An object specifier that has enough information to identify an object or objects uniquely. For an object specifier to an application object to be complete, its outermost container must be the application itself. See relative object specifier.
An interprocess message that encapsulates a high-level task in a single package that can be passed across process boundaries, performed, and responded to with a reply event.
When an AppleScript script is executed, a statement that targets a scriptable application may result in an Apple event being sent to that application.
A scripting language that makes possible direct control of scriptable applications and scriptable parts of Mac OS X.
A script command provided by AppleScript. AppleScript commands do not have to be included in tell statements.
A command that is defined by scriptable application to provide access to a scriptable feature. An application command must either be included in a tell statement or include the name of the application in its direct parameter.
An object stored in an application or its documents and managed by the application.
A reference form that specifies an arbitrary object in a container.
A statement that assigns a value to a variable. Assignment statements use the copy or set commands.
A characteristic that can be considered or ignored in a considering or ignoring statement.
An operator that derives a new value from a pair of values.
A logical truth value; see the boolean class.
An expression whose value can be either true or false.
A script object that inherits properties and handlers from another object, called the parent.
(1) A category for objects that share characteristics such as properties and elements and respond to the same commands. (2) The label for the AppleScript class property—a reserved word that specifies the class to which an object belongs.
The process of converting an object from one class to another. For example, an integer value can be coerced into a real value. Also, the software that performs such a conversion. Also known as object conversion.
A word or series of words that requests an action. See also handler.
Text that remains in a script after compilation but is ignored by AppleScript when the script is executed.
In AppleScript, to convert a script from the form typed into a script editor to a form that can be used by AppleScript. The process of compiling a script includes syntax and vocabulary checks. A script is compiled when you first run it and again when you modify it and then run it again, save it, or check its syntax.
The form to which a script is converted when you compile it.
A value that contains other values. Lists, records, and strings are examples of composite values.
A statement that occupies more than one line and contains other statements. A compound statement begins with a reserved word indicating its function and ends with the word end. See also simple statement.
See if statement.
A control statement that lists a specific set of attributes to be considered when AppleScript performs operations on strings or sends commands to applications.
A reserved word with a predefined value; see the constant class.
An object that contains one or more other objects, known as elements. You specify containers with the reserved words of or in.
A character used in Script Editor to extend a statement to the next line. With a U.S. keyboard, you can enter this character by typing Option-l (lower-case L).
A statement that controls when and how other statements are executed. AppleScript defines standard control statements such as if, repeat, and while.
A statement that causes AppleScript to exit the current handler and transfer execution to the handler with the same name in the parent. A continue statement can also be used to invoke an inherited handler in the local context.
The application that is using the AppleScript component to compile and execute scripts (typically, Script Editor).
The script currently being executed.
The object that is the current default target for commands.
A class used for data that do not belong to any of the other AppleScript classes; see the data class.
A class that specifies a time, day of the month, month, and year; see the date class.
The first occurrence of a variable or property identifier in a script. The form and location of the declaration determine how AppleScript treats the identifier in that script—for example, as a property, global variable, or local variable.
The object that receives a command if no object is specified or if the object is incompletely specified in the command. Default (or implicit) targets are specified in tell statements.
The handing off of control to another object. In AppleScript, the use of a continue statement to call a handler in a parent object or the current application.
A version of the AppleScript language that resembles a specific human language or programming language. As of AppleScript 1.3, English is the only dialect supported.
The set of commands, objects, and other terminology that is understood by an application or other scriptable entity. You can display an application’s dictionary with Script Editor.
The parameter immediately following a command, which typically specifies the object to which the command is sent.
Characters («») typically used by AppleScript to enclose raw data. With a U.S. keyboard, you can enter double angle brackets (also known as chevrons) by typing Option-Backslash and Shift-Option-Backslash.
An object contained within another object. An object can typically contain zero or more of each of its elements.
A list containing no items. See the list class.
