Scripting & Automation Reference List

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Scripting & Automation List

AppleScript, JavaScript, Perl, PHP, Ruby, Python, various shell script dialects, and other popular scripting languages are available in Mac OS X. Developers can make their applications scriptable, enabling automation of repetitive tasks through AppleScript scripts. To make automation even easier, the Automator application offers a simple drag-and-drop interface for users to create sophisticated workflows involving Mac OS X system services and Apple applications. Developers and script writers can also create their own Automator actions, allowing applications, shell scripts, and AppleScript scripts to be called from within Automator workflows.


Getting Started Learning paths for scripters, system administrators, and application developers.	Fundamentals Essential information about using and supporting scripts and automation.	Frameworks C and Objective-C API references, organized by framework.

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Apple Event Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the C API for interapplication communication using Apple events.	AppleScript	2007-07-13
AppleScript Studio Terminology Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the scripting terminology for AppleScript Studio, through version 1.4.	AppleScript	2007-10-31
NSAppleEventDescriptor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to access the basic data structures in an Apple event.	AppleScript	2007-04-10
NSAppleEventManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to work with Apple event handler routines and to suspend and resume event handling.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSAppleScript Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes additions to the NSAppleScript class to provide syntax-highlighted script source.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSAppleScript Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class that provides the ability to load, compile, and execute scripts.	AppleScript	2007-07-10
NSCloneCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to clone a scriptable object or objects.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSCloseCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to close a scriptable object or objects--typically a document or window.	AppleScript	2006-06-28
NSComparisonMethods Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the interface for default comparison methods in the NSSpecifierTest class.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSCountCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to count the number of objects of a specified class in the specified object container.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSCreateCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to create a specified scriptable object.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSDeleteCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to delete a specified scriptable object or objects.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSExistsCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to determine whether a specified scriptable object exists.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSGetCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to get the specified value or object from the specified scriptable object.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSIndexSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the position of an object in a collection.	AppleScript	2007-04-01
NSLogicalTest Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to perform logical operations in determining the scriptable objects a command acts on.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSMiddleSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to specify the middle object in a collection.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSMoveCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to move the specified scriptable object or objects.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSNameSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to specify an object in a collection (or container) by name.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSPositionalSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to specify an insertion point in a container relative to another object in the container.	AppleScript	2007-06-29
NSPropertySpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to specify a simple attribute value, a one-to-one relationship, or all elements of a to-many relationship.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSQuitCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to quit the specified application.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSRandomSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to specify an arbitrary object in a collection.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSRangeSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to specify a range of objects in a container through two delimiting objects.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSRelativeSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to specify an object in a collection by its position relative to another object.	AppleScript	2006-06-28
NSScriptClassDescription Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to encapsulate the scriptability information for a scriptable class.	AppleScript	2007-07-17
NSScriptCoercionHandler Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class that provides a mechanism for converting one kind of scripting data to another.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSScriptCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to represent a scripting statement and the information needed to perform the operation it specifies.	AppleScript	2007-07-20
NSScriptCommandDescription Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to provide a description of a script command.	AppleScript	2007-04-10
NSScriptExecutionContext Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class that provides a shared instance of the context in which the current script command is executed.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSScriptingComparisonMethods Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the informal protocol used to define a set of methods for comparing script objects.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSScriptKeyValueCoding Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the informal protocol used to provide additional key-value coding capabilities in a scriptable application.	AppleScript	2007-10-31
NSScriptObjectSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the abstract class used to instantiate objects that represent references to scriptable objects.	AppleScript	2007-06-29
NSScriptObjectSpecifiers Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the informal protocol used by scriptable objects to provide a fully specified object specifier to themselves.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSScriptSuiteRegistry Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used as the top-level repository of scriptability information for an application at runtime.	AppleScript	2007-04-10
NSScriptWhoseTest Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the abstract class used to represent expressions for testing scriptable object inclusion.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSSetCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to set values in a scriptable object.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSSpecifierTest Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to apply a test to compare a specified object to another object.	AppleScript	2006-06-28
NSUniqueIDSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to specify an object in a container by unique ID.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
NSWhoseSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to specify every object in a container that matches a defined condition.	AppleScript	2006-06-28
NSWindowScripting Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the category on NSWindow for scripting basic properties and commands of windows in scriptable applications.	AppleScript	2006-05-23
Open Scripting Architecture Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the API for compiling and executing scripts in applications and writing scripting components.	AppleScript	2007-05-07
Automator Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the Objective-C API for creating and working with actions used by the Automator application.	Automator	2006-10-26
