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Re: Applescript-users Digest, Vol 1, Issue 130
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Re: Applescript-users Digest, Vol 1, Issue 130


  • Subject: Re: Applescript-users Digest, Vol 1, Issue 130
  • From: trinko <email@hidden>
  • Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 23:10:58 -0700

I wrote AppleScript for Dummies so I guess I'm biased. :) It's actually a good reference even for skilled programers who want to get up to speed quickly. But if you want really in depth stuff and can pick up all the basics pretty much by yourself the best book by far is AppleScript the Definitive Guide by Neuburg. It covers all sorts of exotic stuff and it's well written.

by the way part of the problem is that while AppleScript is really pretty simple it isn't English. You sometimes begin to forget that there is a very precise grammar you have to follow. That problem is exacerbated by the biggest failing of AppleScript. The limited ability of application dictionaries to make it clear how to correctly use the AppleScript support provided by the application. Much of the discussion here and elsewhere is how to use the AppleScript support in various applications. Office 2004 for example is extremely scriptable but it's far from obvious how to harness the power.



Message: 7
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2004 19:50:24 -0400
From: Tom Humiston <email@hidden>
Subject: Seeking "non-programmer's" AppleScript reference
To: AppleScript <email@hidden>
Message-ID: <email@hidden>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Hello all -

I'd like to get better at AppleScript but I haven't found a good book
on it.

I've been reading this list for a few days to get a sense of things,
and I come up with two scenarios:  Either you all are talking about
really deep coding stuff because you're experts, or the
freely-available AppleScript books and tutorials are as impenetrable as
I think they are and you're talking about all this stuff because it's
impossible to just get good information to start with.  Or maybe both.

Apple loads this stuff on my machine in a way that I can't miss it, and
tells me about the things I can do and how much I'll love it.  But then
all the documentation seems to require a background in programming
languages.

Mind you, I pick up on computer stuff pretty well, and my favorite way
of learning a program is to start with a compact manual that gives me a
straightforward walk-through and includes the overall concepts, rather
than ponderous tutorials and "for dummies" books.

What do you suggest?

Tom Humiston
Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA

-----------------------------------------

"I resemble only half the things I say I don't," said
the Golux.  "The other half resemble me."

-----------------------------------------

-- tom trinko http://members.aol.com/trinkos/basepage.html email@hidden _______________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored. Applescript-users mailing list (email@hidden) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: This email sent to email@hidden
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