AppleScript recorder in version X

[gimme_this_gimme_that]

Is there a AppleScript recorder in verison v.X ?

If one is doing a lot of AppleScript/Excel programming , is it worth
one's while to buy it? Or are you better off writing from scratch or
"translating" VBA?

Thanks.

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Hi,

Mac MVP Paul Berkowitz has written an extensive article about using
AppleScript with Mac Office.

MacTech Magazine printed Paul's article and it is available for download
from this link:
http://www.mactech.com/vba-transition-guide/

Download a PDF of this guide and get a complimentary MacTech Magazine
Subscription (S&H: $9.95 US/Can, $34.95 Overseas) courtesy of the Microsoft
Mac Business Unit.

-Jim Gordon
Mac MVP


Quoting from "(e-mail address removed)"

Is there a AppleScript recorder in verison v.X ?

If one is doing a lot of AppleScript/Excel programming , is it worth
one's while to buy it? Or are you better off writing from scratch or
"translating" VBA?

Thanks.

--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

MVPs are not Microsoft Employees
MVP info

 

[gimme_this_gimme_that]

Jim your post has nothing do with the question in the original post.

Pay attention.

I purchased the PDF and subscribed to MacTech already.

 

[gimme_this_gimme_that]

Incidentally ...

When you copy and paste AppleScript from the PDF into Script Editor
some of the characters get mangled.

It takes over 30 minutes to touch up the code that creates the chart.

I've typed up a script that inserts the data for the chart and creates
it.

So if you want to save yourself some typing (and you've purchased the
article) email me and I'll send it to you.

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Quoting from "(e-mail address removed)"

Is there a AppleScript recorder in verison v.X ?

There is an AppleScript recorder in MacOSX, not Microsoft Office.

There is a Visual Basic for Applications recorder in Microsoft Office v.X

If one is doing a lot of AppleScript/Excel programming , is it worth
one's while to buy it?

I don't know what "it" refers to when you say "buy it."

Or are you better off writing from scratch or
"translating" VBA?

Applescript provides a code editor and compiler. In the case of Microsoft
Office AppleScript makes use of the OLE (Object Linking and Embedding)
model, which is part of visual basic for applications.

Inside of each Office application is an object browser and lots of help
files with examples of VBA code. The syntax will have to be modified in
order to work in AppleScript.

I think for the most part you'll be writing from scratch, but if you find a
code example that works for you by all means use it.

--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

MVPs are not Microsoft Employees
MVP info

 

[gimme_this_gimme_that]

Thanks for the clarification Jim.

I recall reading in Paul's paper that earlier versions of Excel were
recordable. But I can't find it now.

So you'd go into Script Editor turn on the recorder, do stuff in
Excel, then you'd see AppleScript cooresponding with what you just
did.

Do you know if Excel X is recordable in that sense? 2004 is not.

I can imagine recordability would be helpful in the sense that it show
you got-cha tips that you can't get experimenting on your own or from
reading the M$ AppleScript reference.

Jim you can check out my posts on microsoft.public.excel.programming

So, I don't understand what made you write this (especially
considering I read Paul's paper and his explanation for modifying VBA
and getting it to AppleScript).

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Quoting from "(e-mail address removed)"

Thanks for the clarification Jim.

I recall reading in Paul's paper that earlier versions of Excel were
recordable. But I can't find it now.

So you'd go into Script Editor turn on the recorder, do stuff in
Excel, then you'd see AppleScript cooresponding with what you just
did.

Do you know if Excel X is recordable in that sense? 2004 is not.

I don't have v.X installed anymore so I can't check that for you. I am not a
proficient AppleScripter and am debating whether or not to use AppleScript
when Office 2008 arrives on the scene.

I do have Office 2001 and tried recording actions that added some data to a
worksheet and then made a graph. The recorder got all the data right, made
the right graph, but put it onto its own worksheet instead of putting it as
an object on the original sheet. That reinforces my recollection about the
AppleScript recorder: It gets a lot right but gets a lot wrong, too.

Repeating the same steps in Office 2004 - the AppleScript recorder didn't
record a thing!

It's my understanding that AppleScript in Excel got a major overhaul between
v.X and 2004, so any scripts recorded in earlier versions are even less
likely to work with 2004. On the other hand, the update was done with the
idea in mind that AppleScript would be "the" way to automate Office 2008. So
if you make AppleScripts in 2004 they should run in 2008 as well.

I can imagine recordability would be helpful in the sense that it show
you got-cha tips that you can't get experimenting on your own or from
reading the M$ AppleScript reference.

That would be nice, but programmability seems to be at the bottom of MacBU's
priorities lately. It's ironic because developers are finally taking an
interested in the Mac in large numbers.

Jim you can check out my posts on microsoft.public.excel.programming

I can barely keep up with the newsgroups for the Mac!

So, I don't understand what made you write this (especially
considering I read Paul's paper and his explanation for modifying VBA
and getting it to AppleScript).

The VBA Object Browser and the VBA help system have the (almost) complete
details of the way programmability works in Microsoft Office. Since
AppleScript has to manipulate the object model, it's a good place to look
for examples.

Paul is the AppleScript guru. I'm surprised he hasn't jumped into this
conversation, but maybe he's on vacation.

--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

MVPs are not Microsoft Employees
MVP info