A few years ago, software companies started cutting expenses, and the first thing many of them cut was the manual. You remember, the book that used to come with your software. You know, the paper that came printed, not the pdf that came on the software CD that, if you could find what you were looking for, you had to use your ink and your paper, after already paying a huge price for the software.
And no one has taken better advantage of this oversight than book publisher O’Reilly with its Missing Manual series (http://www.missingmanual.com). One of the latest in the series is AppleScript: The Missing Manual.
AppleScript comes with every Mac sold. It comes with every copy of Mac OS X sold. If you are running the Mac OS, even OS 9, you have AppleScript. This book covers the version of AppleScript that comes with Mac OS X 10.3 Panther.
This book is actually better than you would expect a manual to be. It is funny, well-written and simple enough to actually understand. It was obviously written by someone who knows what he is doing, yet it is not written in a know-it-all tone. Things are explained simply and completely.
It starts with very simple examples of AppleScript and builds on what you learn in each chapter. It shows you how to write simple scripts in the Finder, shows you how Folder Actions work and shows you how to control a couple of example applications, like Photoshop and Text Edit.
Never done any scripting? Scared you won’t know enough to get the job done? This book was written for you. It clearly explains how AppleScript works and how to do things with it.
It shows you how to script the Finder, including using Folder Actions.
I could go on and on, but the gist of it is this: If you want to know how to use AppleScript, this is the book to buy.
And if you are a member of your local Mac user group, O’Reilly will give you a special discount. Contact your user group for details on the deal.
— Reviewed by Don Foy