An expression, usually a text object, that describes an error.
A collection of statements that are executed in response to an error message. See the try statement.
A message that is supplied by an application, by AppleScript, or by Mac OS X when an error occurs during the handling of a command.
An integer that identifies an error.
The conversion of an expression to a value.
A reference form that specifies every object of a particular type in a container.
A statement used in the body of a repeat statement to exit the Repeat statement.
A handler at the top level of a script object that begins with on run and ends with end. A single script object can include an explicit run handler or an implicit run handler, but not both.
In AppleScript, any series of words that has a value.
A phrase, added to a reference to a system or application object, that specifies elements in a container that match one or more conditions.
A reference form that specifies all objects in a container that match a condition specified by a Boolean expression.
See parameter variable.
A variable that is available anywhere in the script in which it is defined.
A collection of statements that can be invoked by name. See also command.
A series of characters that identifies a value or handler in AppleScript. Identifiers are used to name variables, handlers, parameters, properties, and commands.
A reference form that specifies an object by the value of its ID property.
A control statement that contains one or more Boolean expressions whose results determine whether to execute other statements within the if statement.
A control statement that lists a specific set of attributes to be ignored when AppleScript performs operations on text strings or sends commands to applications.
All the statements at the top level of a script except for property definitions, script object definitions, and other handlers. A single script object can include an explicit run handler or an implicit run handler, but not both.
A reference form that specifies an object by describing its position with respect to the beginning or end of a container.
The ability of a child script object to take on the properties and handlers of a parent object.
The hierarchy of objects that AppleScript searches to find the target for a command or the definition of a term.
The process of creating a script object from the properties and handlers listed in a script object definition. AppleScript creates a script object when it runs a script or handler that contains a script object definition.
A location where another object or objects can be added.
A positive or negative number without a fractional part; see the integer class.
A value in a list or record. An item can be specified by its offset from the beginning or end of the list or record.
A word that is part of the AppleScript language. Synonymous with reserved word.
A parameter that is identified by a label. See also positional parameter.
The period of time over which a variable or property is in existence.
An ordered collection of values; see the list class.
A value that evaluates to itself.
A variable that is available only in the handler in which it is defined. Variables that are defined within handlers are local unless they are explicitly declared as global variables.
A script statement that reports the value of one or more variables to the Event Log pane of a script window, and to the Event Log History window, if it is open.
A series of statements that is repeated.
A variable whose value controls the number of times the statements in a repeat statement are executed.
A reference form that specifies the middle object of a particular class in a container. (This form is rarely used.)
A reference form that specifies an object by name—that is, by the value of its name property.
A control statement that is contained within another control statement.
A synonym for the AppleScript classes integer and real.
An instantiation of a class definition, which can include properties and actions.
See coercion.
A phrase specifies the information needed to find another object in terms of the objects in which it is contained. See also absolute object specifier, relative object specifier, and reference form.
An expression from which an operator derives a value.
The evaluation of an expression that contains an operator.
A symbol, word, or phrase that derives a value from another value or pair of values.
A parameter that need not be included for a command to be successful.
A property, variable, or statement in a script object but occurs outside of any handlers or nested script objects.
An identifier in a handler definition that represents the actual value of a parameter when the handler is called. Also called a formal parameter.
An object from which another script object, called the child, inherits properties and handlers. A parent object may be any object, such as a list or an application object, but it is typically another script object.
A handler parameter that is identified by the order in which it is listed. In a handler call, positional parameters are enclosed in parentheses and separated by commas. They must be listed in the order in which they appear in the corresponding handler definition.
A labeled container in which to store a value. Properties can specify characteristics of objects.
A reference form that specifies a property of an application object, record or script object.
A reference form that specifies a series of objects of the same class in the same container.
AppleScript terms enclosed in double angle brackets, or chevrons («»). AppleScript uses raw format because it cannot find a script term in any available dictionary, or cannot display data in its native format.
A number that can include a decimal fraction; see the real class.
