tell simple statement
You use the tell statement to identify the target
of an AppleScript command:
tell app "Photoshop 5.5" to run
In this case, run is the Photoshop
application’s command. The tell
simple statement only takes up one line of code and does not need to
be completed with an end tell. You use the
reserved word tell, followed by a reference to an
object, such as the application
“Finder,” then the reserved word
to preceding the actual command that you want to
send to the object. tell statements can be nested
within each other, such as using a tell simple
statement inside a compound tell statement (one
that involves several lines of code and finishes with
end
tell).
This code tells the Finder to open Photoshop only if a certain amount of memory is available to the computer:
tell application "Finder"
(* largest free block is converted from bytes to megabytes then rounded off
with the round scripting addition *)
set freeMem to (round (largest free block / 1024 / 1024))
if freeMem > 50 then (* only open PS if there is a free memory block >
50 meg *)
tell application "Adobe¬ Photoshop¬ 5.5" to activate (* tell simple
statement *)
else
display dialog¬
"Freemem = " & freeMem & " Not enough memory for gluttonous Photoshop!"
end if
end tellThis example occurs within a compound tell
statement that targets the Finder. If the largest free block property of the Finder (which identifies the largest
free block of available RAM on the computer) exceeds 50MB, then
Photoshop receives an activate command as part
of a tell simple statement.
If you are running AppleScript 1.4 or higher, you can create easy-to-
remember aliases to invoke your favorite apps with the
tell statement. For example, create an alias file
for the SoundJam MP application, name this alias
“SJ,” and then store it in
startup disk:System Folder:Scripting Additions.
Now, when your AppleScripts include the code: tell app "SJ" the enclosed code statements direct their Apple Events
to SoundJam MP. This saves a lot of typing!