AppleScript Programming/System Events

One of the many things that can be used with Applescript, is System Events. To use the System Event application, you must first give it a "tell" command. tell application "System Events" -- add code here. end tell This will tell applescript to execute commands associated with the program System Events. For example, the command: keystroke "e" Will type the letter "e" into the current application. Here's a simple program: tell application "TextEdit" activate make new document end tell tell application "System Events" keystroke "Support Wikibooks!" end tell It will open the application TextEdit, start a new document, and type the phrase "Support Wikibooks!" You can also use keystroke tab (note that there are no quotes) to type a tab, and keystroke return to enter a new line. tell application "TextEdit" activate make new document end tell tell application "System Events" keystroke "Support Wikibooks!" keystroke return keystroke "by donating!" end tell Which will create a new document with Support Wikibooks! and by donating, on another line. Now you may be wondering, How do I perform key combinations like command+q (Works with other modifier keys, like option, and control) Key combos is a three line code consisting of key down {command} keystroke "q" key up {command} You can also hold down many keys at a time using the augment of key down and key up but separating keys using commas Here is a program that will open text edit and then quit it using command+q: tell application "TextEdit" activate end tell delay 3.0 tell application "System Events" key down {command} keystroke "q" key up {command} end tell You can also use one line commands for keystrokes, such as: tell application "System Events" to keystroke "c" using command down Which will invoke Copy in most Mac applications. It is possible to use combokeys in oneline like this: keystroke "h" using {command down, shift down} Shell Programming Scripting other applications