Run an AppleScript with VB.; 2 minutes to read; In this article. Call an AppleScript file from a VB macro in Office 2016 for Mac. Applies to: Excel for Mac PowerPoint for Mac Word for Mac Office 2016 for Mac. The AppleScriptTask command executes an AppleScript script file located outside the sandboxed app. The following code shows how to call AppleScriptTask from VB. The problem is it is very very slow and it take time between 3-10 seconds randomly to unlock the MAC. I want to do it in 1-2 seconds.i have search a lot but didnt find any good script if any one know please guide me what i am doing wrong here.
Using Handlers/Functions
Collections of script statements that can be invoked by name are referred to as handlers in AppleScript, functions or methods in JavaScript, and subroutines in some other languages. Throughout this document, these terms are used interchangeably.
Handlers are generally written to perform a task multiple times throughout a script, such as displaying an alert, writing text to a file, or creating an email message. Instead of inserting the same code over and over, you write it once and give it a name. You can name a handler whatever you like as long as the name contains no special characters, such as punctuation, or spaces, and isnât a reserved language term. You then
call , or evoke, a handler whenever necessary by referring to it by name. Each time you do, any code in the handler runs. Handlers can optionally be written to receive information as input for processing (parameters), and can return information as output (result or return value).
Handlers provide a way to organize your code by breaking it up into smaller, manageable, modular chunks. This can be useful when troubleshooting; you can narrow in on a single handler to resolve a problem, rather than sorting through a long, complex script. It also makes future script updates easier, as you can change behavior in one place to affect an entire script.
Note
AppleScript handlers are generally placed at the end of a script, while in JavaScript, theyâre usually placed at the top.
AppleScript Handlers
In AppleScript, a handler begins with the word
on or to , followed by the handler name and its parameters, if any. It ends with the word end , followed by the handler name. AppleScript handlers can be written with positional, labeled, or interleaved parameters.
Listing 13-1 shows a simple one-line script that displays a hypothetical error message, which you might want to display numerous times as a script runs.
APPLESCRIPT
Listing 13-1AppleScript: A simple script that displays an error message
In Listing 13-1, the code from Listing 13-1 has been converted to a handler named
displayError , which has no parameters.
APPLESCRIPT
Listing 13-2AppleScript: A simple handler that displays an error message
Listing 13-3 shows a variation of the handler in Listing 13-1, which uses the
to prefix instead of on . Either syntax is acceptable.
APPLESCRIPT
Listing 13-3AppleScript: A variation of a simple handler that displays an error message
You can now call the
displayError handler any time you want to display an error, as shown in Listing 13-4.
APPLESCRIPT
Listing 13-4AppleScript: Calling a simple handler to display an error message
For detailed information about AppleScript handlers, see About Handlers and Handler Reference in AppleScript Language Guide.
Note
To call a handler from within a
tell statement, you must use the reserved words of me or my , as shown in Listing 13-5.
APPLESCRIPT
Listing 13-5AppleScript: Calling a handler from within a tell statement
AppleScript Handlers with Positional Parameters
Positional parameters are a series of comma-separated variables, contained within parentheses, following the handler name. In Listing 13-6, the
displayError handler from Listing 13-1 has been updated to accept two positional parametersâan error message and a list of buttons to display.
APPLESCRIPT
Listing 13-6AppleScript: A handler that displays a specified error message with custom buttons
To call the handler, refer to it by name and provide a value for each positional parameter, as shown in Listing 13-7. The order of these values should match the parameter positions in the handler definition.
APPLESCRIPT
Listing 13-7AppleScript: Calling a handler to display a specified error message with custom buttons
For additional information about this style of handler, see Handlers with Positional Parameters in AppleScript Language Guide.
AppleScript Handlers with Interleaved Parameters
Interleaved parameters are a variation of positional parameters, in which the parameter name is split into pieces and interleaved with parameters using colons and spaces. Listing 13-8 shows how the handler from Listing 13-6 can be represented using interleaved parameters.
APPLESCRIPT
Listing 13-8AppleScript: Example of a handler with interleaved parameters
Interleaved parameters resemble Objective-C syntax. Therefore, they are typically used to call Objective-C methods in AppleScriptObjC scripts.
Objective-C to AppleScript Quick Translation Guide discusses interleaved parameter use in AppleScriptObjC scripts. For additional information about this style of handler, see Handlers with Interleaved Parameters in AppleScript Language Guide.
AppleScript Handlers with Labeled Parameters
AppleScript also supports labeled parameters, although this style is rarely used when defining custom handlers. Most often, itâs a style used for event handlers. See Event Handlers. Listing 13-9 shows how the
displayError handler might appear if it were written using the labeled parameter style.
APPLESCRIPT
Listing 13-9AppleScript: Example of a handler with labeled parameters
For additional information about this style of handler, see Handlers with Labeled Parameters in AppleScript Language Guide.
