Script Applications

Several sections in this chapter refer to script applications. A script application is an application whose only function is to run the script associated with it. You can run a script application from the Finder much like any other application.

You can use the Script Editor's Save As command to save a script as a script application. To do so, you specify Application in the pop-up menu on the Script Editor's Save As dialog box. By default, a startup screen appears before the script runs. The startup screen displays the description of the script you write in the top part of the Script Editor window. The user must click the startup screen's Run button or press the Return key before the Finder actually sends the Run command. This allows the user to read the description of the script before running it. If you check the Never Show Startup Screen checkbox in the Save As dialog box, the script runs without displaying the startup screen.

You can also use a checkbox on the Script Editor's Save As dialog box to specify that the script application should stay open after running. The default is for the script to quit right after you run it. For more information on working with the Script Editor, see the AppleScript section of the Mac OS Help Center. If you are using a different script editor, see the documentation that came with it.

For related information, see Handlers for Stay-Open Script Applications.