AppleScript for Dummies

By Tom Trinko

Book Overview

"More than a publishing phenomenon, 'Dummies' is a sign of the times." -- The New York Times "We only buy software that has a ...For Dummies book to help us learn." -- Dennis Schurgin, Happy ...For Dummies? Reader Free AppleScript "Cheat Sheet" Inside! AppleScript? For Dummies? is the friendly, easy-to-follow guide that gives you the information you need to become more productive using your Mac. You'll discover how AppleScript automates the dull, boring tasks that currently take up too much of your time and also see how Apple has made it easy for you to give orders to your Mac so that it does the boring stuff. Inside find helpful advice on how to: Use AppleScript to automate tasks in programs such as Word, Excel, FileMaker Pro, and the Finder Arrange applications to work together to accomplish complex tasks Find out where to get and how to install AppleScript (it's free with System 7.5) Control applications that aren't even scriptable Master tools that will make scripting easier and fun Browse a long list of applications that you can tame with AppleScript Pinpoint where to get more information on the Internet and elsewhere Discover the hidden meaning behind all the hacker jargon

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1568849753
• ISBN13: 9781568849751
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: For Dummies
• Length: 396 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 7.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Great book!

Great hard to find book was available and in great condition! Very prompt service! The item was in better shape (for a used book) than I expected it to be as well :-)

Even At Times Lame Humor Helps

As a person with rudimentary programming experience (I've taken basic courses in Pascal and C) I'm finding Mr. Trinko's book helpful. The criticism that his injecting bits of humor interferes with learning AppleScript doesn't resonate with me. While not every pun evokes a grin, they take up only a fraction of a second of reading time, and they lighten the task of learning a complex technical skill. I have no way to judge whether Trinko's approach is poorly organized or not, but the pace of learning and exposure to new topics seems to me smooth and continuous. When he pops in a concept that won't be fully explained until later in the text, he warns the reader. He also reminds the reader where to look back in previous chapters to review a particular idea that has become important again in the discussion. I find the book a welcome companion. Whether I'll become proficient at AppleScript after having finished it is another matter. I bought this book, assuming that it is a low-level introductory guide, and not a fully fleshed out handbook for developers. I would expect to go on to study more sophisticated presentations that contain expanded reference resources. Meanwhile, I'm having fun with AppleScript for Dummies.

Good starters guide

As a non-programmer I found this a really easy introduction to Applescripting - everything I know about it came from this book. The weak gags wear a little thin after a while, but I guess lighten the tone a bit. My only criticism is that there isn't more info in scripting specific apps like Quark, Illustrator etc but you can't win em all, eh?An excellent intro to Applescripting, folks who can already program may need something more technical though.r.

An excellent reference for my clients!

As a Macintosh AppleScript developer, I use this book as a training prep tool for the sccripts I design for my clients. It has all the pertainent operation information that I would use for client education - if I had to produce such a reference myself. For the individual wishing to learn AppleScript on his/her own, it is a great beginner to intermediate guide.

Probably the most complete applescript book for beginners.

A good book for beginners who want a bit more than just the absolute basics. This book will guide you from the simplest of applescript scripts, to writing scripts that will save you heaps of time and effort