Filed under: Features, How-tos
Automation on the Mac
Welcome to the first of many AppleScript and Automator "how-tos." These tips are mostly geared toward Mac users who may know a little AppleScript, but want to learn more. If you've never opened Script Editor or Automator these tips will also help you get up to speed. First things first, what the heck is AppleScript? It is an easy-to-use and easy-to-learn programming language. AppleScript was created in the early 90s as a simple way for people to create their own custom automation programs. This is one of the reasons the Mac remains popular in the printing and creative industry, where users can take large work flows and automate them relatively quickly.
Automator was first released with Tiger and designed for users who don't have time to learn a programming language. You just drag actions together to produce a work flow, and then run it. It's that simple. The second version of Automator shipped with Mac OS X "Leopard," and it features new actions as well as a redesigned interface. I'll be showing you how to create time-saving Automator plug-ins and applications that can be used system-wide in future posts.
But how automation can benefit you and your work flow? By working more efficiently automation saves you valuable time and energy. Automation is also an easy first step into the wonderful world of Mac programming. However, automation can also be fun. Who doesn't want to make their Macs do cool things?
Before you jump into AppleScripting, you need to know a few basics. Over the next few weeks, I'll show you the basics of AppleScript and then we'll be able to move onto more advanced automation.
Stay tuned to TUAW; and before you know it, you will be Apple Scripting like a Mac OS X power user!
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Michael Rose said 1:10PM on 12-14-2007
You can see past TUAW posts on AppleScript here:
http://www.tuaw.com/tag/AppleScript/
(my personal favorite, http://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/23/sending-quicktime-movies-with-entourage/ ... :-)
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Dylan said 1:14PM on 12-14-2007
Wow, congratulations on your job at TUAW. It's nice to have someone that seems to be able to write clearly and talk about something relevant. It seems to me that alot of TUAW is made up of novice, immature writers, and you seem to be different from them.
I've always wanted to learn how to use this software, and i'm looking forward to this section.
And i feel sorry for you if erica's posts drown yours out. They bother me too.
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Jason Martin said 1:28PM on 12-14-2007
Excellent! I've always thought that AppleScript and Automator were two of the coolest Mac functions out there, but I've never really had the time to figure them out enough to realize their potential. I'm looking forward to thuis feature a lot. Thanks.
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Goomba said 1:46PM on 12-14-2007
I am really looking foward to this feature as well. I can't wait to be a power user.
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Nick said 1:51PM on 12-14-2007
This is a great idea for a how-to series. I look forward to reading through it.
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fanguad said 1:57PM on 12-14-2007
While I certainly look forward to learning more about AppleScript, I would hardly characterize it as "easy to use," except for the most basic tasks.
For very simple tasks, yes, it is quite simple. But for anything of moderate complexity or harder, the quirks of the language do more harm than good.
I'm glad that there's a more technically oriented blogger joining the team at TUAW. I look forward to reading your posts in the future.
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koreyel said 2:01PM on 12-14-2007
Okay young un...
You got me hooked as a reader.
As a young upstart... that's a good start.
But I am from Missouri... the show me state.
So I am following you kiddo.
The ball is in your court.
http://www.ncr.org.au/images/booklet-013.jpg
Give it your best...
And good luck!
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Cory Bohon said 9:57PM on 12-14-2007
Thanks!
filip De Cavel said 2:23PM on 12-14-2007
Maybe I can help you with a scripting challenge :-)??
When importing a batch of contacts, the last name entered in capital letters. Would you be able to write a script to adjust/toggle that to normal letters as there are a couple of hundreds of them. (eg. ROBERT to Robert)
What I have tried but does'nt seem to work: I exported those cards into word. Toggled the capital letters. exported it into a csv file and imported it back into address book. Address book recognized the duplicate files and merged them but....kept the one with capital letters....
Anyway, thought to try my luck here...
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Zak said 2:24PM on 12-14-2007
Looking forward to some posts on Automator and Applescript.
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Luke H. said 2:34PM on 12-14-2007
Dude, sounds awesome. I can't wait to start. :D
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tones said 2:40PM on 12-14-2007
"Welcome to the first of many automator and applescript how-tos"??
Nope, just seeing a howdee type email. Keen as you are to start posting, it would have preferable to see you kick off with a how to as stated at the beginning. Alternatively, don't promise something at the beginning of the post if you are not going to fulfill that promise.
That said, am looking forward to seeing automator/applescript how tos, will be a great addition to tuaw.
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Greg Perkins said 2:41PM on 12-14-2007
Can't wait for these tutorials. Great idea, Cory.
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Michael said 2:51PM on 12-14-2007
Great topic, I've done very little applescript but I would love to get into more.
How about a script that involves dropping an image on it to resize the image, save it with a prefix and then upload it to a server. You could use CyberDuck or Transmit for the uploading.
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The Wizard said 3:48PM on 12-14-2007
Perfect post Cory. Keep it coming. I used to program for windows. Now I just can't wait to learn how to program for the Mac. Thanks for your efforts. And of course welcome to TUAW.
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mentalsticks said 4:22PM on 12-14-2007
Cory:
I have nothing really to add to the other commenters, only that I too am really looking forward to learning something about applescript and automator. Great topic.
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Cory Bohon said 5:07PM on 12-14-2007
Guys, thanks for giving me a chance. I am going to start with the basics and go on from there. So, even if you haven't used AppleScript (or Automator) before, you will be able to jump right in!
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Jon said 5:51PM on 12-14-2007
I agree with #6 above. I find AppleScript very frustrating, but perhaps that's because I'm used to more "standard" programming languages. May I make the suggestion that you touch upon Ruby scripting for OS X? That seems like the perfect compromise: the power of OS X scripting with a more "normal" language like Ruby.
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Quine said 5:53PM on 12-14-2007
Looking forward to learning some applescript; thus far it has seemed more complicated to me than C (how ironic) so I haven't tried very hard to learn it and just do most things with small C programs.
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Fritz Laurel said 6:28PM on 12-14-2007
Maybe you can help me understand just what the heck Automator is?!?
I should note that I'm intimately familiar with Applescript, having coded a 1000-line Photoshop->DB script when I worked at Disney a few years ago.
So, does Automator replace Script Editor? How does Automator fit into what has become, in my opionion, a mess?
Cheers,
FL
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