Page contents

• the basics
• scripting 'non-scriptable' applications
• extending AppleScript's capabilities
• alternatives to Apple's Script Editor

The basics

AppleScripts will give you good control over much of what you do on your Mac--check email, get file information, etc. You can also control any application that has been written to respond to AppleScript; the list of 'scriptable' applications is growing. With a little help, it can also control 'non-scriptable' applications like Signalyze (see the next section below).

To use AppleScript, you need AppleScript installed and active. It has been part of the standard system installation since System 7.5.

To write your own scripts, you also need a script editor--Apple's Script Editor is part of the standard installation as well. (See the bottom of the page for alternatives.)

You can get a quick start on AppleScripting in general by accessing the Mac Help ? (Help menu), and then finding the section on AppleScripting. There are many simple scripts included with the standard installation now. The Apple AppleScript home page has links to many resources.

Scripting 'non-scriptable' applications

Non-scriptable applications (e.g. applications that don't support being scripted by AppleScript, like Signalyze) can still be scripted with a little help.

Menu Events is a cheap way to be able to control the menus of non-scriptable applications--it's free! I had trouble getting it to wait for Signalyze to finish up a step under OS 9, but it looks very promising for scripting menu commands under earlier system versions.

PreFab Player provides full control over all functions--keyboard, mouse, menus--for both scriptable and non-scriptable applications. At US$79 for the academic license, it's not as cheap as free, but it is much more powerful. There is also a runtime license for US$25 that will run scripts with Player commands in them for those who do not want to do their own scripting. More info on Player is here.

Extending AppleScript's capabilities

PreFab Playerª, KeyQuencerª, QuicKeysª and OneClickª (in conjunction with AppleScriptª) all allow Signalyze's functions to be accessed by script. More info about Player is here.

The 30-day PreFab Playerª demo is available on the PreFab demo page; purchasing information is available on the Player order form page (currently US$95 + shipping; there's also a Japanese version and a British distributor.) The demo includes the scripting addition app menu that allows applications to be selected directly from the Application menu in the upper right-hand corner of the Mac (used in most of these scripts).

Scripting additions provide libraries of commands that you can add to your AppleScripts, either because a command doesn't come with AppleScript or because someone has written a better version. The authoritative scripting additions site is here.

FaceSpanª provides a way to create full-fledged programs around your AppleScripts, providing the ability to create menus, dialogs, floating windows, etc. Note that FaceSpan applications are much larger than simple AppleScripts (a 40k AppleScript can easily become a 1M FaceSpan application), and that FaceSpan scripting is at least one level above AppleScripting. For serious scripters, though, it is definitely worth the effort. Info is available at the Digital Technology International web sit for FaceSpan.

Alternatives to Apple's Script Editor

Scripter 2.0 is a good utility for serious scripters who are tired of Script Editor's limitations. Although pricey at $199 for an individual license, it provides the ability to turn out incredibly powerful scripts in much less time, and a great way to keep track of your library of subroutines. There is a demo available.

Script Debugger is the other alternative to Scripter for about US$100 less. They both have many nice features; if you're serious about scripting with AppleScript try both and then decide.