This section provides an overview of AppleScript and Script Editor, the free AppleScript development tool that installs with the Macintosh. Quick studies and experienced programmers will probably be able to develop their first AppleScripts (if you have never used AppleScript before) based on a reading of this introductory section alone. Chapter 1 describes how AppleScript is primarily used and also describes the relevance to AppleScript of Apple events, an internal messaging system that the Macintosh operating system uses for interapplication communication. The end of Chapter 1 summarizes AppleScript’s core language features (Part II provides a more comprehensive language reference). You can use Chapter 2 as a helpful reference to Script Editor as you use this Apple Computer tool to develop your scripts.
This AppleScript overview includes a description of how AppleScript is primarily used, an Apple-event tutorial, and a compressed language reference for those who want to dive right into scripting. Novice users should start here with the book, while very experienced AppleScripters may use this section as a review or skip over it.
This chapter describes all of Script Editor’s primary menu commands and controls. It also explains the various options for saving AppleScript files.
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