JavaScript Functions
In JavaScript, a function name is preceded by the word
function and followed by a list of parameters, if any. The functionâs contents are contained within curly braces ({ .. } ).
Listing 13-10 shows a simple script that displays a hypothetical error message.
JAVASCRIPT
Listing 13-10JavaScript: A simple function that displays an error message
You can now call the
displayError function any time you want to display an error, as shown in Listing 13-11.
JAVASCRIPT
Listing 13-11JavaScript: Calling a simple function to display an error message
Using Parameters
JavaScript functions are written with positional parameters, comma-separated variables, contained within parentheses, following the function name. In Listing 13-12, the
displayError function from Listing 13-10 has been updated to accept two positional parametersâan error message and a list of buttons to display. Mac preview app eyedrop.
JAVASCRIPT
Listing 13-12JavaScript: A function that displays a specified error message with custom buttons
![]()
To call the function, refer to it by name and provide a value for each positional parameter, as shown in Listing 13-13. The order of these values should match the parameter positions in the function definition.
JAVASCRIPT
Listing 13-13JavaScript: Calling a function to display a specified error message with custom buttons
Exiting Handlers and Returning a Result
Often, handlers are used to process information and produce a result for further processing. To enable this functionality, add the
return command, followed by a value to provide, to the handler. In Listing 13-14 and Listing 13-15, the displayError handler returns a Boolean value, indicating whether processing should continue after an error has occurred.
APPLESCRIPT
Listing 13-14AppleScript: Returning a value from a handler
JAVASCRIPT
Listing 13-15JavaScript: Returning a value from a function
Note
You can return a value at any time within a handler, not just at the end. Best yugioh app mac.
![]() Event Handlers
Some apps, including scripts themselves, can call handlers when certain events occur, such as when launched or quit. In Mail, you can set up a rule to look for incoming emails matching certain criteria. When a matching email is detected, Mail can call a handler in a specified script to process the email. Handlers like these are considered event handlers or command handlers.
Listing 13-16 shows an example of a Mail rule event handler. It receives any detected messages as input, and can loop through them to process them.
APPLESCRIPT
Listing 13-16AppleScript: Example of a Mail rule event handler
Script Event Handlers
As previously mentioned, scripts can contain event handlers too. These handlers run when certain events occur.
Run Handlers
The
run event handler is called when a script runs. By default, any executable code at the top level of a scriptâthat is, not contained within a handler or script objectâis considered to be contained within an implicit run handler. See Listing 13-17 and Listing 13-18.
APPLESCRIPT
run handler
JAVASCRIPT
Listing 13-18JavaScript: Example of an implicitly defined run function
Optionally, the
run handler can be explicitly defined. Listing 13-19 and Listing 13-20 produce the exact same behavior as Listing 13-17 and Listing 13-18.
APPLESCRIPT
Listing 13-19AppleScript: Example of an explicitly defined run handler
JAVASCRIPT
Listing 13-20JavaScript: Example of an explicitly defined run function
Quit Handlers
The
quit event handler is optional, and is called when a script app quits. Use this as an opportunity to perform cleanup tasks, if necessary, such as removing temporary folders or logging progress. Listing 13-21 and Listing 13-22 demonstrate the use of a quit handler.
APPLESCRIPT
Listing 13-21AppleScript: Example of a quit handler
JAVASCRIPT
Listing 13-22JavaScript: Example of a quit function
Open Handlers
The inclusion of an
open handler or openDocuments method in a script app automatically makes the app drag-and-droppable. When launched in this way, the open handler receives a dropped list of files or folders as a direct parameter, as shown in Listing 13-23 and Listing 13-24.
APPLESCRIPT
Listing 13-23AppleScript: Structure of an open handler
JAVASCRIPT
Listing 13-24JavaScript: Structure of an openDocuments function
For detailed information about using the
open handler to create drop scripts, see Processing Dropped Files and Folders.
Idle Handlers
When saving a script, you can optionally save it as a stay-open application. See Figure 13-1. In a stay-open script app, the script stays open after the
run handler completes, and an idle handler is called every 30 seconds. Use the idle handler to perform periodic processing tasks, such as checking a watched folder for new files to process. To change the duration between idle calls, return a new duration, in seconds, as the result of the idle handler. Listing 13-25 and Listing 13-26 demonstrate an idle handler that delays for five seconds between executions.
APPLESCRIPT
Listing 13-25AppleScript: Example of an idle handler
Apple Applescript
JAVASCRIPT
Listing 13-26JavaScript: Example of an idle function
For information about using the
idle handler for folder watching, see Watching Folders.
Copyright © 2018 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Updated: 2016-06-13
AppleScript to unlock your Mac's screen. (Use EventScripts to automatically trigger script when a Bluetooth device (e.g., your iPhone) enters your Mac's range: http://www.mousedown.net/mouseware/EventScripts.html)
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