Applescript Pro Sessions
Our 2009 AppleScript Pro Sessions has been postponed. Widespread economic concerns and corporate budgets freezes affected our registrations, as with most events. We are now planning our next session, and will try to keep the event and the venue as affordable as possible, as always. Please e-mail if you are interested in being notified. In the meantime, we have left information about the previous sessions below.
The courses will follow the successful formula used for previous events: a fast-paced introduction to AppleScript, including advanced features, and an in-depth look at scripting major applications. A truly unique AppleScript training experience!
As part of the course, attendees receive our handy guide for quickly referring to frequently used commands and techniques. A CD containing the course scripts as well as bonus materials will be included.
Day 1: Starting Out With AppleScript
This is a fast-paced, lecture-driven course that covers the essentials for getting started in scripting. This day not only introduces newcomers to the basics of scripting, but it also makes an ideal refresher for experienced scripters. We also include an introduction to scripting the Finder, including an overview of how to read AppleScript dictionaries.
BONUS SESSION: Scripting with Script Debugger, the premiere third-party development environment from Late Night Software.
Day 2: More AppleScript Intro, Scripting InDesign Part I
The day begins with some of the more advanced topics not covered on Day 1, such as understanding Unicode, text item delimiters, the powerful read/write commands and using System Events. The regular session ends with a look at scripting InDesign.
BONUS SESSION: A look at the new functionality in InDesign CS3 for attaching scripts to events and menu items, as well as creating new menu items with attached scripts.
AFTER-HOURS SESSION: Joe Mathia of Avatar Digital Publishing Solutions returns for a look at Using XML with InDesign. This talk will focus on the new XML Rules functionality in InDesign CS3, as well as other ways of manipulating XML data with InDesign features.
Day 3: Scripting InDesign Part II
Adobe InDesign may be the newcomer in the pagination stakes, but in scripting terms it is the clear leader. If you’re an InDesign user, here’s how you can make your job a whole lot easier. Our coverage is wide-ranging, including the object model, document construction, printing, and exporting. We look at the bugs as well as the features, the short-comings, the quirks and the workarounds. We focus on typical practical applications, and provide a range of useful scripts.
BONUS SESSION: More scripting of InDesign, with details to be announced later.
Day 4: Scripting the UNIX Shell, Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat
We begin the day with a session on using powerful built-in Unix command line tools via AppleScript, then take a look at working with graphics. For many years, users wanting to automate working with images and graphics were frustrated by the lack of AppleScript support in a lot of popular programs. Not any more. Adobe Illustrator provides some excellent AppleScript support, and this session will look at a wide range of possibilities, from document creation to pre-flighting and repairs. We will also look at methods for scripting both the creation of PDFs and the manipulation of them in Adobe Acrobat. And we will have an in-depth look at scripting in Adobe Photoshop. At the end of the day, we look at GUI scripting, including an overview of PreFab UI Browser.
BONUS SESSION: Author Matt Neuburg covers AppleScript for Hackers and Slackers. This talk will focus on some advanced AppleScript language features, some of them surprisingly cool. AppleScript might sometimes make you curse, but perhaps you'll feel better when you know more about how to recurse. Matt will also open the door to closures, pass some strange parameters, and more.
AFTER-HOURS SESSION: Matt Neuburg returns for an introduction to using Ruby. Languages other than AppleScript can be used to construct and send Apple events and receive replies. This talk will provide an overview of the widely used scripting language Ruby as an AppleScript alternative.
Day 5: Data, AppleScript Studio and more
The day begins with an overview of scripting FileMaker Pro and new coverage of scripting Excel. We also look at scripting that Swiss Army knife of text, BBEdit. Then Matt Neuburg, author of AppleScript: The Definitive Guide, Second Edition, will cover building AppleScript-based applications with rich interfaces, using tools such as AppleScript Studio.
BONUS SESSION: A session wrap-up and get-together, with an opportunity for attendees to ask additional questions or review scripts.
PREVIOUS SESSIONS
Florida 2008
Denver 2007
New York 2006
Chicago 2005
Monterey 2005
Newport 2004
Monterey 2004
Monterey 2003
New Orleans 2002
Monterey 2002
Atlanta 2001
Florida 2008
Denver 2007
New York 2006
Chicago 2005
Monterey 2005
Newport 2004
Monterey 2004
Monterey 2003
New Orleans 2002
Monterey 2002
Atlanta 2001
TESTIMONIALS
"Shane is the man when it comes to scripting, period."
Sal Soghoian
AppleScript Product Manager, Apple Inc.
"With an in-depth knowledge of InDesign's scripting and an ability to clearly articulate his knowledge, Shane is the best teacher of InDesign scripting."
Peter Boctor
InDesign scripting engineer
Adobe Systems
"Frankly, I was a bit leery of spending the money and time because I have been disappointed so many times in the past. I'm not a novice at scripting. I've been doing this for a lot of years and, frankly, have gotten a fair amount of press because of our AppleScript workflow automation. Shane and Ray, you put me to shame. I more than paid for my trip and the cost of the seminar with what I learned. Because of you folks, I implemented changes that decreased processing time and improved the workflow immediately."
"There is no better way to learn or advance your AppleScripting skills. The relaxed atmosphere encourages everyone to share ideas and solutions. It also is great to be involved in one of the friendliest programming communities. Shane and Ray are extremely approachable and passionate about everyone learning AppleScript. Their close ties to major developers make for an exciting course, where we get to speak with some of the most important people in AppleScript technology."
"I wish I could have come to all five days. You guys did a great job of covering the material. I learned a lot and hope I can come again."
"I was overwhelmed by the amount of stuff you can do with AppleScript. But that also inspired me to think of different things to script. Great that someone like Ray and Shane are even teaching this awesome program."
"As was said, AppleScript is only limited by one's imagination. For me, the best part was the teaching approach. I really appreciated the limited class size and the interaction during class."
"Shane is the man when it comes to scripting, period."
Sal Soghoian
AppleScript Product Manager, Apple Inc.
"With an in-depth knowledge of InDesign's scripting and an ability to clearly articulate his knowledge, Shane is the best teacher of InDesign scripting."
Peter Boctor
InDesign scripting engineer
Adobe Systems
"Frankly, I was a bit leery of spending the money and time because I have been disappointed so many times in the past. I'm not a novice at scripting. I've been doing this for a lot of years and, frankly, have gotten a fair amount of press because of our AppleScript workflow automation. Shane and Ray, you put me to shame. I more than paid for my trip and the cost of the seminar with what I learned. Because of you folks, I implemented changes that decreased processing time and improved the workflow immediately."
"There is no better way to learn or advance your AppleScripting skills. The relaxed atmosphere encourages everyone to share ideas and solutions. It also is great to be involved in one of the friendliest programming communities. Shane and Ray are extremely approachable and passionate about everyone learning AppleScript. Their close ties to major developers make for an exciting course, where we get to speak with some of the most important people in AppleScript technology."
"I wish I could have come to all five days. You guys did a great job of covering the material. I learned a lot and hope I can come again."
"I was overwhelmed by the amount of stuff you can do with AppleScript. But that also inspired me to think of different things to script. Great that someone like Ray and Shane are even teaching this awesome program."
"As was said, AppleScript is only limited by one's imagination. For me, the best part was the teaching approach. I really appreciated the limited class size and the interaction during class."
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Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance, or use of the products or services. All understandings, agreements, or warranties, if any, take place directly between the vendors and prospective users.
Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance, or use of the products or services. All understandings, agreements, or warranties, if any, take place directly between the vendors and prospective users.