References

References are described in detail in References.

A reference is a phrase that specifies an object. Table A-5 summarizes the reference forms you can use to specify objects in AppleScript. The first column lists the name of the reference form. The second column lists the syntax for that form.

The following forms specify a reference to an item in a container: Arbitrary Element, Every Element, Filter, Index, Middle, and Relative.

The following forms are rarely used: Arbitrary Element and Middle.

When you use references to specify objects, you can specify a series of containers, each of which is itself a reference, to identify the object uniquely. Table A-6 lists the ways to specify containers.

For examples and more detailed descriptions of the AppleScript reference forms, see Objects and References

Table A-5 Reference form syntax

Reference form	Syntax
Arbitrary Element	`some className`
Every Element	`every className`
	`pluralClassName`
Filter	`referenceToObject whose Boolean`
	`referenceToObject where Boolean`
ID	`className ID IDvalue`
Index	`className integer`
	`className index integer (positive integer indicates position relative to beginning of container; negative indicates position relative to end of container)`
	`first className`
	`second className`
	`third className`
	`fourth className`
	`fifth className`
	`sixth className`
	`seventh className`
	`eighth className`
	`ninth className`
	`tenth className`
	`integer st className`
	`integer nd className`
	`integer rd className`
	`integer th className`
	`last className`
	`front className`
	`back className`
Middle Element	`middle className`
Name	`className string`
	`className named string`
Property	`propertyLabel`
Range	`every className from reference to reference`
	`pluralClassName from reference to reference`
	`className integer through integer`
	`className integer thru integer`
	`pluralClassName integer through integer`
	`pluralClassName integer thru integer`
Relative	`className before reference`
	`className front of reference`
	`className in front of reference`
	`className after reference`
	`className back of reference`
	`className in back of reference`
`(insertion point)`	`beginning of reference`
	`end of reference`

Table A-6 Container notation in references

Container notation	Syntax
`in`	`reference in containerReference`
`of`	`reference of containerReference`
`'s`	`containerReference's reference`