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About AppleScript

Most of the tasks you do on your computer happen through “events.” For example, when you double-click an application icon, the system sends a message to the Finder that this event has occurred, and the Finder opens the application.

Events are usually initiated by users, but applications such as AppleScript can also cause events. When you run a script, AppleScript uses some of the events to control the script and sends other events to applications that carry out the commands.

In many cases, applications return a message to AppleScript. For example, if a script sends a command to an application to get the value of a setting, the application returns the setting. If the command can’t be executed, then the application or AppleScript returns an error message.

You can see these results in Script Editor and use them in your script to determine which action to take next.

For more information on AppleScript, see the AppleScript website.

For more information on using AppleScript, see AppleScript Help.

For more information on the AppleScript Language, see the AppleScript Language Guide.