Scripting Additions Calls in Tell Blocks
Scripting Additions Calls in Tell Blocks
- Subject: Scripting Additions Calls in Tell Blocks
- From: Michael Terry <email@hidden>
- Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2004 16:34:18 -0800
There was a thread recently, that I can't find, in which calling
scripting additions within application tell blocks was discussed. This
issue comes up from time to time, I guess. It used to be settled law
that one avoided doing it, partly because of efficiency issues. It was
thought that the command had to pass through the tell block's
application before reaching the applescript component where it was
handled.
Recently it's been claimed, I think, that this is a myth. I don't know
if it is supposed to ever have been true. I've always called additions
outside of app tells mostly for style reasons--every command has a
target, and it's wrong somehow to imply that your target is the tell
block's application.
However, now it seems to me that calling additions in tell blocks isn't
as harmless has been made out. I didn't know that scripting additions
could be aware of their context, but note:
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
><><><>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
-- i set system browser default to Safari (in Safari prefs) before
running
------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
open location "
http://www.google.com/";
--> ".014 secs"
tell application "Safari"
open location "
http://www.google.com/";
end tell
--> ".405 secs"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
-- note that if Safari already has a window with the url open, calling
open
-- location inside a Safari tell block just makes sure that said window
-- is in front
------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
tell application "Safari"
open location "
http://www.google.com/";
end tell
--> ".031 secs"
-- even this is slower!
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
><><><>
I used a timer which depended on the GetMilliSec osax, because I
couldn't think of an easy way to illustrate the cases with plain AS.
Now, I happen to think 'open location''s behavior is wonderful, but
what I'm claiming is, unless you specifically need a special effect,
you should normally not execute addition commands in app tell blocks.
Sometimes it doesn't make any difference, but sometimes it does.
Mike
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