi!" buttons {"OK"} default button 1
   end script
   
   run sayHi

2. Run the program. You should see the dialog shown in Figure 12.1.

   Figure 12.1. Figure 12-1

   

12.1.1.2. How It Works

You define a script object in your program according to the following format:

script name
    statement
    statement
       ...
end script

This defines a script object called name. The script object consists of any statements that follow, ending in the end script statement. These statements can include other script definitions and handler definitions as well.

For all intents and purposes, name is treated like an ordinary variable; in this case, it stores a script object.

Defining a script object does not cause any of the statements that comprise the script to be executed. To execute the script, you use the run command, followed by the script's name:

run name

This causes all the statements in the compound script statement to be executed.