Script Editor Icon

Recording scripts

Some applications let you record actions using Script Editor. Recording is an easy way to create a simple script or start a more complex script. To determine if an application is recordable, try recording an action.

Script Editor only records actions that change a document, setting, or other aspect of the application. It doesn’t record actions such as clicking in a window or moving the pointer.

To record a script:

Step 1

Open Script Editor.

Step 2

Click Record.

Step 3

Perform the actions you want to record in the recordable application.

Step 4

To stop recording, click Stop in Script Editor.

The recorded script will need to be placed inside a tell statement to direct the script to the application.

Not all scriptable applications can record. If you can’t record actions for an application, the application isn’t recordable. For a list of recordable applications, see the Apple Scriptable Applications website.