Raw Data in Parameters

Some application commands return values that do not belong to any of the normal AppleScript value classes. For example, the Edit Graphic command supported by some graphics applications returns values that belong to the class Data, which is described in Data. In its result window, the Script Editor displays values of class Data between double angle brackets. You can store such data in variables and send them as parameters to other commands. For example, if it's necessary to use two different applications to edit a graphic, you can send the data value returned by one Edit Graphic command as the direct parameter of another Edit Graphic command.

The Script Editor also displays unicode text values in the result window as raw data. The following example shows how the string "hello" is displayed as unicode text.



 
set myString to "hello" as Unicode text

--result: «data utxt00680065006C006C006F»

If an application returns values of class Data, its documentation should say so.

For information on other places where AppleScript uses double angle brackets, see Double Angle Brackets in Results and Scripts. For more information on unicode text, see Unicode Text and International Text.