Language Guide

G L O S S A R Y
368
positional parameter A subroutine
parameter that is identified by the order
in which it is listed. In a subroutine call,
positional parameters are enclosed in
parentheses and separated by commas.
They must be listed in the order in which
they appear in the corresponding
subroutine definition.
property A characteristic of an object that
has a single value and is identified by a
label. See also script property.
Property reference form A reference form
that specifies a property of an application
object, record or script object.
Range reference form A reference form
that specifies a series of objects of the same
class in the same container.
real A number that can include a decimal
fraction. Real is an AppleScript value class.
record An unordered collection of
properties. Properties within a record are
identified by labels that are unique within
the record. Record is an AppleScript
value class.
recordable application An application
that uses Apple events to report user
actions for recording purposes. When
recording is turned on, the Script Editor
creates statements corresponding to any
significant actions you perform in a
recordable application.
recursive subroutine A subroutine that
calls itself.
reference A phrase that specifies one or
more objects using the reference forms
defined in the AppleScript dialect you
are using. Reference is an AppleScript
value class.
reference form The syntax for referring
to objects. The reference forms for the
AppleScript English dialect include
Arbitrary Element, Every Element, Filter,
ID, Index, Middle Element, Name,Property,
Range, and Relative.
Relative reference form A reference form
that specifies an object or location by
describing its position in relation to another
object, known as the base, in the same
container.
Repeat statement A control statement
that contains a series of statements to be
repeated and, in most cases, instructions
that specify when the repetition stops.
required parameter A parameter that
must be included for a command to be
successful.
reserved words The words in system and
application dictionaries, including object
and command names, constants,
parameters, and properties.
result A value generated when a
command is executed or an expression
evaluated.
scope The visibility and context of a
variable or property, which determines
where else in a script you may refer to the
same variable. The scope of a variable
depends on where you declare it and