Everyone who uses a computer knows the challenge of performing the same series of tasks over and over again. For example, try to add a prefix to the names of 75 files in a folder and you’ll soon realize how time consuming and stressful repetitive actions can be. Isn’t there a easier way? Yes. It’s called AppleScript.

AppleScript is an English-like language used to write script files that automate the actions of the computer and the applications that run on it.

Much more than a macro-language that simply repeats your recorded actions, AppleScript can make decisions based on user interaction or by parsing and analyzing data, documents or events. And with Mac OS X Tiger and AppleScript Studio, you can easily create powerful Mac OS X applications with sophisticated interfaces, written entirely in AppleScript.

AppleScript can automate much of what you do with your computers, helping you to be more productive, while saving time and money. Isn’t that what computers are for?

AppleScript Benefits

AppleScript allows individuals and businesses alike to create customizable automation tools that enable them to be more productive.

• For individuals, AppleScript provides shortcuts for complex tasks such as naming files, resetting preferences or connecting to the Internet. Many customers find the dozens of scripts provided with the Mac OS to be essential helpers in their day-to-day Mac experience.
• For professionals, AppleScript is an extra pair of hands performing repetitive tasks, retrieving data and files from remote servers and executing scheduled updates and errands. AppleScript can process hundreds of files while you focus on other issues.
• For businesses, automated AppleScript workflows provide consistency, accuracy and speed while delivering a reduced cost for time, materials and staff. You get more done in less time and with fewer mistakes. If you plan to scale your business, automation with AppleScript makes it possible.

Useful Scripts

Apple provides a variety of AppleScript script examples via download from the AppleScript website, including script collections for the Finder Toolbar, QuickTime Player, iTunes, iPhoto and iDVD. In addition, Mac OS X Tiger ships with dozens of pre-installed useful script tools. To use them, simply activate the built-in Script Menu using the AppleScript Utility in your AppleScript folder to access dozens of scripts pre-installed on your computer.

Image Events, the scriptable image processing architecture in Tiger, enables AppleScript to perform fundamental image edits such as cropping, scaling, rotation and type conversion without the need of other applications. And to make it very easy to take advantage of this ability, Mac OS X comes with nine example Folder Action scripts for processing images.

The Script Editor

The heart of AppleScript is the Script Editor application. This utility for script editing and composition includes a streamlined, easier-to-use interface, find/change, redesigned dictionary viewer, automatic line adjusting, contextual menu script support, code completion and script element navigation.

Complementing the editor is support for two new AppleScript file formats: script bundles and applet bundles. These bundle formats allow scripts to store templates, files, movies, images and other items used by the script as part of the script file itself, making it easy to distribute your automation solutions.

More Features

Now you can take control of applications which don't directly support AppleScript. You can query and control the menus, windows and dialogs of these applications via AppleScript’s Graphic User Interface scripting architecture (GUI Scripting). While not the same as direct script support, UI Scripting can help you create automated workflows involving applications that aren’t currently scriptable.

In Tiger, you can execute scripts on a schedule or at any specified time, day or week. iCal includes the ability to set the execution of scripts as an action for calendar events. Your Mac can now become your alarm clock with a script that wakes you by playing your favorite iTunes playlist.