Re: Scripting Interface Design
Re: Scripting Interface Design
- Subject: Re: Scripting Interface Design
- From: Philip Aker <email@hidden>
- Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 04:20:54 -0700
On 2007-06-25, at 13:25:13, Dr. Emilio A. Laca wrote:
I use AppleScript (beginner level, self-taught). I bought the main
books. The dictionary for Excel is barely comprehensible. Mostly,
because usage is not there. I would welcome a system that helps me
code as I learn and learn as I code. I have searched and I have not
found. What is the Max help system? (Mac's??) I would appreciate
recommendation for books or online help.
Max is an application which presents a graphical music and sound
programming environment <http://www.cycling74.com/>. Although it's an
amazing application and a fantastic way to learn the C language
through visual representation, I wouldn't recommend it as a starting
point for AppleScript or scripting Excel.
I don't know much about Excel scripting (haven't used it for years)
but I saw this page with some recommendations on it: <http://
support.microsoft.com/kb/113891>. Perhaps if you posted a specific
question, others might be able to offer some suggestions. You'll have
to include the Excel version in your post.
Mostly I deal with merging and manipulation of data that is
originally in Excel files.
If you're main concern is with tab or comma separated values in text
files, there are powerful utilities (and converters) available in
just about every scripting language installed on OS X besides
AppleScript.
For instance typing "man n csv" in Terminal <x-man-page://n/csv>
shows you the functions dedicated to the manipulation of the data
format in the Tcl language. And all the math functions you could
possible need (or invent) for transforming the data are available.
One could gain very powerful and fast manipulations without having to
rely on Excel, but there is yet another learning experience involved…
Philip Aker
email@hidden
Just in case anyone has ever had a problem making sense out of a
scripting dictionary, that's what we're talking about and that's
where your opinion could be valuable for implementors.
If you've ever encountered a help system that works better that
what we have now, please speak up. I for one, really enjoyed the
Max help system -- where Option-Click on a symbol takes you to a
working example (with graphics if warranted).
_______________________________________________
Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored.
AppleScript-Users mailing list (email@hidden)
Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription:
Archives: http://lists.apple.com/archives/applescript-users
This email sent to email@hidden