[Pythonmac-SIG] AppleEvent examples

[Michael J. Barber]

On Saturday, August 10, 2002, at 11:30  PM, Jack Jansen wrote:

>
> On zaterdag, augustus 10, 2002, at 12:13 , Robin Siebler wrote:
>
>> I'm trying to learn how to automate some tasks in CodeWarrior using 
>> MacPython.  Well, really, I'm trying to puzzle out how to do them in 
>> AppleScript and then pulling my hair out trying to figure out how to 
>> convert what works in AppleScript into something that works in 
>> MacPython (if only autocomplete worked on the Mac, that would help).  
>> Are there any examples anywhere of using MacPython and AppleEvents?
>
> Unfortunately there are no good examples:-( The Demo/applescript.html 
> is about the only documentation there is, and the example it uses won't 
> work under OSX...
>
Nonetheless, I'd think that the example shown there is a pretty good one 
to look at - it's very simple and shows the basics of how the 
AppleScript verbs map onto the package structure.

However, the example that I found to be most useful was findertools.py. 
The functions therein are all pretty short and easy to understand.

The approach  is exactly what Bill Bedford described: "...it is usually 
better to use python directly and only attempt the Apple events when you 
really need to communicate with an application." This strategy matches 
my own few uses of AppleEvents in MacPython, and makes me wonder if 
everyone does it that way? Better stated, does anyone have an example 
where they don't take this approach?

> If anyone could come up with some good examples that would really be 
> very welcome. I think AppleScripting could be one of the areas where 
> Python can really shine, but there's still quite a bit of a hurdle you 
> have to jump over to get started.
>
Maybe we should consider using findertools as a case study in Pythonic 
AppleScripting? It's a "real world" usage and we know that all MacPython 
users will have it. I can have a go at writing a brief version, although 
it may have to wait a week or so (Anyone who is impatient should feel 
free to start without me!).