AppleScripting Office
If you’re like most people, you probably didn’t upgrade to Office 2008 because of its ability to work with AppleScript. But if you’re not using AppleScript to streamline your complex or repetitive tasks, you’re not tapping Office’s true potential for efficiency and speed. And, since Office 2008 does away with VBA—Visual Basic for Applications—AppleScript is the main scripting game left. For information on switching from VBA to AppleScript, and AppleScript user guides for Office, visit Microsoft’s Office scripting headquarters at www.microsoft.com/mac/developers/default.mspx. In addition, MacTech Magazine has published a 150-page VBA-to-AppleScript transition guide, filled with detailed examples of converting VBA scripts to AppleScript. You can find it at www.mactech.com/vba-transition-guide/.
Fortunately, you don’t have to actually be a scripter to reap AppleScript’s benefits, since there are hundreds of ready-made scripts you can download and use (turn first to that nexus of all things AppleScript, http://macscripter.net). What follows is a quick introduction to the world of AppleScript. If you do want to learn how to write your own AppleScripts, Apple’s AppleScript pages ( www.apple.com/applescript) and AppleScript: The Missing Manual await.
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