How to Code with AppleScript

Applescript is a basic coding language that is great for beginners. To start using AppleScript open the “Script Editor” Application on your mac (You cannot use AppleScript on a Windows PC.)

Once you have it open you can make your first program in AppleScript by typing

beep

beep

in the code box. Click the button to run the code. You should hear your computer beep. If not, make sure your computer isn’t muted.

Variables

A variable is a piece of information that your program stores, for example, the score in a game.

Types of Variables

In most programming languages, there are 4 types of variables:

String

A string is a piece of text. You must enclose your string in quotes like as shown below:

set myString to "Hello World"

1	set myString to "Hello World"

Integer

An integer is a whole number. You do not need to put in quotes.

set myInteger to 21

1	set myInteger to 21

Float

A float is a number that can have decimals. You do not need to put in quotes.

set myFloat to 3.14

1	set myFloat to 3.14

Array

An array is a list of variables. It can have strings, integers, and floats, It can have multiple types of variables.

set myArray to ["Hello","Goodbye", 7.9, 5007]

1	set myArray to ["Hello","Goodbye", 7.9, 5007]

Logic

To create logic we use an if statement.

set score to 58
if score > 50
say "You scored more than 50 points."
else
say "You scored less than 50 points."
end if

set score to 58

if score > 50

say "You scored more than 50 points."

else

say "You scored less than 50 points."

end if

More Commands

Speak

say "Put the text you want your computer to say here, Make sure it's in quotes!"

1	say "Put the text you want your computer to say here, Make sure it's in quotes!"

Popup Box

display dialog "Put the text you want a popup to say here! Again, Make sure it's in quotes!"

1	display dialog "Put the text you want a popup to say here! Again, Make sure it's in quotes!"

The text must be in quotes because it is a string. You can also make a variable for the string, as shown below.

set messageText to "Hello World"
display dialog messageText

1 2	set messageText to "Hello World" display dialog messageText

Remember that the variable name does not need to be in quotes.

Repeat

repeat
    say "I Will Repeat This Sentence Until You Press The Stop Button"
end repeat

repeat

say "I Will Repeat This Sentence Until You Press The Stop Button"

end repeat

Popup Box With Text Box

display dialog "What is your name?" default answer ""

1	display dialog "What is your name?" default answer ""

Getting The Answer

This will say your name when you click “OK”

set x to display dialog "What is your name?" default answer ""
set yourName to the text returned of x
say yourName

set x to display dialog "What is your name?" default answer ""

set yourName to the text returned of x

say yourName

How it Works

We create a variable called x, but instead of making it a string, float, or array, we make it a popup box.

Then we create a variable called yourName and set it to the text returned of x.

Finally, we use the say command to speak yourName.

Adding Custom Buttons

You can add custom buttons to your dialog, by adding the buttons attribute, with an array of strings (The button names).

display dialog "Chocolate or Vanilla?" buttons ["Chocolate", "Vanilla"]

1	display dialog "Chocolate or Vanilla?" buttons ["Chocolate", "Vanilla"]

You can also use a variable for the buttons array:

set flavors to ["Chocolate", "Vanilla"]
display dialog "Chocolate or Vanilla?" buttons flavors

1 2	set flavors to ["Chocolate", "Vanilla"] display dialog "Chocolate or Vanilla?" buttons flavors

Comments

Comments are text in you code that your computer will not read. They are there to help you, and others understand the code.

To create a comment in AppleScript, Just type “–” (without the quotes) before your comment.

--This is a comment

1	--This is a comment

Making a Simple Game

This game uses many of the topics above. I added comments to the code to help you understand.

--Create the "score" variable, and set it to the integer 0
set score to 0

repeat
    --Create the "msgBox" variable, and set it to a popup box
    set msgBox to display dialog "Your Score: " & score buttons ["Give Up", "Add 10 Points"]
    --Create the "btnClicked" variable, and set it to
    --the text of the button that was clicked (A String)
    set btnClicked to button returned of msgBox
    
    --If the player clicks "Give Up", congratulate them 
    --and exit the program with the "return" command
    if btnClicked = "Give Up" then
        say "Good Job! You Scored " & score & "Points!"
        return
    end if
    
    --Add 10 to the score
    set score to score + 10
end repeat

--Create the "score" variable, and set it to the integer 0

set score to 0

repeat

--Create the "msgBox" variable, and set it to a popup box

set msgBox to display dialog "Your Score: " & score buttons ["Give Up", "Add 10 Points"]

--Create the "btnClicked" variable, and set it to

--the text of the button that was clicked (A String)

set btnClicked to button returned of msgBox

--If the player clicks "Give Up", congratulate them

--and exit the program with the "return" command

if btnClicked = "Give Up" then

say "Good Job! You Scored " & score & "Points!"

return