AppleScript modules can come in many different forms. Choosing the right one depends on your needs, budget and future plans for additional automation. This article should provide a general familiarity with the various types of scripts available, but we are always here to help you choose which script type is right for your custom solution.
Standard Scripts
When most people think of an AppleScript, they think of one of the three standard types of scripts: a run script, a drop script or a script file. All of these can carry out a linear automated process of any size or type and do not have interface elements beyond simple dialogs.
Script File
A script file must be opened by another application in order to "run" the automated process. Double clicking a script will open it in the Script Editor application. It may also be loaded into the "scripts" menu of the Finder or another third party application. Some applications even provide a "scripts" palette which gives users the ability to access quickly and then run a script.
Run Script
A run script is a script file that is saved as an application. A user can double click on these to begin an automated process.
Drop Script
Similarly, a drop script is also saved as an application and can be double clicked. However, a user can also drop files or folders onto a drop script for processing. This eliminates the extra step for a file processing script to "ask" the user what to process.
Specialty Scripts
PDF Services
OS X provides a powerful way to integrate AppleScripts into a print workflow. Scripts can be made available to users directly from the print dialog. When they choose a script from this dialog, a PDF file is created and then handed over to the script for additional processing. For example, a PDF file can be created and then automatically moved, copied, manipulated, emailed, etc. all from the print dialog with a single user selection.
Automator Actions
Perhaps one of the most exciting new applications in OS X, Automator introduces the ability of "visual automation". Computer users with no programming knowledge can quickly drag automator actions into a sequence, configure them through an interface and then save their workflow document as an application that they can use over and over. We can create custom actions for Automator that can perform any task you may need, thus greatly extending this amazing technology.
AppleScript Studio
This plug-in for Apple's Xcode IDE (Integrated Development Environment) allows us to create custom applications with native Cocoa interfaces. These applications can be as complex as needed and can include any number of script modules, interface elements and graphics.