An unordered collection of properties, identified by unique labels; see the record class.
An application that uses Apple events to report user actions for recording purposes. When recording is turned on, Script Editor creates statements corresponding to any significant actions you perform in a recordable application.
A handler that calls itself.
An object that encapsulates an object specifier.
The syntax for identifying an object or group of objects in an application or other container—that is, the syntax for constructing an object specifier.
AppleScript defines reference forms for arbitrary, every, filter, ID, index, middle, name, property, range, and relative.
An object specifier that does not include enough information to identify an object or objects uniquely. When AppleScript encounters a partial object specifier, it uses the default object specified in the enclosing tell statement to complete the reference. See absolute object specifier.
A reference form that specifies an object or location by describing its position in relation to another object, known as the base, in the same container.
A control statement that contains a series of statements to be repeated and, in most cases, instructions that specify when the repetition stops.
A parameter that must be included for a command to be successful.
A word that is part of the AppleScript language. Synonymous with keyword.
A value generated when a command is executed or an expression evaluated.
A statement that exits a handler and optionally returns a specified value.
The range over which AppleScript recognizes a variable or property, which determines where else in a script you may refer to that variable or property.
A series of written instructions that, when executed, cause actions in applications or Mac OS X.
An application that can be controlled by a script. For AppleScript, that means being responsive to interapplication messages, called Apple events, sent when a script command targets the application.
An application whose only function is to run the script associated with it.
An application used to create and modify scripts.
The script-editing application distributed with AppleScript.
A file that provides additional commands or coercions you can use in scripts. If a scripting addition is located in the Scripting Additions folder, its terminology is available for use by any script.
A command that is implemented as a scripting addition.
A user-defined object that can combine data (in the form of properties) and actions (in the form of handlers and additional script objects).
A compound statement that contains a collection of properties, handlers, and other AppleScript statements.
One that can be written on a single line. See also compound statement.
A value, such as an integer or a constant, that does not contain other values.
A set of standard AppleScript terminology that a scriptable application should support if possible. The Standard suite contains commands such as count, delete, duplicate, and make, and classes such as application, document, and window.
A series of lexical elements that follows a particular AppleScript syntax. Statements can include keywords, variables, operators, constants, expressions, and so on. See also compound statement, simple statement.
One or more statements enclosed in a compound statement and having an end statement.
A synonym for the text class.
Text that may include style and font information. Not supported in AppleScript 2.0.
Within an application's scriptability information, a grouping of terms associated with related operations.
An AppleScript word, phrase, or language element that has the same meaning as another AppleScript word, phrase, or language element. For example, the operator does not equal is a synonym for ≠.
The arrangement of words in an AppleScript statement.
The rules for constructing a valid AppleScript statement of a particular type.
An object that is part of a scriptable element of Mac OS X.
The recipient of a command. Potential targets include application objects, script objects (including the current script), and the current application.
A control statement that specifies the default target for the statements it contains.
A Boolean expression that specifies the conditions of a filter or an if statement.
An ordered series of characters (a text string); see the text class.
A two-part compound statement that contains a series of AppleScript statements, followed by an error handler to be invoked if any of those statements cause an error.
An operator that derives a new value from a single value.
An international standard that uses a 16-bit encoding to uniquely specify the characters and symbols for all commonly used languages.
A unique number that represents a character and allows it to be represented in an abstract way, independent of how it is rendered.
A class that represents an ordered series of two-byte Unicode characters.
A command that is implemented by a handler defined in a script object.
A control statement that instructs AppleScript to use the terminology from the specified application in compiling the enclosed statements.
A named container in which to store a value.
A control statement that specifies the amount of time AppleScript waits for application commands to complete before stopping execution of the script.
A control statement that allows you to take advantage of applications that support the notion of a transaction—a sequence of related events that should be performed as if they were a single operation, such that either all of the changes are applied or none are.
Last updated: 2008-03-11