Mac/OSXResources/app/Resources/English.lproj/Documentation/scripting.html

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   6         <title>Controlling other Applications from MacPython</title>
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  12 <h1>Controlling other Applications from MacPython</h1>
  13
  14 <p>Python has a fairly complete implementation of the Open Scripting
  15 Architecure (OSA, also commonly referred to as AppleScript), allowing
  16 you to control scriptable applications from your Python program,
  17 and with a fairly pythonic interface. This piece of
  18 Python:</p>
  19
  20 <blockquote><pre><tt>
  21 import Finder
  22
  23 f = Finder.Finder()
  24 print f.get(f.window(1).name)
  25 </tt></pre></blockquote>
  26
  27 <p>is identical to the following piece of AppleScript:</p>
  28
  29 <blockquote><pre><tt>
  30 tell application "Finder"
  31         get name of window 1
  32 end tell
  33 </tt></pre></blockquote>
  34
  35 <p>To send AppleEvents to an application you must first create the Python
  36 modules interfacing to the terminology of the application (what
  37 <tt>Script Editor</tt> calls the "Dictionary"). Use the IDE menu command
  38 <tt>File-&gt;Generate OSA Suite...</tt> for this. For more control run</p>
  39
  40 <blockquote><tt>
  41 pythonw .../Lib/plat-mac/gensuitemodule.py --help
  42 </tt></blockquote>
  43
  44 <p>from a terminal window.</p>
  45
  46 <h2>Creating a scriptable application in Python</h2>
  47
  48 You can also create a scriptable application in Python, but this is not
  49 very well documented. For Carbon
  50 applications you should look at the <tt>MiniAEFrame</tt> module.
  51
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