Apple Event Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the C API for interapplication communication using Apple events.	Carbon	2007-07-13
AppleScript Studio Terminology Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the scripting terminology for AppleScript Studio, through version 1.4.	Carbon	2007-10-31
Open Scripting Architecture Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the API for compiling and executing scripts in applications and writing scripting components.	Carbon	2007-05-07
AppleScript Studio Terminology Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the scripting terminology for AppleScript Studio, through version 1.4.	Cocoa	2007-10-31
Automator Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the Objective-C API for creating and working with actions used by the Automator application.	Cocoa	2006-10-26
NSAppleEventDescriptor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to access the basic data structures in an Apple event.	Cocoa	2007-04-10
NSAppleEventManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to work with Apple event handler routines and to suspend and resume event handling.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSAppleScript Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes additions to the NSAppleScript class to provide syntax-highlighted script source.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSAppleScript Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class that provides the ability to load, compile, and execute scripts.	Cocoa	2007-07-10
NSCloneCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to clone a scriptable object or objects.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSCloseCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to close a scriptable object or objects--typically a document or window.	Cocoa	2006-06-28
NSComparisonMethods Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the interface for default comparison methods in the NSSpecifierTest class.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSCountCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to count the number of objects of a specified class in the specified object container.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSCreateCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to create a specified scriptable object.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSDeleteCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to delete a specified scriptable object or objects.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSExistsCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to determine whether a specified scriptable object exists.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSGetCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to get the specified value or object from the specified scriptable object.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSIndexSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the position of an object in a collection.	Cocoa	2007-04-01
NSLogicalTest Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to perform logical operations in determining the scriptable objects a command acts on.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSMiddleSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to specify the middle object in a collection.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSMoveCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to move the specified scriptable object or objects.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSNameSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to specify an object in a collection (or container) by name.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSPositionalSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to specify an insertion point in a container relative to another object in the container.	Cocoa	2007-06-29
NSPropertySpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to specify a simple attribute value, a one-to-one relationship, or all elements of a to-many relationship.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSQuitCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to quit the specified application.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSRandomSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to specify an arbitrary object in a collection.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSRangeSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to specify a range of objects in a container through two delimiting objects.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSRelativeSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to specify an object in a collection by its position relative to another object.	Cocoa	2006-06-28
NSScriptClassDescription Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to encapsulate the scriptability information for a scriptable class.	Cocoa	2007-07-17
NSScriptCoercionHandler Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class that provides a mechanism for converting one kind of scripting data to another.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSScriptCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to represent a scripting statement and the information needed to perform the operation it specifies.	Cocoa	2007-07-20
NSScriptCommandDescription Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to provide a description of a script command.	Cocoa	2007-04-10
NSScriptExecutionContext Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class that provides a shared instance of the context in which the current script command is executed.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSScriptingComparisonMethods Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the informal protocol used to define a set of methods for comparing script objects.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSScriptKeyValueCoding Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the informal protocol used to provide additional key-value coding capabilities in a scriptable application.	Cocoa	2007-10-31
NSScriptObjectSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the abstract class used to instantiate objects that represent references to scriptable objects.	Cocoa	2007-06-29
NSScriptObjectSpecifiers Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the informal protocol used by scriptable objects to provide a fully specified object specifier to themselves.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSScriptSuiteRegistry Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used as the top-level repository of scriptability information for an application at runtime.	Cocoa	2007-04-10
NSScriptWhoseTest Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the abstract class used to represent expressions for testing scriptable object inclusion.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSSetCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to set values in a scriptable object.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSSpecifierTest Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to apply a test to compare a specified object to another object.	Cocoa	2006-06-28
NSUniqueIDSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to specify an object in a container by unique ID.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
NSWhoseSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the class used to specify every object in a container that matches a defined condition.	Cocoa	2006-06-28
NSWindowScripting Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the category on NSWindow for scripting basic properties and commands of windows in scriptable applications.	Cocoa	2006-05-23
Automator Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the Objective-C API for creating and working with actions used by the Automator application.	General	2006-10-26
Dashboard Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the API for implementing Dashboard widgets.	JavaScript	2009-02-04
iSync JavaScript Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes a few JavaScript classes used to write phone connection functions in iSync Plug-in Maker.	JavaScript	2009-01-09
JavaScriptCore Framework Reference (HTML) Describes the API for evaluating JavaScript programs from within a C-based program	JavaScript	2008-04-08
Scripting Bridge Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the interface that allows Cocoa applications to communicate with scriptable applications.	Scripting Bridges	2007-05-29
AppleScript Studio Terminology Reference (HTML) (PDF) Describes the scripting terminology for AppleScript Studio, through version 1.4.	Tools	2007-10-31